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Tremetousia is a village located in the south Mesaoria, seven kilometers east of Athienou, on the northern side of the divide. It is believed that the name Tremetousia derived from terebinth (tremoiliastos). Until 1974, Turkish Cypriot name of the village was Tremeşe (Tremeshe). However, in 1975, they adopted the alternative name Erdemli, meaning “virtuous” in Turkish. Erdemli is also a place name in Antalya province. 

 

Temetousia had always been a mixed village. As can be seen from the chart above, in the Ottoman census of 1831, Christians (Greek Cypriots) constituted the majority of the inhabitants (58%). In 1891 their percentage decreased to 51%. Throughout the British period, while the Greek Cypriot population of the village increased significantly, the Turkish Cypriot population fluctuated more. By 1960, the Greek Cypriot share of the village’s population had risen to 60% and the Turkish Cypriot proportion had dropped to 40%.

Displacement:

There was no displacement in the village during the 1950s emergency years or during the 1963-64 intercommunal conflict. However, in August 1974, all the Temetousia Greek Cypriots fled from the advancing Turkish army. Currently, like the rest of the displaced Greek Cypriots, the Greek Cypriots of Temetousia are scattered throughout the island’s south, with large pockets in towns. The number of Temetousia Greek Cypriots who were displaced in 1974 was approximately 600 (588 in the 1973 census).

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is mainly inhabited by its original Turkish Cypriot villagers.   

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Websites:

• http://www.cyprus-village.com/ (for the villages)
• http://news.karpasha.com/
• http://human-rights-archaeology.blogspot.com/
• http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/ (for the villages in the north)