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Zygi or Zyyi is a village situated in the Larnaca district, located two kilometers east of Vasilikos on the south coast. Throughout most of its history this village was inhabited by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Zygi means “weight scale for carobs” (zygizo)The Turkish Cypriot alternative name is Terazi and also means “weight scale.” The name Terazi has been in use since the Ottoman period.

 

 

As can be seen in the above chart, the village had a mixed population from the beginning of the British period. During that time, the population constantly fluctuated, and the majority shifted back and forth between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.

Displacement:

No one was displaced in the late 1950s, but during the intercommunal fighting of 1963-64 all Zygi Turkish Cypriots fled and sought refuge in Mari/Tatlısu(363). They remained there until 1974, when they then fled to the Turkish-controlled north of the divide. Those Turkish Cypriots unable to leave in 1974 were evacuated by UNFICYP in September 1975 and taken to the north. Most of the Turkish Cypriots of Zygi were resettled in either Kyrenia(236) or Famagusta(140). The total number of Turkish Cypriot displaced persons from this village is estimated to be around 90 (84 in 1960).

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is mainly inhabited by its original Greek Cypriot villagers. However, after 1974 many displaced Greek Cypriots from north also settled there. According to the village’s website, the majority of these displaced families came from villages such as Flamoudi(141), Milia(175), Argaki(020), Rizokarpaso(189), Kormakitis(233), Patriki(181), Davlos(136), Karakoumi(236), Agios Epiktitos(208), Kalograia(223), Karavas(226), Lapithos(237), Vavylas(253), Karmi(227), Famagusta(140), Arnadi(129), Yialousa(205), Achna(111), Lapathos(161), Kalopsida(151), Acheritou(110), Egkomi(138), Limnia(164), Zodeia(083), Petra(087), Kapouti(042), Angastina(128), Vasileia(252), Trypimeni(199), Agios Sergios(123), Deryneia(137), Marathovounos(172), Stylloi(195), Nikitas(075), Exo Metochi(032), Tavrou(197), Kontea(156), Lysi(167), Komi Kepir(155), Pyrogi(093), and Kythrea(056). The last Cypriot census of 2001 put the total population at 505.  

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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)