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Kolossi is a village situated on the outskirts of the city of Limassol, approximately two kilometers southeast of Erimi. The village took its name from the medieval castle of Kolosso, which is located nearby. The owner of the castle and the fief around it was called Garinas de Colos. For most of its history Turkish Cypriots called the village Goloş (Kolosh), but in 1958 they adopted the alternative name Yunus, meaning “dolphin.” The reason for choosing this name is obscure.

 

 

As can be seen in the above chart, although the village had a mixed population from the Ottoman period, the Turkish Cypriot population was always small. Throughout the British period, while the Greek Cypriot population increased further, the Turkish Cypriot population fluctuated.

Displacement:

The first conflict-related displacement took place in January 1964. Due to the intense fighting in some villages in the vicinity, all the Turkish Cypriots of Kolossi/Yunus sought refuge in the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Episkopi/Yalova(262). They remained there until 21 July 1974, when they together with all the Turkish Cypriots staying in Episkopi/Yalova(262) fled to the Akrotiri British Base Area. They remained there until January 1975, when they were transferred to the northern part of the island via Turkey. The total number of displaced Turkish Cypriots from Kolossi/Yunus can be estimated to be 120 (108 in the 1960 census).

After 1974, Kolossi also became an important reception center for displaced Greek Cypriots arriving from the north. A huge refugee camp was established near the village. Gradually the camp transformed into a more durable settlement after many modern housing units were built.

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is mainly inhabited by its original Greek Cypriot villagers and displaced Greek Cypriot families from the north. Many refugee housing units were constructed near the village. The last Cypriot census of 2001 put the total population at 3,685.  

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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)