ARTEMI

Click Here for Map

Artemi is a small village (now deserted) in the Famagusta district of Cyprus, located nine kilometers north of Lefkonoiko/Geçitkale(162) on the south side of the Kyrenia mountain range. The meaning of the name is obscure but probably derives from Agios Artemios, an early archbishop of Salamis. In 1959 Turkish Cypriots changed the name to Arıdamı, literally meaning “bee roof.” The reason for choosing this name has not as yet been determined. 
 
Historical Population:

As can be seen from the chart above, in the Ottoman census of 1831, Muslims (Turkish Cypriots) constituted the only inhabitants of the village. Throughout the British period the village was solely inhabited by Turkish Cypriots, apart from the occasional lone Greek Cypriot who appears in the census records. During much of the latter period, the village’s population often fluctuated. For instance, the population of the village increased from 98 in 1891 to 133 in 1911, but then dropped in 1921 to 122 and continued to decline until 1931, when 109 inhabitants were recorded. The village’s population recovered temporally in 1946 by almost doubling the number of 1931, reaching 211. Almost fifteen years later, the population of the village once again showed a significant decline, dropping to 168.

Displacement:

From 1964 to 1974, Artemi/Arıdamı was administratively part of the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Chatos or Kiados/Serdarlı(135). Political geographer Richard Patrick estimated the village’s population at 143 in 1971, a slight decline from 168 in 1960. Although the inhabitants of this village were not displaced during the intercommunal disturbances of the 1960s or the 1974 war, following the island’s division they abandoned the village en masse and moved to the nearby small town of Lefkonoiko/Geçitkale(162). In 1978 only ten persons remained in the village. Currently the village is empty and in ruin. The exodus of Turkish Cypriots from this village needs to be studied further.

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is empty and in ruin.   


 
REFERENCES
 
Books and Reports:


Websites:



Print