Pomos
Pomos
Πωμός | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Pomos Location in Cyprus | |
| Coordinates: 35°9′35″N 32°32′42″E / 35.15972°N 32.54500°E | |
| Country |  Cyprus |
| District | Paphos District |
| Population (2001)[1] | |
• Total | 595 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 6367 |
Pomos (Greek: Πωμός) is a village in the Paphos District of Cyprus, located 17 km northeast of Polis Chrysochous.
Despite being one of the most remote villages of Cyprus it hosts several cultural events and festivities.
Etymology
[edit source]The name Pomos is widely believed to originate from the Ancient Greek word vomus (βωμός), meaning "altar", indicating the potential presence of an ancient sanctuary or temple in the area.[2] On medieval maps, the settlement was recorded under the name Pomo.
Geography
[edit source]Pomos is located in the Tillyria (Tylliria) region within the Paphos District, situated on the northwestern coast of Cyprus. While the coastal village sits at an elevation of roughly 10 metres (33 ft), the surrounding terrain rises steeply inland to 670 metres (2,200 ft) at Mount Lorovounos.[3]
To the north of the village lies Cape Pomos, which was recorded in ancient geography by Claudius Ptolemy as Cape Kallinousa.[4] The southern boundaries of the village border the protected Paphos Forest.
History and Archaeology
[edit source]Idol of Pomos
[edit source]Pomos is widely known as the discovery site of the Idol of Pomos, a prehistoric picrolite cruciform figurine dating to the Chalcolithic period (c. 3000–2300 BC). Representing a mother goddess or fertility symbol, the artifact is housed at the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia. The figurine was adopted as a symbol of Cypriot cultural heritage and is depicted on the obverse side of Cyprus's €1 and €2 coins.[5]
Medieval Period
[edit source]North of the main village lie the unexcavated ruins of the medieval settlement of Ayia Eleni, historically associated with the arrival of Saint Helen in Cyprus during the 4th century.
Infrastructure and Landmarks
[edit source]Pomos Dam
[edit source]Constructed between 1960 and 1966, the Pomos Dam is a rock-fill embankment dam with a storage capacity of 860,000 cubic metres (30,000,000 cu ft). It serves the Chrysochous Irrigation Project, supplying water to local agricultural land.[6]
Fishing Shelter
[edit source]Beneath Cape Pomos sits a dedicated fishing harbor that serves local commercial and recreational vessels.
Panagia Chrysopateritissa Monastery
[edit source]Located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) inland near the dam, the historic site of the Monastery of Panagia Chrysopateritissa dates to around 1520. While much of the original monastery complex has degraded, the church itself remains standing and restored.[7]
References
[edit source]- ↑ Census 2001
- ↑ "History of Pomos Village". Polis-Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ "Geography of Pomos". Visit Paphos. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ "History of Pomos Village". Polis-Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ "Cypriot Euro Coins". European Central Bank. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ "Pomos Dam". Polis-Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
- ↑ "Monastery of Panagia Chrysopateritissa". Break In Cyprus. Retrieved 2026-07-25.
 | This Paphos District location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |