Athienou
| Athienou | |
|---|---|
 Athienou
|
|
| Coordinates: 35°04′N 33°32′E / 35.067°N 33.533°ECoordinates: 35°04′N 33°32′E / 35.067°N 33.533°E | |
| Country |
 Cyprus
|
| District | Larnaca District |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 5,017 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 7600 |
| Website | www |
Athienou (Greek: Αθηένου or Αθηαίνου [locally [aθiˈenu]]; Turkish: Kiracıköy) is a village in Larnaca District, Cyprus. It is one of only four villages located within the United Nations Buffer Zone, the other three being Pyla, Troulloi and Deneia. Today, Athienou has a population of around 5,000 people and since 1990 has been home to Davidson College's Athienou Archaeological Project. The town's city hall includes a museum of local history and culture that was established in 2008.
It is considered by many, that the name of the village Athienou, derived from the ancient Greek word, "Atta" (Greek: Αττα) or "Atha" (Greek: Αθθα), meaning large rock, which characterized the rocky land of the village.
Others believe that the name was given by a group of Athenians (travellers from Athens), who came and settled in the village, to remember their home town.
According to another theory, the name derives from a Lusignan called Etienne, who lived in the area, and the people who lived in the village were mentioning his house as "Etienne's Place" (Greek: "Στου Ετιένου", stou etiennou), and in later years that changed into Athienou.
It has been a settlement since Middle Bronze Age.
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