Petra, Cyprus

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Petra (; or ) is a former village in Cyprus, now uninhabited and largely destroyed. It is located east of the town of Lefka (Lefke) and just north of the Green Line.

Location

The village is situated in the Solea Valley, six kilometers east of Lefka/Lefke and three kilometers south of Elia.

History

After the Turkish invasion of 1974, Petra was not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. The territory of the community belongs to the de facto administration of Northern Cyprus.

Origins of Name

The name "Petra" is derived from Greek, meaning "rock". In 1958, the Turkish Cypriots adopted the alternative name Dereli, meaning "place with a stream". However, in 1975 the Turkish Cypriots again changed the name of the village to Taşköy (also known as Arbo), which means "rock village".

Population Trends

Prior to its abandonment, Petra was a mixed village. In 1831, Christians (Greek Cypriots) constituted almost 62% of the population.

Physical Geography

The village is located in an area that has been affected by the conflict between the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus. It is situated just north of the Green Line, which separates the two territories.

Abandonment

Petra was largely destroyed and abandoned after the Turkish invasion of 1974. The village remains uninhabited to this day.

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