Editing Kyrenia (section)

===Ancient times===
The earliest document which mention Kyrenia is the '[[Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax|Periplus of Pseudo Skylax]]'. It dates to the thirteenth century but is based on fourth-century BC knowledge. The manuscript names numerous towns along the Mediterranean coast and mentions Kyrenia as a harbour town: 'Opposite [[Cilicia]] is the island of Cyprus, and these are its city-states (poleis): [[Salamis, Cyprus|Salamis]], which is Greek and has a closed winter harbour; the [[Karpas Peninsula|Karpasia]], Kyrenia, [[Lapathus (Cyprus)|Lapithos]], which is [[Phoenicians|Phoenician]]; [[Soloi]] (this has also winter harbour); [[Marion, Cyprus|Marion]], which is Greek; [[Amathus]] (which is autochthonous). All of them have deserted (summer) harbours. And there are also city states speaking strange languages inland.'4 Skylax referred to both Kyrenia and Lapithos as Phoenician towns. Coins with Phoenician legends underline that the Northern coast between Kyrenia and Lapithos were at least under Phoenician influence.

Another topographical source is the 'Stadiasmus Maris Magni' (from the name 'stadion', a unit measuring distances, 1 stadion = 184 metres). The unknown author, who sailed from [[Cape Anamur]] on the Cilician coast to Cyprus and circumnavigated the island, gave the distances from Asia Minor to the nearest point in Cyprus. This was 300 stadia, about 55 000 metres. He also recorded distances between towns. From Soli to Kyrenia he counted 350 stadia, from Kyrenia to Lapithos 50 and from Lapithos to Karpasia it was 550 stadia.

The 'Geography' of [[Claudius Ptolemaios|Claudios Ptolemaios]] which was lost for over a thousand years and rediscovered in medieval times, is a further important source upon which the later cartography of the Renaissance is based. Ptolemy, who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, about 150 A.D., gives the distances between the towns and settlements of Cyprus which are marked by cycles. He also lists Kyrenia.

Another medieval reproduction of an ancient scroll is the '[[Tabula Peutingeriana]]' or 'Peutinger Table'. It is nearly seven metres long and one metre wide and shows the road network in the Roman Empire of the 4th/5th century. The roads are drawn in straight lines and the road-stations are marked by kinks, and towns by pictograms with the name of the place and the numbers in Roman miles. Kyrenia together with Paphos, Soloi, Tremethousa and Salamis are marked by a pictogram showing two towers close together. Kyrenia is connected by a road via Lapithos and Soli with Paphos and via Chytri (Greek Kythraea, Turkish Değirmenlik) with Salamis.

Through the use of milestones during Roman times, a new source appeared which shows that the road circuit around the island was completed. Kyrenia was connected via Soli and Paphos to the western and southern part of the island. At the same time, the road to the east was extended along the shore to Karpasia and Urania on the Karpas peninsula. During the following centuries, Kyrenia is variously named on the maps as Ceraunia, Cerenis, Keronean, Kernia and Kerini.

[[Cepheus, King of Tegea|Cepheus]] from [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]] is believed to be the founder of the town of Kyrenia. A military leader, he arrived at the north coast of the island bringing with him many settlers from various towns in [[Achaea (ancient region)|Achaea]]. One such town, located near present-day [[Aigio]] in the [[Peloponnese]], was also called Kyrenia. This is said to be the home of the mythical [[Ceryneian Hind]] ({{langx|el|Κερυνῖτις ἔλαφος|Kerynitis elaphos}}) from the 12 [[Labours of Hercules]]. East of Kyrenia lies the "Coast of Achaeans". It was at Kyrenia, according to [[Strabo]], that [[Teucer]] came first ashore, to found the ancient Kingdom of [[Salamis Island|Salamis]] after the Trojan war.<ref>Strabo, ''Geography'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0198:book=14:chapter=6&highlight=teucer 14.6], on Perseus</ref>

The earliest reference made to the town of Kyrenia is found, together with that of the other seven city kingdoms of Cyprus, in [[Hieratic|Egyptian scripts]] dating from the period of [[Ramesses III]], 1125-1100s BC.

From its early days of settlement, Kyrenia's commerce and maritime trade benefited enormously from its proximity to the [[Anatolia|Asia Minor]] coast. Boats set sail from the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean islands]], traveled along the Asia Minor coast, and then crossed over the short distance to the northern shores of Cyprus to reach the two city kingdoms of [[Lapithos]] and Kyrenia. This lively maritime activity (late 4th or early 3rd century BC) is evident in an ancient shipwreck discovered by Andreas Kariolou in 1965, just outside Kyrenia harbour. The vessel's route along [[Samos Island|Samos]], [[Kos]], [[Rhodes]], the Asia Minor coastline and then Kyrenia, demonstrates the town's close maritime relations with other city kingdoms in the eastern [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]].

During the succession struggle between [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]] and [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] that followed [[Alexander the Great]]'s death in 323 BC, Kyrenia was subdued under the rule of the kingdom of Lapithos that allied itself with the [[Antigonid dynasty]]. [[Diodorus Siculus]](19.79) observes that in 312 BC. Ptolemy arrested [[Praxipos]] the king of Lapithos and the king of Kyrenia. Once the [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemies]] were successful in dominating the whole island, all city kingdoms were abolished. Kyrenia however, because of its maritime trade, continued to prosper. In the 2nd century BC, it is cited as one of six Cypriot towns which were benefactors to the Oracle at [[Delphi]], that is, it received its special representatives who collected contributions and gifts. The town's prosperity at this time is also evident from its two temples, one dedicated to [[Apollo]] and the other to [[Aphrodite]], and from the rich archeological finds dating from the [[Hellenistic period]] excavated within the present-day town limits.

The Romans succeeded the Ptolemies as rulers of Cyprus and during this time Lapithos became the administrative centre of the district. The numerous tombs excavated and the rich archeological finds dating from this period indicate however, that Kyrenia continued to be a populous and prosperous town. An inscription found at the base of a limestone statue dating from 13 to 37 AD, refers to 'Kyrenians Demos' that is, the town's inhabitants. Here as everywhere else, the Romans left their mark by constructing a castle with a seawall in front of it so that boats and ships could anchor in safety.

Christianity found fertile ground in the area. Early Christians used the old quarries of Chrysokava, just east of Kyrenia castle, as [[catacombs]] and cut-rock cemeteries which are considered among the island's most important specimens of this period. Later, some of these caves were converted into churches and feature iconography, the most representative of which is that found at ''Ayia Mavri''. The latest editions of the [[Roman Martyrology]]<ref>''Martyrologium Romanum'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 {{ISBN|978-88-209-7210-3}})</ref> no longer include a mention, as a martyr, of Bishop Theodotus of this see. The Greek [[Menologium]] recounts, under 6 May, that under [[Licinius]] he was arrested and tortured, before being released when the [[Edict of Milan]] of 313, of which Licinius was co-author, mandated toleration of Christians in the [[Roman Empire]].<ref>Michel Lequien, [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_86weAemI-e4C ''Oriens christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus''], Paris 1740, Vol. II, coll. 1073-1074</ref>