Protaras Cyprus Information Conitnued...
Paphos | Protaras | Nicosia | Limassol | Larnaca | Troodos
Hala Sultan Tekke. The Tekke is one of the most significant monuments of Muslim religion, from the period of the Arab raids and conquests during the 7th and 8th centuries AD. Its design is truly magnificent, with medallions decorated with inscriptions of Allah, Muhammed and the first six calphs of Islam: Abu Bakr, Umar Uthman, Ali, Hussein and Hassan.
The mosque may date from the 19th century, but it also contains the tomb of Prophet Muhammed’s aunt, known as Hala Sultan or Umm Haram, who died there in 649AD after falling off her mule. Visitors can see her burial chamber which is covered by green cloths of mourning. The stone that covers it is said to have miraculously flown from Mount Sinai in Egypt. Muslim ships that use to sail by used to dip their colours in honour of the famous lady. King Hussein’s of Jordan’s grandmother who also died on the island, is also entombed in the mosque.
Kition. This is a rather small village west that consists of one popular monument in its centre, as well as other points of interest in its nearby countryside that are definitely worth a detour. Fishing for trout is allowed with a licence in the small Kition Lake which lies a few kilometres north of the village.
Kiti Tower, one of the main sites in the area, is not really in the village of Kition itself but near the sea at the rocky Cape Kition, several kilometres away. The tower was built in the 16th century by the Venetians. It is a fortified stone observation post in order for the Venetians to try and protect themselves from the expected invasion of the Ottoman Turks. There is also a lighthouse that can be found close by that overlooks the sea and the cliffs along the coast, with small beaches.
Another great attraction in the area is the Panagia of Angeloktistis (Our Lady “Built by the Angels”), which was rebuilt in the 12th century on the foundations of a 5th-century church. It contains a marvellous mosaic in the doomed roof of the semicircular apse behind the iconostasis. The mosaic depicts the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms and surrounded by the Archangels Gabriel and Michael on other side of her.
The stunning mosaic in Panagia Angeloktsitis was allegedly the work of a craftsman sent from Constantinople itself, during the period when Byzantine Art was at its height. There is a mystery that comes out of this though and that is that the question arises about why the Cypriot church with all its wealth at that time didn’t bring more of those mosaics over.