Editing Lapithos (section)

==History==

===Pre-Roman===
{{main|Lapathus (Cyprus){{!}}Lapathus}}
Strabo wrote that Lapethos is a 'construction of the Laconians and of Praxandros'. The philosopher [[Alexander of Ephesus]] called it "Imeroessa", meaning "attractive" and "passion-arousing".<ref name=historycy/>

Lapithos is usually referred in archaeological literature as a [[Laconia]]n colony built after the [[Trojan War]], by Praxandros, its first king. However, findings from excavations i.e. pots and pottery wheels date back its existence as early as 3000 BC. According to [[Diodoros of Sicily]], who wrote in the 4th century BC, Lapithos was one of the nine kingdoms of Cyprus.<ref name=historycy/>

Peisistratos, king of Lapithos, with his flotilla, together with [[Nicocreon]] of Salamis and [[Stasanor]] of Curion, came to the aid of [[Alexander the Great]], helping him to capture [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]] in [[Phoenicia]]. For this reason Alexander, the victorious army commander, declared Cyprus free from the [[Persian Empire|Persians]]. The last king of Lapethos was Praxippos.<ref name=historycy/>

===Roman, Byzantine and Lusignan periods===
[[File:Chypriotische koninkrijken.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Map showing the ancient city-kingdoms of Cyprus]]
During the period of the [[Roman Empire]], Lapethos had more than 10,000 inhabitants. It formed one of the four districts of Cyprus. From ancient times, Lapithos became a centre for the processing of copper and more importantly an earthenware centre.<ref name=historycy/>

During the [[Early Christian|proto-Christian period]] (25 BC – 250 AD) Lapethos experienced a great commercial drive because of the plethora of its produce, but also because of its port and its shipyard. During this period Lapethos was given the name Lambousa, "shining", maybe because of its shining wealth or because of its shining beauty and cleanliness or because of its lighthouse, which shed shining light to the surrounding region.<ref name=historycy/>

During the first years of Christianity the apostles [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]], [[Barnabas]] and [[Mark the Evangelist|Mark]] passed by Lapethos coming from [[Tarsus (city)|Tarsus]]. According to Apostle [[Barnabas]], Lapethos had [[city wall]]s. He cites that during his second tour with Apostle Mark, they stayed outside the walls because they were not given access to the city. In late antiquity, Lapethos enjoyed great prosperity in commerce as well as in riches, art and development. Bishop of Lapithos Theodotos (c. 314–324) died a [[martyr]] in [[Kyrenia]] while Bishop Didymos was represented at the [[Council of Chalcedon|4th Ecumenical Synod]] (451) by Saint Eulaleus or Eulampius, whose chapel can still be found near the [[Acheiropoietos Monastery]].<ref name=historycy/>

Lapethos was heavily damaged during the Arab incursions. The population often had to flee and take refuge in the interior.<ref name=historycy/>

Upon the [[Byzantine]] recovery of Cyprus from the [[Arabs]] in 965, Lapithos's refugees returned to their town to rebuild it in a new location, but chose to stay away from the sea, relocating it to the foot of mountain [[Pentadactylos]].<ref name=historycy/>

During the [[Kingdom of Cyprus|Lusignan period]], Lapithos boasted a greater population than [[Limassol]], [[Famagusta]] or [[Paphos]]. 3000 troops were stationed at Lapithos under the command of [[Zanetto Dandolo]] in the years preceding the [[Ottoman conquest of Cyprus]] in 1571. Dandolo was killed during the defence of [[Nicosia]].<ref name=historycy/>

===Ottoman period===
In 1780 a section of Lapithos was split off to form a new village, [[Karavas]].<ref name=historycy/>

===British rule===
{{further|British Cyprus (1878–1960)}}
Lapithos became a municipality soon after the transfer of power to the British rule, with Andreas Koumides becoming the first mayor.<ref name=historycy>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.lapithos.org.cy/default.aspx?articleID=2857|publisher=Lapithos Municipality|access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref>