In the 16th and 17th century, the village is marked in most medieval maps as Chrisonera, whereas it is more rarely marked as Crissonerga in medieval, as well as in later maps. Possibly, the name Chrisonera is linked to the village’s abundance of water, which was considered, according to the Great Cyprus Encyclopaedia, as its “gold”, due to the frequent water shortage and as Kleanthis I. Vakis remarks, due to the great contribution of water to agriculture and the economy. No matter which of the two versions regarding the naming of the village is valid, it is obvious that the village’s abundance of water was of extreme importance.
Some researchers support that the present name of the village is linked to the plant ivy (kissos), a plant which was linked during the ancient years to god Dionysus. It therefore has the name of the plant in the first part of the name and the word “erga” in the second part. As Vakis observes, the second part is not relevant. |
