Cyprus my island

Kyrenia (Greek: Κερύνεια, Turkish: Girne) is a town on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. Internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyrenia has been under Turkish control since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. Once predominantly inhabited by Greek Cypriots, Kyrenia's population consists now largely of Turkish Cypriots and settlers from Turkey.

Kyrenia dates to the end of the Trojan War and it was founded by the Achaeans, ancient Greek colonists from the Peloponnese who established towns in the district. Evidence from archaeological sites excavated in and around the town of Kyrenia evidence settlement since the Neolithic period, 5800-3000 BC. Mycenaean (Achaean) tombs dating from 1300-500s BC and geometric artefacts have also been discovered. A fine climate, fertile soil and an abundance of water offered ideal conditions for the town's early settlement.
Cepheus from 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. One such town, located near present-day Aigio in the Peloponnese, was also called Kyrenia. East of Kyrenia lays the "Coast of Achaeans". It was at Kyrenia, according to Strabo, that Teucer came first ashore, to found the ancient Kingdom of Salamis after the Trojan war.

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

In 1974, there were 47 villages in the district of Kyrenia. Greeks and Maronite Cypriots constituted 83% of the total district's population, Turkish Cypriots constituted 15% of the total district's population. On July 20, 1974, the Turkish army invaded the island of Cyprus landing at 5-Mile point, east of Kyrenia town. Gaining ground against the local forces it reached the town of Kyrenia on 22 July 1974 during the UN-sponsored cease fire. The Turkish forces occupied the town and subsequently and methodically ethnically cleansed it of all its Greeks Cypriot, Maronite Cypriot, Armenian Cypriot and Latin inhabitants. Subsequently, Turkish Cypriots from elsewhere in Cyprus and settlers from Turkey moved in, with the result that the town's ethnic make-up is predominantly Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot. The town remains to this day under Turkish occupation.