Cyprus-Forum.com

[Nikitas]

Re the name Limassol, or Limasol, according to the official site of the town municipality, Constantine Porhyrogennitos referred to the town as Nemesos, and that was back in the 10th century. It was called Theodosiani and then Neapolis before that. From Nemesos it is easy to figure out how Lemesos and then Limasol came about. So Lemesos is a lot closer to the original Nemesos than the latinish sounding Limasol.

Maybe someone will come up with a theory how the production of Lima beans in the area and the sunny climate gave rise to Lima Sol!

[iceman]

Being word oriented by profession I look at the etymology of words. Fama Gusta, sounds like Fameglorious looking at the Latin roots. A name which the Venetians gave the place. But the Venetians did not find it empty of people, it must have been called something before that by the locals. Ammo Hostos, buried in the sand, was it used before the Venetians? I do not know, but there is plenty of sand there for sure!

Varosi, from Varoush, the place to which the subservient local were banished, so as not to crowd Famagusta. If you refer to Thomson's writings, of 1878, he says some interesting things about the fever in the area and the creativity of the inhabitans of Varosi.

As to the origins of Nicosia it has been settled. Now as to Limasol, that is a tough one. Anyone know the etymology of the word?

The town of Lemesos (Limassol) is situated between the ancient towns of Amathus and Curium. The English King Richard the Lionheart destroyed Amathus in 1191. Lemesos (Limassol) was probably built after Amathus had been ruined. However, the town of Lemesos (Limassol) was inhabited since the very old times. Graves that were found there date back to 2.000 B.C. and others date back to the 8th and 4th century B.C. These few remains that were left behind show that a small colonization must have existed which did not manage to develop and flourish.

The ancient writers mention nothing about the foundation of the town.

According to the Synod which took place in 451 B.C.; the bishop of Theodossiani Sotir as well as the bishops of Amathus and Arsinoe were involved in the foundation. Theodossiani is regarded the same as Lemesos (Limassol) was known later as Neapolis. The records of the 7th Synod (787) refer to it as the bishop’s see. The town was known as Nemesos in the 10th century. Constantine Porfyrogennitos refers to the town by this name.

source:
http://www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy/his ... assol.html

[iceman]

According to another book i have on names of locations in Cyprus,Limassol has had quite few other names throughout history.

Carium
Cumdium
Curias
Curium
L'Ampso
Lemesos
Lemiso
Lemisos
Lemission
Lemsoun
Limechon
Limesol
Limeson
Limisso
Limissus
Limozin
Lymason
Lymasons
Lymessa
Lymissa
Missag
Misso
Nemesos
Nemosia
Nimesso
Nimesson
Nymocia
Nimosioa

[denizaksulu]

According to another book i have on names of locations in Cyprus,Limassol has had quite few other names throughout history.

Carium
Cumdium
Curias
Curium
L'Ampso
Lemesos
Lemiso
Lemisos
Lemission
Lemsoun
Limechon
Limesol
Limeson
Limisso
Limissus
Limozin
Lymason
Lymasons
Lymessa
Lymissa
Missag
Misso
Nemesos
Nemosia
Nimesso
Nimesson
Nymocia
Nimosioa

Looks like each 'ruler' with diferent dialects or different authors have used different pronounciations and put down in writing. We must remember ancient authors and map makers would create 'manuscripts' without ever visiting the country. Its all good history.

Thanks Iceman again.

[iceman]

Similar research on Famagusta also reveals some different names throughout history

Amelek
Ammochostos
Arsinoe
Fama Agosta
Famagosse
Famagost
Famagosta
Famagouce
Famagvsta
Famavgvsta
Maghusa
Magoussa
Tamassus

[Nikitas]

I note the names are in alphabetical and not chronological order of use.

But overall the names Limasol and Nicosia we can agree are not the names used by natives of the towns in historical times.

As for Nicosia, among the GCs it was mostly called Hora, a traditional name for the main town of an island and still used today in all Greek islands to refer to the capital, a tradition which must have been around centuries ago. Also the inhabitants of the capital were called Horaites, and that is a term I have heard only in Cyprus. It is distinct from Horiatis (peasant, villager) in fact it denotes a bourgeois (as far as Cyprus can have a bourgeoisie!) person who stands a tad above the Horiatis.

[denizaksulu]

I note the names are in alphabetical and not chronological order of use.

But overall the names Limasol and Nicosia we can agree are not the names used by natives of the towns in historical times.

As for Nicosia, among the GCs it was mostly called Hora, a traditional name for the main town of an island and still used today in all Greek islands to refer to the capital, a tradition which must have been around centuries ago. Also the inhabitants of the capital were called Horaites, and that is a term I have heard only in Cyprus. It is distinct from Horiatis (peasant, villager) in fact it denotes a bourgeois (as far as Cyprus can have a bourgeoisie!) person who stands a tad above the Horiatis.

We had a similar term. 'Shehir' meaning town. We would say 'shehre gidiyorum'. This specifically meant going to Nicosia Just like 'istin poli' perhaps.

[Nikitas]

Deniz,
that is interesting, I always wondered if the TCs had the same respect for the capital, now I know.

[iceman]

I note the names are in alphabetical and not chronological order of use.

But overall the names Limasol and Nicosia we can agree are not the names used by natives of the towns in historical times.

As for Nicosia, among the GCs it was mostly called Hora, a traditional name for the main town of an island and still used today in all Greek islands to refer to the capital, a tradition which must have been around centuries ago. Also the inhabitants of the capital were called Horaites, and that is a term I have heard only in Cyprus. It is distinct from Horiatis (peasant, villager) in fact it denotes a bourgeois (as far as Cyprus can have a bourgeoisie!) person who stands a tad above the Horiatis.

We had a similar term. 'Shehir' meaning town. We would say 'shehre gidiyorum'. This specifically meant going to Nicosia Just like 'istin poli' perhaps.

Correction Deniz
Shehir or Sheher was used for Nicosia but it was more of a name to describe it as a city or capital...
Equivalent name for a "town" was "kasaba" which was used mainly for central Paphos

[denizaksulu]

I note the names are in alphabetical and not chronological order of use.

But overall the names Limasol and Nicosia we can agree are not the names used by natives of the towns in historical times.

As for Nicosia, among the GCs it was mostly called Hora, a traditional name for the main town of an island and still used today in all Greek islands to refer to the capital, a tradition which must have been around centuries ago. Also the inhabitants of the capital were called Horaites, and that is a term I have heard only in Cyprus. It is distinct from Horiatis (peasant, villager) in fact it denotes a bourgeois (as far as Cyprus can have a bourgeoisie!) person who stands a tad above the Horiatis.

We had a similar term. 'Shehir' meaning town. We would say 'shehre gidiyorum'. This specifically meant going to Nicosia Just like 'istin poli' perhaps.

Correction Deniz
Shehir or Sheher was used for Nicosia but it was more of a name to describe it as a city or capital...
Equivalent name for a "town" was "kasaba" which was used mainly for central Paphos

Agreed, I said that. Specifically for Nicosia.