Karpasia (town)

Karpasia, known in ancient Greek as Καρπάσεια and Latinized as Carpasia, was a prominent town located on the northern shore of Cyprus's Karpas Peninsula. Established potentially as early as the 7th century BCE by the Phoenician king Pygmalion of Tyre, the town featured a notable harbor, with its construction showcasing Phoenician architectural influences. The town is referenced in classical literature, with the earliest mention in 399 BCE. A crucial historical event occurred in 306 BCE when Demetrius I of Macedon landed at Karpasia during his military campaign. The town is further recorded in the Delphic inscriptions and had ecclesiastical significance, evidenced by the ordination of its first known bishop in the 4th century CE. Despite its decline as a residential bishopric, Carpasia remains a titular see in the Roman Catholic Church, marking its enduring historical and religious significance.