Overview

According to tradition, "The Tower" survived the Frankish occupation (1192-1489 AD), although it was renamed to "The Tower of Rigaina" later. The cartographer Leonidas Attar marked it on his handwritten map in 1542 AD. References speak of the existence of such observation towers in Cyprus from the Byzantine era (325-1192 AD). The towers were watchtowers built on the tops of the mountains. This particular Tower watched over the Gulf of Morphou - Pentagyia - Solon from the raids of the Saracens and Arabs. When enemy ships were spotted, fires were lit and the inhabitants of the lowlands rushed to take shelter in the mountains. (Study by Kostas Myriantheas) During the Byzantine period, due to multiple enemy raids they had worked out a communication system to transmit signals to defend the peoples and territories of the Empire. Regarding the defense of these communication tower stations, and raising the morale of the People, they had invented a mythical superhuman hero, Digenis Akrita. This mighty, mythical defender had his base in similar towers. This strategically important tower oversaw the main northern passageway, which led to the western coast of the island, and the escape points to Europe. The adjacent states of Trullinos and Marathos hosted a large number of refugees due to the upcoming siege of Nicosia. This was another reason for the fortification of the hill, at this exact spot of the ancient tower of Digenis Akrita.