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HOW THE NAME KAKOPETRIA WAS DERIVEDThere were many huge stones in the area when people began to inhabit it, stones which had been carried downstream from Mt. Olympus thousands of years before. This made movement very difficult and the first part of the name is derived from this, i.e. Kako = bad.
Even though they were in the way to begin with they were soon put to good use. They were used as foundations for the houses, even today one can see these huge stones protruding from the bases of these houses.
One of the largest stones carried down by the river was left at the head of the river, before the river divides. Below it lies the bridge that was once part of the old road from Kakopetria on the one side, and to Troodos on the other. The stone clearly marks the beginning of the old village and serves as a gateway from the new to the old. The stone is called the Stone of the Newly-weds, i.e. Petra tou Androginou = Stone of the Couple.
 The Stone of the Newly-Weds It is called this because for hundreds of years it has been the the tradition that after the wedding ceremony the newly-wed couple should go to the stone and walk round it. When they have done this they should step onto it and make a wish. This wish should be that their love will be as strong and steady as the stone. However, during one of the ceremonies an accident happened that may be a explanation of the name, Bad Stone. One day a newlywed couple were standing on the stone when it rolled over, resulting in their deaths. There are two explanations for the movement of the stone. One is that an earth tremor caused the stone to move. The other, more probable explanation, is that the movement of the couple on the stone cause it be to dislodged from its precarious position. In recent years the base of the stone has been cemented to prevent it rolling again. |
Local History