Éya - goat

Ioannis Erotokritos in his Glossary mentions the following about éya: the male is called "tráoullos" (trágos), the young of éya is called "rífin" (erífio). Erífia, both male and female, if they are suckling, are called "rífkia". When they are weaned, the males are called "kokkorífkia" and the females are called 'povízia' until they become one year old. When they are older than one year of age, the male is called a 'chronión'. When the third year begins, the male is called "dkétis" [two-year-old], and the female "dketinón" [two-year-old]. The colours and markings of goats are numerous and curious. An éya with very small ears is called 'mítena' and a tragos is called "mitas"; an éya that is black in colour with large white spots or white in colour with large black spots is called "partala" and a tragos is called "partalos", an éya which is black in colour with small black spots is called 'litsé' and a tragos "litsós", an éya which is any colour other than black and white with any other small spots is called "fitílla" etc.

Out of the combinations of the above colours and markings come other innumerable names for éya, when the animal has two or more of the above colours and markings, e.g. 'litsoskavkara', 's̆ilionopartala', 'kamasotroulla', 'vlangophytilla', 'kots̆inomitena', 'sieromitena', 'pyromitena', 'kamasolitsa', 'mavropsari', 'agrinokamasi', etc. It should be noted that these names are used in the Limassol district and especially in the community of Avdimou. Each of the other districts has its own names. Sometimes even the shepherds themselves get confused, not being able to understand each other regarding the colours and marks of the goats (Kypri 1989, entry αιγια,η, 63-64).