In the center of Famagusta, opposite the entrance to the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, grows an ancient tree of colossal size. According to botanists, it was planted at the time when the construction of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas began (which was later converted into the mosque we see today), so its age is over 720 years, making it one of the oldest living trees on the island. Planted at the moment the foundation was laid (in 1298), it still delights the eye with its green crowns, whose fruits, according to local legends, help women who dream of having children.
This tree has many names, but it is best known in the scientific world as Ficus sycomorus, or sycamore. Many also know it as the biblical fig tree — it is believed that this tree is mentioned in the Bible. It is also called fig mulberry, and locals call it “kumbes.”
The sycamore originates from Africa, from Egypt, and is widespread in many parts of the continent, as well as in the southern Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.
The main trunk of the tree is surrounded by smaller trunks that have grown into the main one and provide it with additional support, relying on the massive root system. According to local folklore, seven trunks surround the main trunk, each representing one hundred years of its past.
Sources:
https://cyprus-faq.com/ru/north/mesta/oldest-fig-tree-cyprus/
