TAPATZIA

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After their baking, breads and various bakery goods were placed in the kophinia or tapatzia, a bread storage device consisting of a wooden annulus filled with a plant rope braided net. This device was hanged from the roof of the house to keep the stored food safe and well ventilated. Often, a thorny bush branch was attached to the upper part of the suspension rope to impede the descent of rodents.

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The materials used for the construction of the tapatzia were wood, straw (floudi reed) and string. At earlier times, craftsmen used mulberry (Morus Alba) twigs or other pliable types of wood to construct the annulus, which was then encircled with vegetable rope made of straw for consolidation and to create a surface to attach the braided interior net. The latter was then constructed by braiding the same type of vegetable rope and was attached to the annulus, while three or more bands, also of straw (floudi reed) rope, were attached to the periphery of the annulus to hang the object by tying together their other end to the suspension rope. Finally, at Paphos the tapatzia base net was constructed with rope made of cane or reeds, hence the derivation of the name kalamia or kalamoti (made of cane/reed).