Few countries can trace the course of their history over 10,000 years, but in approximately 8,000 BC the island of Cyprus was already inhabited and going through its Neolithic Age. Of all the momentous events that were to sweep the country through the next few thousand years, one of the most crucial was the discovery of copper - or Kuprum in Latin - the mineral which took its name from "Kypros", the Greek name of Cyprus, and generated untold wealth.
During the Venetian period (1489-1571 AD) copper was traded with Egypt for silk and gold, hence the trading routes in Cyprus were developed.
The Old Venetian Camel Trail, passing south of Chryssorogiatissa Monastery, goes into some of the remoter parts of the island. There are three Venetian bridges on the route: Elia, Kelephos and Roudias further West. The bridges were built to enable pack animals, mainly camels, to cross the river when carrying copper from the Troodos mines to Paphos.