Akanthou is a large Greek community in the occupied part of the Ammochostos District.

Geographical Location: It lies 34 km Northwest of Ammochostos, on the northern slopes of the Pentadaktylos range at an elevation of 200m.

Population: The population of this community in 1960 numbered 1507 (all Greeks). Its Greek population in 1973 was 1.294.

Christian Places of Worship: Within this community, is the church of Metamorfosis Sotiros / Chrysosotiros and the chapels of Agios Ioannis, Agios Mikallos, Agios Perpyros (ancient monument), Agia Paraskevi, Archangelos, Agios Charalampos, Agia Eirini, Agios Nikolaos (Laxia), Agios Savvas, Agios Merkourios, Agios Theodoros, Agia Foteini, Agios Pavlos, Agioi Pantes, Apostolos Andreas, Panagia Melissa, Panagia trion Teratsion (Kanakarias), Agia Varnava, Panagia Pergamou (ancient monument) (Byzantine), Agios Therapon (anceint), Agios Georgios tou Teichiou, Agios Chrysostomos (ancient), Agia Marina.

Schools: The 1 Greek Primary Schools had 119 students during the 1973-74 school year.

Effects of the 1974 Turkish Invasion: During the Turkish Invasion of 1974, this community was taken over by the Turkish army and as a result the whole of its Greek population was ethnically cleansed. Since then, the Turkish occupation forces and the illegal occupation authority prevent their return.