Xylofagou potato victim of weekend storms
The big potato, a cultural landmark in Xylofagou in the Larnaca district, lies on the ground after toppling off its stand due to extreme weather conditions over the weekend.
According to Facebook page ‘The Big Potato Cyprus’, the prevailing winds and rain on Saturday and Sunday caused the statue to fall off its stand.
“The potato has not been fixed yet,” the municipality told the Cyprus Mail on Monday morning.
The trademark monument, inspired by ‘The Big Fish’ statue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was designed by Xylofagou community leader George Tasou.
Erected in October 2021, the fiberglass potato measures 4.9m in height. It is a dedication to the area, which is famous for its red-soil potatoes.
The controversial artwork sparked debates and witty comments on social media.
“I’ve seen the Burj Khalifa, I have gazed upon the Colosseum, and I once stepped foot onto the Eiffel tower – but nothing prepared me for the life altering majesty of the Big Potato,” one tourist said describing his visit to the potato statue.
“As I stood before its curvaceous glory, I felt a deep, spiritual connection with the Potato Gods. Tourists wept, pigeons bowed and somewhere a bag of chips felt inadequate.”
The potato has provoked a profoundly divided response, being lauded as a must-see by some and criticised by others.
Soon after it was erected in 2021, the monument was defaced with a football slogan, “Anola Μ94 F.G.”, prompting the community to proceed with the installation of a surveillance system to protect the Big Potato.