Cyprus: Its Ancient Cities, Tombs, and Temples
A Narrative of Researches and Excavations during Ten Years' Residence

This 1877 work sketches Cypriot history and customs as well as describing discoveries made by a controversial Italian-American amateur archaeologist.

Luigi Palma di Cesnola (Author)

9781108078610, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 March 2015

498 pages, 188 b/w illus. 2 maps
15 x 23 x 3 cm, 0.75 kg

Born in Italy, Luigi Palma di Cesnola (1832–1904) settled in the United States and fought for the North in the American Civil War, becoming a cavalry colonel. Appointed by Abraham Lincoln, he then served as consul to Cyprus from 1865 to 1877. As an amateur archaeologist, he directed excavations throughout the island. In this 1877 publication, including maps and illustrations, Cesnola gives a useful sketch of Cypriot history and contemporary customs in addition to providing an important record of his archaeological practices and discoveries. He covers a number of ancient settlements where significant finds were made, notably Paphos, Amathus and Kourion. Many of the uncovered artefacts were controversially removed from Cyprus and sold to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art; Cesnola served as its first director. His brother Alessandro's Salaminia (1882), recording his own excavations and discoveries in Cyprus, is also reissued in this series.

Preface
Introduction
1. Appointed American consul at Cyprus
2. Country life
3. Several consuls obtain firmans to excavate
4. Athieno (Golgoi)
5. Removal of sculptures to Larnaka
6. The Cretan revolution
7. Paphos
8. Paphos founded by Phoenicians
9. Amathus
10. Curium
11. Curium founded by Argives
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: Archaeology by period / region [HDD]