Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 97-02-07

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

News Update

Friday, 07/02/97

CONTENTS

• [01] Unique ancient statues found in Tamassos
• [02] Houston chapel museum to house Cyprus frescoes

[01] Unique ancient statues found in Tamassos

The chance discovery was made while special work was being carried out by the Department of Antiquities to strengthen the walls and roofs of the two royal tombs at Tamassos.

The tombs were originally discovered by the 19th century German archaeologist, Max Ohnefalsch Richter, between 1889 and 1894.

The new finds date from the middle of the 6th century BC and are characterised by a strong Egyptian influence, which is not surprising considering Cyprus was under the Egyptians from 565 to 545 BC.

The six pieces are all large and were found in excellent condition. They now need cleaning, which involves getting rid of the soil, and stabilising, or fixing, of the faint red and blue colours with which parts of them are painted. Demos Christou, the Director of the Antiquities Department, described the statues as unique.

"As far as we know these limestone statues are unique in their style and size and probably belong to the royal tombs or to other as yet unknown tombs ".

The Department has already begun the systematic excavation of the site to ascertain the reason for the presence of the statues. After they are fully restored, they will be put on permanent display at the Cyprus museum.

Tamassos, which is thought to have been the original capital of Cyprus is situated 15 km southwest of Nicosia. This district was once famed for its huge supplies of copper. According to legend, the town was sacred to Aphrodite, who had a temple there, in which grew a tree which produced the three golden apples she presented to Hippomenes.

[02] Houston chapel museum to house Cyprus frescoes

The opening will include a brief ceremony with remarks by former US President George Bush and Houston arts patron Dominique de Menil, President of the Byzantine Fresco Foundation, which acquired and restored the frescoes after they were stolen from the small church in the village of Lysi in the occupied part of Cyprus and smuggled abroad.

The frescoes, originally in the dome and the apse of the chapel at Lysi have been given a religious setting similar to the one for which they had been created. Ms Dominique de Menil bought the frescoes in 1983, restored them and commissioned her son, Francois, an architect, to create a building that would powerfully express a religious sensibility and house the frescoes in an environment resembling their original one.

Ms Dominique de Menil turned over ownership of the frescoes to the Church of Cyprus - the legal owners. Archbishop Chrysostomos, Head of the Church of Cyprus, agreed with Ms de Menil's desire to keep the frescoes on loan and have them displayed in the chapel museum in Houston, as their original chapel is still under Turkish occupation.

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article