Cyprus Museum

	Cyprus Museum
	General Remarks
	The Cyprus Museum can be found in the Greek part of Nikosia (or Lefkosia, as the Turks call it). While its goodies are not in the same league as those in the museums in Athens, Rome or Istanbul, a visit is definitely worthwhile. As far as metal objects are concerned, it has quite a few, far more than the 8 museums in Rome combined that I visited in 2016.
		However, if you hope to learn something about the Copper and Bronze industry that was so prominent in Cyprus from about 2500 BC to 500 AD, or about the role of Cyprus in pioneering iron, you will be disappointed. That is not to say that there aren't any artifacts concerning copper, bronze and iron, just that not much relates to the topics mentioned.
	A few general points first: The illumination is quite mixed. In some rooms it is rather good, in others it is abysmal. The explanations are short but generally adequate. There are even books about the museum with good pictures (a pleasant surprise!) Taking pictures (no flash, of course) is allowed but a bit difficult since there are lots of reflections. The museum is full of ceramics. One does find the usual Greek pots and so on but also unique and quite charming things (see below). Quite interesting are replicas of graves with the goodies still in there (including the owner), and cases that show ceramics from various times grouped around a common topic. I will first present a bunch of pictures (plus some text) on non-metallic objects and then turn to the metal stuff. I will include some pictures from other museum on Cyprus when adequate.

Some Non-Metallic Objects of General Interest (to Me)

The most spectacular exhibit is a group of 2000 terra-cotta figurines from the 6th and 7th century BC, found in the sanctuary of Ayia Irini. Sizes range from life-size to miniature, and the grouping reproduces the way the figurines were found. The pictures below can only give a weak impression of that breathtaking ensemble:




Figurines deposited in the sanctuary of Ayia Irini. All but 2 are male,
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

The sanctuary was in use from about 1200 BC to 600 BC or so. It does remind one of places like Altötting in Bavaria, where (catholic) people deposit sculptures of bodies and body parts in the hope of a better future concerning the health of same.

Lots of things are of a charming naivete, outright playful or just funny (to us):

Large version

One more
Charming pots and ceramics. The top ones are from the "Bronze Age", the bottom ones from around 500 BC
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

Most everything was found in graves, and there are a few cool settings of of typical sepulchres containing the real artifacts including the remains of the owner:


What a grave looked like. Note the (obviously valuable) bronze weapons
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

Here is an example of the topical exhibits mentioned above. The topics shown are is "Ritual" and "Warriors, Riders". Other topics are "Music; Dance or "Cult, Myth".

Of course the museum has a lot of stone and marble sculptures plus a few bronze ones. Some are rather good, the rest is often quite interesting if not of prime artistic value. Here are two highlights:


Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (193 - 211 AD) Aphrodite (my guess)
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

Last, a few examples of the topical exhibits mentioned above. The topics shown are "Warriors, Riders" and "Ritual". Other topics are "Music; Dance" or "Cult, Myth".



Warriors, Riders
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016



Ritual
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

Some Metallic Objects

There is a big room full of metal objects, the picture below gives an idea:


Succession of cases with metal objects
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

We have very well preserved (Greek type) helmets and all kinds of vessels in the background. The we have the major show pieces:


Famous "Horned God"
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016


The "Copper" God, standing on an oxhide Copper ingot. 12th century BC
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

The museum does have (badly cast) oxhide ingots, sort of:


Miniature copper ingots. Toys for kids? Samples for the salesperson?
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

Of course we also find weapons typical for Cyprus:


Typical "willow-leaf" shaped bronze weapons of Cyprus. These beauties are from the ....
Source: Photographed in the in Oct. 2016


Bronze weapons in the Cyprus Museum
Source: Photographed in the in Oct. 2016

Nice but no match for what you find in "my" museum in Schleswig, Germany. While the Cypriots had the copper and made bronze in large quantities, the old Germans up north couldn't make those things but obviously were wealthy enough to buy the stuff in quantities, And that's why you find it there.
Future archaeologists will find lots of good stuff in Saudia Arabia and thereabout even so these guys cannot make a cell phone or a Mercedes. They will find very little at the places were cell phones were made. And where is that? Do you know?

More interesting perhaps than the weapons is the collection of bronze tools exhibited in the museum. Here are some examples:



Bronze tools
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

Then we have the pendant to the big bronze cauldron stand shown here. They also have a huge and showy bronze cauldron but I will not show this here.


Bronze cauldron stand
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

How about iron? The following pictures shows the (almost) complete collection:


"Roman Sword", Iron (2^nd - 3^rd century AD)
Source: Photographed in the Cyprus Museum in Oct. 2016

To conclude: If you make it to Cyprus, go see the museum. Watch out for the details! It is definitely good for a few hours of pleasurable education and good fun.

With frame

Critical Museum Guide

Critical Museum Guide: Landesmuseum Schleswig-Holstein in Schleswig, Germany

10.1.5 Copper Final

Large Pictures III

The Cyprus Copper and Bronze Industry