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ANNOUNCEMENT The Department of Antiquities announces that the Ethnological Museum – House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios in Lefkosia will be closed to the public from the 1st of September 2024 until the 31st of December 2025, due to restoration works.
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that the Cyprus Medieval Museum (Lemesos Castle) will closed to the public on the 26th July 2024, due to an emergency situation. The museum will be open tomorrow, 27 July 2024. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
HALA SULTAN MOSQUE
NOT ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS ON 19 JUNE 2024
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that, due to the celebrations of Kurban Bayram or Eid Al-Adha, an organised visit by a large number of pilgrims will take place at the Mosque of Hala Sultan in Larnaka. The mosque will not be accessible to the general public on Wednesday 19 June 2024.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
NEW OPENING HOURS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF PALAEPAPHOS (SANCTUARY OF APHRODITE) AND LOCAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF PALAEPAPHOS, KOUKLIA
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that from 1st July 2024, the Archaeological site of Palaepaphos (Sanctuary of Aphrodite) and the Local Archaeological Museum of Palaepaphos, opening hours will change as follows:
Tuesday – Sunday: 8.30 – 17.00
Monday: Closed
HALA SULTAN MOSQUE: NOT ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS
ON 11 APRIL 2024, 10:30-15:00
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that due to an organised visit by a large number of pilgrims, the Mosque of Hala Sultan in Larnaka will not be accessible to the general public on Thursday 11 April, from 10:30 to 15:00.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces to the public that the sanitary facilities of the archaeological site of Kourion will be closed, due to maintenance works, for a period of four (4) weeks from the 8th April 2024. Biological toilets will be available.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
EMERGENCY CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM - HOUSE OF HADJIGEORGAKIS KORNESIOS IN LEFKOSIA
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that the Ethnological Museum - House of Hadjiegeorgakis Kornesios in Lefkosia, will remain closed to the public on Saturday 30 of March 2024, for emergency conservation works.
The Department of Antiquities apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
DONATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture announces that on the 29th of February 2024 Dr. Nicholas Stanley-Price generously donated to the Department of Antiquities part of his personal photographic archive (containing 300 slides), formed during his archaeological fieldwork in Cyprus in the early 1970s. Furthermore, Dr. Stanley-Price has provided a copy of Richard Cleave’s ‘Pictorial Archive Near Eastern History. The Crusades, the segment on Cyprus’. The material was received at the Cyprus Museum, by the Director of the Department of Antiquities Dr. Giorgos Georgiou and Ms. Eftychia Zachariou, Curator of Antiquities. The Department of Antiquities wishes to warmly thank Dr. Stanley-Price for his generous donation, which provides a rare glimpse of the landscape and ancient monuments of Cyprus during the 1970s. The donation of photographic material, historical correspondence and other types of archives to the Department of Antiquities constitutes the safest means of preserving and safeguarding valuable information on Cyprus’ archaeological heritage.
More information will be made available on the Department of Antiquities’ website once the digitisation of the archives has been completed.
Nicholas Stanley-Price obtained a D.Phil. degree from the University of Oxford on Early Prehistoric Settlement in Cyprus: a gazetteer of sites. He carried out archaeological research and administration in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle east for twelve years. He held posts in archaeological administration and research in Jerusalem and the Sultanate of Oman. He then was on the staff of ICCROM, the international conservation organization in Rome (1982-1986) and the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles (1987 - 1995), specialising in archaeological conservation and professional education. After two years as an independent consultant, he joined the Institute of Archaeology at University College London where he taught site conservation and management (1998-2000), introducing a new M.A. programme on the topic. From 2000 until 2005 he was Director-General of ICCROM in Rome, where he resides until today.
CYPRUS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces the completion of the archaeological surveys conducted during two educational workshops organised by the Cyprus Regional Development Project (CRDP) of the Honor Frost Foundation (HFF). The Project is directed by Prof. Lucy Blue (University of Southampton). Dr Maria Michael is the Project Officer.
This project aims to explore the maritime cultural resources of the island of Cyprus and develop an integrated approach to recording archaeology. It is a partnership with colleagues from the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), and MarEA project (Universities of Ulster and Southampton, UK) and works closely with other experts in Cyprus, as well as partners from the HFF region (Egypt and Lebanon). All partners are involved in delivering training workshops and fieldwork to enhance regional capacity development leading to a broader regional skill base. Participants in these workshops included maritime archaeologists, photographers, geologists, and marine biologists from Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, and Lebanon.
In November 2023, two educational workshops, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Remote Sensing workshop, and a Geoarchaeology workshop, were conducted in the regions of Agia Napa, Ammochostos (Famagusta) and the Akrotiri Peninsula, Lemesos (Limassol) in Cyprus. Firstly, the UAV and Remote Sensing Workshop was organised and conducted from the 6th to the 10th of November 2023. This workshop was delivered by Dr Dimitrios Skarlatos, Dr Athos Agapiou, and Marinos Vlachos (Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics: Photogrammetric Vision Lab & Earth Observation Cultural Heritage Lab of the CUT) with the support of the MarEA project. It aimed to introduce the basic principles of aerial photogrammetry, the use of drones for mapping, flight planning, aerial triangulation, and the importance of remote sensing in archaeology.
During this workshop, an aerial (UAV drone) survey was also conducted using two drones, an Autel evo II Pro RTK for the RGB imagery and a DJI P4 Multispectral for the multispectral data acquisition. This survey was held at the archaeological site of Makronissos, Agia Napa. The purpose of this aerial (UAV drone) survey was to provide the participants with a hands-on experience of flight planning, data acquisition, and processing. Consequently, this survey resulted in the creation of a detailed orthophoto map on the Makronissos Peninsula archaeological site and a multispectral orthophoto.
A second workshop in Marine Geoarchaeology was conducted between the 11th and 12th of November 2023. This workshop was delivered by Professor Apostolos Sarris and Dr Miltiadis Polidorou (Lab of Digital Humanities and Geoinformatics of the Archaeological Research Unit - University of Cyprus). Through this workshop, participants had the opportunity to learn about the geophysical processes, specifically the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and basic geomorphological processes that indicate landscape change, including aeolian processes, geomorphological sea-level indicators, coastal erosion, and erosional landforms, wave-cut platforms, and marine terraces. This will help them to be prepared for geoarchaeological surveys.
To achieve this aim, a small-scale geophysical survey using GPR equipment was conducted in two locations on the Akrotiri Peninsula, Lemesos, the Medieval Canal (Lady’s Mile Beach) and the Roman shipwreck excavation site (north of the Chapel of Agios Georgios). In association with this survey, shallow cores were taken using a handheld corer, to examine the stratigraphy, microfauna, and sediment grain size.
Figure 1: Workshop of Geoarchaeology. Geophysical Survey at the area of Akrotiri
Figure 2: Workshop of Geoarchaeology. Coring process at the area of Akrotiri
Figure 3: UAV survey at the archaeological site of Makronissos, Agia Napa
SUBJECT: CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE HOUSES OF DIONYSOS AND AION AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAFOS, AND THE HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that the Houses of Dionysos and Aion at the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, and the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, during the following dates:
House of Dionysos: 4 March 2024 – 8 March 2024
House of Aion: 11 March 2024 – 12 March 2024
House of Eustolios: 20 March 2024 – 21 March 2024
INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF AMATHOUS, 21st FEBRUARY 2024
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that on Wednesday the 21st February 2024 at 10:00 a.m. an international mountain bike race (Cyprus Sunshine Cup) will take place at the Archaeological Site of Amathous. During the previous days the site will be used for official training by the athletes.
The route that the cyclists will follow has been marked and there will be supervisors on site on behalf of the organizers. The Archaeological Site will be open to the public and on the 21st of February entrance will be free. Visitors to the Site are kindly requested to follow the instructions of the supervisors of the race as well as that of the antiquities guards and to be cautious when moving around the Site.
SUBJECT: IMPROVEMENT WORKS OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF MAA-PALAIOKASTRO,
PEGEIA MUNICIPALITY, PAFOS DISTRICT
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that the archaeological site of Maa-Palaiokastro, Pegeia Municipality, Pafos District will be closed to the public, due to scheduled improvement works of the electrical installation, during the following period: Tuesday, 17 of October to Thursday, 26 of October 2023.
TEMPORARY EXHIBITION “FIVE”, CYPRUS MUSEUM
EXTENSION OF THE EXHIBITION DURATION
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces the extension of the temporary exhibition FIVE at the Cyprus Museum, until Sunday the 7th January 2024. The exhibition, organized within the framework of the Face to Face: Meet an Ancient Cypriot (FF:MAC) project, had opened to the public on the 31st March 2023 and has since received thousands of visitors leaving praising remarks.
Responding to the warm reception of the public, the Department of Antiquities is scheduling a number of guided tours offered by the exhibition’s Curators, in days and times to be soon announced through its website (www.culture.gov.cy/da) as well as on its social media accounts.
What was it like living in Cyprus in ancient times? What were the people like, what did they do for a living, what did they eat, did they have hobbies, did they play games or have time for leisure? FIVE adopts an anthropocentric approach allowing the visitor to come “face to face” with the stories of people from the past, by translating scientific bioarchaeological information into narratives that (re)create moments of the life of: the man from Souskiou, the diadem child from Dromolaxia-Vyzakia, the man from Idalion, the woman from Omodos and the woman from Nicosia (Antigonou street). Their embodied experiences are presented by means of creative museological storytelling, using technology, sound, visuals, archaeological findings and site interpretation in order to help make archaeological knowledge more accessible, allowing the visitors to review the ways they think and learn about the past. Α separate space annexed to the main exhibition walks the visitor through the basic principles of bioarchaeology, the study of ancient human remains and the information that can be acquired from them regarding the lives of ancient individuals.
The Face to Face: Meet an Ancient Cypriot (FF:MAC) project is coordinated by The Cyprus Institute and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation (grant no. INTEGRATED/0609/0029).
Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 08.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 09.00 – 17.00
Sunday: 10.00 – 13.00
Monday: closed
Every first Wednesday of the month: 08.00 – 20.00
PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Antiquities, Deputy Ministry of Culture, announces that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Antiquities and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) on July 21, 2023. Recognizing the importance and mutual benefits of bilateral cooperation, the two institutions agreed to exchange knowledge and promote research programs to foster collaboration in Marine and Maritime Research. Specifically, the agreement aims to establish the principles governing the bilateral cooperation, focusing on Research and Innovation in the fields of Maritime Archaeology and Maritime Cultural Heritage.
The agreement was signed at the offices of the Department of Antiquities in Nicosia by the Director of the Department of Antiquities, Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, and the CEO of CMMI, Mr. Zacharias Siokouros, in the presence of Mrs Eftychia Zachariou, Curator of Antiquities, Department of Antiquities and Dr Anna Demetriou, Researcher at the Marine Culture Heritage Centre of CMMI.
Fikardou Rural Museum
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Fikardou Rural Museum, will remain closed to the public every Monday, starting Monday 12 June 2023. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
PRESS RELEASE
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY AND THE EUROPEAN NIGHT OF MUSEUMS, 2023
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) announce that, within the framework of International Museum Day 2023 (18th May), under the theme “Museums, Sustainability and Wellbeing”, and the European Night of Museums (13th May 2023) numerous events will be organized in 26 museums. Most events are organised with free entrance.
The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. This year’s theme, “Museums, Sustainability and Wellbeing” highlights the vital role that museums play in promoting sustainable development and well-being. As the world faces significant global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality, museums can help educate the public on these issues and encourage action towards positive change. There are many ways in which museums can contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: from supporting climate action and fostering inclusivity, to tackling social isolation and improving mental health. Museums around the world participate in the International Museum Day by hosting events, exhibitions, and activities that explore the theme of sustainability and well-being. These events showcase how museums are working to reduce their environmental impact, promote sustainable practices, and educate the public on the importance of sustainability.
Organised on and around the 18th of May each year, International Museum Day celebrations can last a day, a weekend, a whole week or even a month. Participation in International Museum Day is growing internationally. ICOM is an international non-governmental organisation made up of over 45.493 museum professionals in 123 countries and territories.
The public can download the programme of events from the Department of Antiquities’ website (www.mcw.gov.cy/da) and social media (Facebook and Instagram), as well as from the websites of the participating museums. The events will also be promoted on the social media platforms of the museums.
PRESS RELEASE
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, CYPRUS, CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MONUMENTS AND SITES,
18 APRIL 2023
18 April was established in 1983 by UNESCO as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, following a proposal by the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). To celebrate this important day, with the ultimate aim of raising awareness in society about the importance of culture, a different theme is promoted each year, which becomes an occasion for the organization of events and various actions, with the participation of citizens.
Within the general guidelines of ICOMOS International, the Department of Antiquities celebrates this year's day under the theme "Cultural Heritage in a Changing World", which allows for the organization of a wide range of events. These events are planned at monuments and sites where the environment and the use of natural resources have been of key importance, while particular emphasis has been placed on familiarizing young people with cultural heritage. In this context, many of the planned events involve the participation of young people from all levels of education (Elementary, Middle School, High School, Technical Schools, Public and Private Schools and University).
The Department of Antiquities, in the framework of the International Day of Monuments and Sites, will organize the following events in all Districts.
· Easter Tuesday - April 18
Free entrance to Archaeological Sites and Monuments of the Department of Antiquities for all visitors.
· Easter Wednesday –19 April in Polis Chrysochous – 11:00
Archaeological site of Marion-Arsinoe
Guided tour (in Greek) for the public by Archaeological Officer A΄ Dr. Efstathios Raptou.
· Tuesday – 25 April in Lefkosia (Nicosia) – 10:00
Archaeological site of Palaion Demarcheion
Guided tour (in Greek) for the public by Archaeological Officer Α΄ Ms. Chrysanthi Kounnou
· Tuesday – 25 April in Politiko
Archaeological site of Tamassos and new excavations in Politiko.
Educational activity with students of Tamassos Regional Primary School.
· Wednesday – 26 April in Lefkosia (Nicosia) – 10:00
Archaeological site of Ledroi (Hill of Agios Georgios - PASYDY)
Discussion with students of the University of Cyprus on the management of archaeological sites.
· Wednesday – 26 April in Lemesos (Limassol) – 10:00
Archaeological site of Amathous
Guided tour (in Greek) for the public by the Archaeological Officer Mr. Ioannis Violaris.
· Wednesday - 26 April in Agia Napa
Medieval Aqueduct and Monastery of Agia Napa
Educational activities with students of the Technical School of Paralimni and with students of the Primary School of Agia Napa.
· Thursday – 27 April in Larnaka
Remains of Abu Bekir urban Aqueduct in “Kamares”
Educational activity with students of Zenon Primary School.
· Thursday – 27 April in Lemesos (Limassol)
Archaeological site of Kourion
Educational activity with Cypriot and foreign students from Pallouriotissa High School in the framework of the Erasmus program.
· Thursday - 27 April in Letympou
Church of Saints Kyrikos and Iouliti
Educational activity with students of the Primary School of Polemi.
· Friday - 28 April in Larnaka
Remains of Abu Bekir urban Aqueduct in “Kamares”
Educational activity with students of Kamares Primary School.
· Friday – 28 April in Larnaka
Larnaka Castle
Educational activity with students of Drosia Primary School entitled “Seek, seek...and you shall find it!”
· Friday – 28 April in Kolossi
Archaeological site and Kolossi Castle
Educational activity with students of “The Island” Private School.
· Friday – 28 April in Polis Chrysochous - 19:00
Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Polis Chrysochou
Lecture (in Greek) open to the public entitled “The work of the Department of Antiquities in Polis Chrysochous. Presentation of the archaeological sites of Marion and Arsinoe”, by the Archaeological Officer A΄, Dr. Efstathios Raptou.
· Saturday – 29 April in Pegeia
Archaeological site of Agios Georgios Pegeias
Educational activity entitled “Agios Georgios Pegeias- 10 Educational Workbooks” with students from the Pancyprian Lyceum Larnaca and the Larnaca Makarios III Lyceum.
· Tuesday - 2 May in Lefkosia (Nicosia)
Archaeological site of Ledroi (Hill of Agios Georgios - PASYDY)
Educational activity with students of the Agia Varvara District High School and then with students of the Archbishop Makarios III High School (Platy).
LARNAKA CASTLE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that Larnaka Castle will remain closed for the public on Thursday the 6th of April 2023 from 8:00 until 13:00, due to construction works in the courtyard of the Castle.
The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE HOUSES OF DIONYSOS AND AION AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAFOS, AND THE HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Houses of Dionysos and Aion at the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, and the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, during the following dates:
House of Dionysos: 20 February 2023 – 25 February 2023
House of Aion: 1 March 2023 – 2 March 2023
House of Eustolios: 7 March 2023 – 8 March 2023 ANNOUNCEMENT
We would like to inform members of the public that due to a three-hour work stoppage by the staff on Thursday 26th of January 2023, the Museums, Monuments and Archaeological Sites of the Department of Antiquities will be closed between 12:00 - 15:00.
HALA SULTAN TEKKE, LARNAKA DISTRICT TEMPORARILY CLOSED
The Department of Antiquities, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that, as a result of the heavy rainfall noted in the Larnaka District on the 15th January 2022, the road leading to the Hala Sultan Tekke has been temporarily closed to the public by the police until further notice.
CYPRUS MUSEUM
The Department of Antiquities, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on Wednesday 14 December 2022, the Cyprus Museum will be closed to the public from 8:00 to 12:00. The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience caused.
ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM (THE HOUSE OF HADIGEORGAKIS KORNESIOS) CLOSED ON 12/11/2022
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the Ethnological Museum (The House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios) in Lefkosia (Nicosia) will remain closed on Saturday 12th November 2022, due to the funeral of Archbishop Chrysostomos II.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT PAFOS CASTLE
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Pafos Castle, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, on the 3rd and 4th of October 2022.
Publication of report titled “Strengthening cultural heritage resilience for climate change. Where the Green Deal meets cultural heritage” by the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) group of experts of EU Member States
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces the publication of the final report of the EU Open Method of Coordination (OMC) group of Member States’ experts, titled “Strengthening cultural heritage resilience for climate change. Where the Green Deal meets cultural heritage”. Based on the Open Method of Coordination, which is an EU policymaking process used by Member States to cooperate at European level, this group’s mandate was to identify the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage and subsequent gaps. It also involved the examination of the ways in which cultural heritage can contribute to the European Green Deal and to addressing the broader threats of the climate crisis by providing sustainable solutions.
As cultural heritage is of invaluable importance for the identity and integrity of Europe and its citizens, it is imperative to take action for its protection. Additionally, the EU and its Members States have agreed in the Treaty of Lisbon (Article 3) to safeguard cultural heritage. This OMC group was created upon this necessity, with the aim of bringing together, for the first time, experts from twenty-five (25) EU Member States and three (3) associated countries to cooperate at European level on the application of climate action to cultural heritage. The research conducted by the group primarily documented the accelerating terrible impacts of the changing climate that threaten all forms of cultural heritage. The report also highlights the critical lack of policies and action plans both on European and national level that would mitigate these negative impacts.
"Europe can be proud about its rich and diverse cultural heritage. We can be proud about our worldwide pioneering role in research and innovation to protect cultural heritage from the impacts of climate change. However, we must do more and quickly - with the help of cultural heritage we can transform also our economic model to become a greener, sustainable climate resilient society" said Commissioner Gabriel.
The full report together with an Executive Summary and the ten recommendations put forward by the group of experts is available at https://doi.org/10.2766/44688. Other key findings of the report draw on the urgency to establish and implement suitable strategies to improve resilience by including cultural heritage in all mainstream policies, from climate action and energy policies to fiscal, stability policies and growth.; it has also been identified that by supporting the preservation of monuments and sites we contribute to climate protection, as does the continuous maintenance and reuse of old buildings, instead of demolition. The revitalisation and use of traditional and forgotten skills and techniques can make substantial contributions to the greening of Europe and stimulate economic recovery. Furthermore, cultural heritage needs to be systematically included in the national education systems, while national research programmes need to be set up to develop protection measures against climate change. Another aspect highlighted in the report is the immediate necessity to raise awareness for cultural heritage in times of climate crisis at all levels, the political decision-making level, the wider society and among heritage communities.
According to Dr. Johanna Leissner, chair of the OMC group and delegate of Germany, “The group collaborated and joined forces in a truly European spirit. It was a great honour and unique opportunity for all of us to work together in such a critical time and on such a pressing issue. On the one side we were shocked about the unprecedented speed and scale climate change threatens our cultural heritage, on the other side we found many answers that cultural heritage can contribute to solve the climate crisis and how we can sustain our European cultural heritage for future generations”.
The pioneering role of the EU is well reflected in the centrepiece of the group of experts’ work, as it became possible, for the first time, to collect 83 best practice examples from 26 countries from each corner of Europe. All types of tangible and intangible cultural heritage are covered: buildings and monuments, museum collections, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes and historic gardens, traditional skills and knowledge, underwater heritage, etc. These best practices are an incredible source of inspiration and creativity for climate change decision-makers, but also for heritage professionals, craftsmen, and educators, on how to address the threats posed by climate change to cultural heritage. They have also uncovered the tremendous role of research to protect cultural heritage from climate change and encouraged the application of heritage-based green and sustainable solutions to fight against the climate crisis.
This report demonstrates a strong commitment from the highest political level of the EU to support cultural heritage in the fight against climate change. It also underlines that Europe is the leader in research against the impacts of climate change. Given the increasing threats imposed by climate change and the realisation that cultural heritage is part of the solution, it is of immense importance to acknowledge that it comprises an essential tool in our common struggle to adverse the destructive consequences of this crisis. This is the time to consider and implement the invaluable recommendations of this expert group and focus our individual and common efforts towards safeguarding our cultural heritage. The loss of memory transmitted through our heritage will plunge societies into chaos and disorientation, and we need to provide for a brighter future.
Member States represented by experts in the OMC group:
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the associated countries Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
Examples of case studies mentioned in the report
a) Finland, “Saami: adaptation of the Sαmi people to climate change”: The main objective of the project was to produce scientific information on climate change and Sαmi culture for decision-makers and Sαmi communities. The project produced a holistic overview of climate change and its diverse effects on the environment in the Sαmi home region, and on Sαmi culture, community, health and well-being, based on available research literature and ethnographic fieldwork.
b) Italy, “Risk assessment and sustainable protection of cultural heritage in changing environment (ProteCHt2save): ProteCHt2save aimed to improve the capacities of the public and private sectors to mitigate the impacts of climate change and natural hazards on cultural heritage sites, including monumental complexes, historic buildings and related collections in urban and coastal areas of central European countries.
Acropolis under snowstorm on 17 February 2021
© Stavros Petropoulos / Alaska for Onassis Foundation
Bartjan, a Sαmi cultural environment and camp
© Swedish National Heritage Board CCBY
(Additional info: Risk and vulnerability assessments of predicted climate change and the impacts on Sαmi cultural heritage)
REPLACEMENT THE SHELTER MEMBRANES OF THE HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS
AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion, will remain closed to the public from the 23th until the 27th of August 2022. During this time, scheduled conservation works and in particular the replacement of the membranes of the shelter of the House of Eustolios will take place.
The Department of Antiquities apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
Archaeological site of Tamassos
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that Tomb 5 at the archaeological site of Tamassos, will remain closed to the public for a period of one month, due to scheduled conservation works.
The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on Friday 10th June 2022, the Cyprus Museum will be closed to the public from 8:00 to 10:30. The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience caused.
PRESS RELEASE
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY AND THE EUROPEAN NIGHT OF MUSEUMS, 2022
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), announce that, within the framework of International Museum Day, 2022 (18th May), under the theme “The Power of Museums”, and the European Night of Museums (14th May), numerous events will be organized, most with free entrance.
The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the multiple roles of Museums and their importance in society. With this year’s theme “The Power of Museums”, ICOM aims towards showing the power that Museums have as hubs of social change and sustainable development. Museums transform people. By studying, preserving and presenting the past, they open up new horizons and form new innovative ideas, aiming towards building a better future. are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. With the events taking place this year, ICOM wants to explore the potential of museums to bring about positive change in their communities through three lenses:
The power of achieving sustainability: Museums are strategic partners in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. As key actors in their local communities, they contribute to a wide variety of Goals, which include fostering short-circuit and social economy and disseminating scientific information on environmental challenges.
The power of innovating on digitalisation and accessibility: Museums have become innovative playing-grounds where new technologies can be developed and applied to everyday life. Digital innovation can make museums more accessible and engaging, helping audience understand complex and nuanced concepts.
The power of community building through education: Through its collections and programmes, museums thread a social fabric that is essential in community building. By upholding democratic values and providing life-long learning opportunities to all, they contribute to shaping an informed and engaged civil society.
Organised on and around the 18th of May each year, International Museum Day celebrations can last a day, a weekend, a week or an entire month. Participation in International Museum Day is growing internationally. In 2021, more than 37,000 Museums participated in the celebrations, in around 158 countries. In Cyprus, this year’s programme includes events organized in more than 21 museums and other cultural institutions.
The public can download the programme of events from the Department of Antiquities’ website (www.mcw.gov.cy/da) and social media (Facebook and Instagram), as well as from the websites of the participating museums. The events will also be promoted on the social media of the museums.
SUBJECT: CONSERVATION WORKS AT PAFOS CASTLE
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Pafos Castle, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, from the 26 until 27 of May 2022.
PRESS RELEASE
CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION
HAPPY FEW
Andreas Kalli
Archaeological Site of Amathous 16th April – 16th May 2022
The Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the contemporary art exhibition HAPPY FEW by Andreas Kalli, which opened on Saturday the 16th of April 2022 at the Archaeological Site of Amathous, will close on the 16th instead of on the 20th of May 2022, as initially announced, for technical reasons.
The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday: 8:30-19:30 (Opening hours of the Archaeological Site)
Contact no.: +357 25635226
Tickets: Entrance fee of the Archaeological Site (€2.50)
"HERITAGE AND CLIMATE”
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, CYPRUS CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MONUMENTS AND SITES,
18 APRIL 2022
18 April was established in 1983 by UNESCO, as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, following a proposal by the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). In celebration of this important day, with the ultimate aim of raising public awareness of the importance of culture, a different theme is promoted every year and events are organized with the participation of citizens.
This year’s theme for the celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is entitled “Heritage and Climate”. ICOMOS, recognizing the potential of cultural heritage and the need for a balanced and sustainable development, with a focus on man and nature, set this year’s theme as an opportunity to organize events that highlight the ways in which heritage can be a source of knowledge that can be utilized to address climate change.
On the axis of this central theme, this year's events seek to highlight the various ways of interdependence and interaction of man-made culture and the natural environment. Man, using available natural resources created culture, which is an intervention on the natural environment by itself. Respectively, cultural heritage is the greatest proof that nature itself determines this human intervention, in a continuous, century old, game of balance. This balanced relationship of interdependence, which heritage highlights in the most evident way, modern societies are called upon to rediscover, as humanity currently experiences the results of this imbalance expressed as climate change. This year 's events provide an opportunity for reflection, beyond the boundaries of cultural heritage protection, given that the survival of humanity, its civilization and nature are interconnected.
The Department of Antiquities, in the framework of the International Day of Monuments and Sites will organize the following events in all Districts. In addition, as every year, on April 18, entrance to all archaeological sites and ancient monuments will be free.
·
Saturday, 16 April, 19:30, archaeological site of Amathus, Lemesos.
Opening of the contemporary art exhibition “Happy Few” by visual artist Andreas Kalli. On the opening night, the musician Freedom Candlemaker will present the musical version of the thoughts and reflections that led to the sculptural installation of Andreas Kalli with his compositions and songs. The exhibition will be open to the public from the 16th April until May 20th.
· Monday, 18 April.
Free entrance to all archaeological sites and monuments of the Department of Antiquities.
· Wednesday, 27 April, 19:30, Silihtar Aqueduct (ICOMOS-Cyprus Building), Perseos Street, Lefkosia.
Dr. Antonis Hadjikyriakos, Assistant Professor in Ottoman and Turkish History at Panteion University will present the topic, “People, Environment and Water in Early Modern Cyprus”.
· Thursday, 28 April, 20:00, Kastelliotissa Medieval Hall, Lefkosia.
Screening of the documentary “Pentadaktylos” of director Paschalis Papapetrou. Following the screening the audience will have the opportunity to discuss the film with Mr Papapetrou.
· Thursday, 5 May, 19:30, archaeological site of Kition, Larnaka.
Concert by the Music School of Larnaka with traditional Cypriot and Asia Minor songs.
· Sunday, 8 May, 11:00, Choulou Community Square, Pafos.
Presentation of the Ancient Monument “Vrysi tis Choulou” by Evi Fiouri, Archaeological Officer, Department of Antiquities and Ms. Sevina Floridou, Architect.
· Friday, 13 May, 17:45, Online
Online workshop by ICOMOS Cyprus, titled “Heritage and Climate”. Participants include Dr. Anthi Kaldeli, Archaeological Officer, Department of Antiquities, Dr. Kleanthis Nicolaides, Director of the Department of Meteorology, Dr. Giorgos Konstantinou, former Director of the Geological Survey Department and Mr Giannos Economou, Artist.
The Department of Antiquities, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that as part of the of the public awareness campaign for International Childhood Cancer Day, which is carried out by the Cyprus Association for Children with Cancer and Related Diseases “One Dream, One Wish” on the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day on the 15 of February, will light up Pafos Castle in gold on 13-15 February 2022.
The Association focuses its activities on raising awareness, the fulfilment of the wishes of the cancer affected children, the economic support of their families and the psychological support of the children and their immediate environment, all of which fight with the disease on a daily basis.
In the context of the social policy implemented by the Department of Antiquities, through the lighting of Ancient Monuments, it is with great pleasure that we participate in this action and we hope that this will strengthen the efforts of the Association while sending a message of support and optimism to all vulnerable people.
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that due to serious technical problems, the lighting of Larnaka Castle is out of order. Efforts are being made by all those involved in the project (Department of Electromechanical Services, Project Manager, Contractor) to resolve the problems as soon as possible, while in cooperation with the Municipality of Larnaka temporary lighting will be implemented along the sidewalk east of the Castle to ensure safe public access.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES ILLUMINATES PAFOS AND LARNACA CASTLES AS PART OF THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR PROSTATE CANCER OF THE EUROPA UOMO CYPRUS TITLED BLUE NOVEMBER
The Department of Antiquities, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that as part of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign, which is carried out by the Europa Uomo Cyprus association throughout the month of November, will illuminate in blue the Pafos and Larnaka Castles on Friday the 5th of November 2021.
The main goal of the month Blue November, is to raise public awareness on the need for early detection and prevention of prostate cancer, as well as to provide information on available treatment methods. In the context of the social policy implemented by the Department of Antiquities through the illumination of its Ancient Monuments, it is with great pleasure that we participate in the awareness activities planned for the Blue November campaign.
We sincerely hope that through all the awareness-raising actions planned by the Europa Uomo Cyprus association, the public will be better informed on this disease and a message of support will be sent to all vulnerable people.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES LIGHTS UP PAFOS AND LARNAKA CASTLES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MASTOCYTOSIS AND MAST CELL DISEASES AWARENESS DAY
The Department of Antiquities, of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on the occasion of the International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day held annually on October 20th, the Castles of Pafos and Larnaka will light up purple.
The main goal of the International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day is to raise public awareness on this rare disease. The Department of Antiquities, which implements a social policy through the lighting of its Monuments, has accepted with great sense of responsibility its participation in the awareness raising activities of the Cyprus Mastocytosis Community.
We sincerely hope that through awareness-raising and other activities and actions, public awareness on this disease, that affects both adults and children, will be improved and a message of support will be sent to all vulnerable people.
HOUSE OF AION
NEA PAFOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the House of Aion at the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, will remain closed to the public from the 10th of September 2021 until the end of November, due to scheduled conservation works on the shelter of the House. The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
PRESS RELEASE
ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX REPATRIATION CASES
IS CONCLUDED
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the Royal iconostasis doors of the church of Agios Anastasios in the occupied Peristeronopigi village, Famagusta District, have been repatriated from Japan. The Royal iconostasis doors have returned to Cyprus after yearlong efforts that have been intensified during the last two years, thus concluding one of the most renowned and at the same time complex cases of repatriation. The looting of the church of Agios Anastasios by the Turkish occupation army and its collaborators and the sale of the Royal iconostasis doors, as well as of the icons and sacred vessels of the church, the fate of which remains unknown, reveals once again the catastrophic consequences of the Turkish invasion on the cultural heritage of Cyprus.
The Royal iconostasis doors were located in Japan in the 1990s at the Kanazawa College of Art. Their repatriation was made possible following the coordinated efforts of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Tokyo and the Church of Cyprus, together with the competent authorities of the Kanazawa College of Art that possessed the Royal iconostasis doors.
The Royal iconostasis doors from Agios Anastasios church belong to the Cypriot iconographic tradition of the 18th century, which is differentiated from the rest of the Orthodox world, of which they are an important example. During this period, the upper part of iconostasis doors were usually decorated with representations of the Annunciation, while the lower parts were often decorated with representations of the Three Hierarchs and occasionally, with a Cypriot saint, Agios Spyridonas in this case. Apart from their archaeological importance, Royal iconostasis doors bear important symbolical and religious meanings, since they are an integral part of Orthodox churches. The repatriated Royal iconostasis doors from Peristeropigi date to 1778, according to an inscription preserved between the upper part representing the Annunciation and the lower part representing the Three Hierarchs and Agios Spyridon. According to the inscription, the Royal iconostasis doors were painted by the Monk Filaretos from Psimolofou, who became Protosyncellus in the Monastery of Agios Iraklidios in Politiko, an important iconographic center of that period. The doors were made at the expense of Hatzigiasoumis, probably a resident of Peristeronopigi village, during the time when Chrysanthos was Archbishop and Leontios was Abbot (Egoumenos) («Επ’ ἀρχιθύτου Κυρίου Κυρ Χρυσάνθου, ἑπιστάτου Λεόντιου ἱερομονάχου, δαπάνῃ δε Γιασουμῆ προσκυνητοῦ. Χείρ Φιλαρέτου και ἱερομονάχου αψοή»).
The Department of Antiquities wishes to express its gratitude to the Church of Cyprus and especially to the Archbishop, with whom direct communication on the case occurred throughout the whole process and whose support and contribution towards the repatriation efforts was invaluable, to the competent Directorates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus for their close cooperation, the National Committee for Combating the Looting and Illegal Trafficking of Cultural Heritage, as well as all other governmental authorities of the Republic of Cyprus involved, such as the Department of Customs and Excise, the Department of Civil Aviation and the Cyprus Police, especially the Office for the Combating of Illicit Possession and Trafficking of Antiquities of the Police Headquarters, for facilitating the return of the Royal iconostasis doors to Cyprus.
The Department of Antiquities as the competent authority of the Republic of Cyprus for the protection and management of our cultural heritage, will continue all efforts for its preservation and protection. Although it is acknowledged that the fight against illicit trafficking is an extremely difficult and complex issue, the Department of Antiquities is confident that through coordinated efforts, the desired results can be reached.
The Royal iconostasis doors will be conserved by the Department of Antiquities and will be handed over to the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, until their return to the church of Agios Anastasios, where they belong, is made possible.
The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works wishes to thank especially the Director of the Department of Antiquities, as well as all those you contributed towards the success of this extremely important repatriation.
Royal iconostasis doors of the church of Agios Anastasios in the occupied Peristeronopigi village, Famagusta District.
COMPLETION OF THE UNDERWATER WORKS AND DIGITAL MAPPING OF THE ANCIENT PORT OF AMATHOUS AS PART OF THE PROGRAMME FOR ITS PROMOTION AND CREATION OF DIVING ROUTES
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the underwater works and digital mapping of the ancient port of Amathous was completed under the framework of the European cross-border programme with the acronym ANDIKAT. The programme aims to highlight and promote the underwater archaeological and natural heritage through the creation of diving routes in marine protected areas in Greece and Cyprus.
The next stage of promoting this unique underwater ancient monument includes the installation of signs both on land and in the sea, which will inform and guide the visitor of the ancient port of Amathous, as well as the development of a mobile phone application and the publication of an information brochure.
The Department of Antiquities will return with a new announcement regarding the progress of the above works.
SAFE PASS
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces to the public, due to the due to the heavy epidemiological picture observed lately, and in order to ensure the health of both employees and visitors to Archaeological sites, Museums and Ancient Monuments, entry will only be allowed to persons who will provide an updated safe pass document:
1. Laboratory or rapid Test for Covid-19 with sampling carried out within 72 hours;
2. A Certificate of vaccination from the Republic for Covid-19, at least with one dose and provided that three weeks have elapsed after the date of vaccination; or
3. Proof of release in the cases of persons affected by Covid-19 and provided that no six months have elapsed from the date of sampling of the initial positive diagnosis.
Please note that entry to all Archaeological sites and Museums of the Department will be allowed only with the USE OF A MASK.
The public is kindly requested to comply fully with the above instructions.
COMMENCEMENT OF UNDERWATER WORKS IN THE ANCIENT PORT OF AMATHOUS AS PART OF THE PROGRAMME FOR ITS PROMOTION
AND CREATION OF DIVING ROUTES
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the preliminary underwater works and assessment for the promotion of the ancient port of Amathus have begun within the framework of a European cross-border programme with the acronym ANDIKAT. The programme aims to promote the underwater archaeological and natural heritage through the creation of diving routes in marine protected areas in Greece and Cyprus.
Divers at the site of the ancient port are advised to be especially careful and avoid the areas where work is carried out, for which there will be appropriate markings. Divers are also requested not to move antiquities that may exist on the seabed or the markings that will be placed within the framework of the project. Works will continue throughout the summer and the Department of Antiquities will return with a new announcement.
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused.
Ancient port of Amathus
Cyprus Medieval Museum (Lemesos Castle)
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Cyprus Medieval Museum (Lemesos Castle)will remain closed for the public from Wednesday the 26th of May 2021 until Friday the 28th of May 2021, due to works for the implementation of the lighting study of the Castle.
The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES LIGHTS UP MONUMENTS AND THE CYPRUS MUSEUM FOR THE HUNTINGTON DISEASE - LIGHT IT UP 4 HD The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that it will participate once more in the Huntington Disease Awareness Month, by lighting blue and purple, tonight, Friday the 21st of May 2021, the Castles of Pafos and Larnaka, as well as the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia. As in the previous years, the primary objective of the Department of Antiquities is to raise social awareness concerning this disease, as well as to highlight the need for solidarity towards our fellow men and women suffering from this condition. As part of this campaign, organized by the Huntington’s Disease Association of Cyprus, monuments and other attractions will be lit in these colors throughout the world.
The Department of Antiquities hopes that through increasing our knowledge regarding this disease, the health care provided to those who suffer from it will also be further developed. The need to enhance the support towards more vulnerable people, given the unparalleled conditions that we all face nowadays, following the Covid-19 pandemic, is even greater; within this context, it is the entire society’s duty to provide for the wellbeing and safety for those who struggle for their health and life. Based on these circumstances and needs, it is the Department of Antiquities’ wish that through the light of the Cyprus Museum and our castles, we will all embrace the values of solidarity and love for a society characterized by cohesion and for a better future.
Local Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith-work, Lefkara The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Local Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith-work, Lefkara will remain closed on Thursday 20 May 2021 due to scheduled maintenance works. The Department of Antiquities apologizes to the public for any inconvenience caused.
MUSEUMS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND ANCIENT MONUMENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that Museums, Archaeological Sites and Ancient Monuments will re-open to the public on 10 May 2021. They will operate with all the safety measures in place as defined by the decrees of the Ministry of Health.
Archaeological Sites of Nea Pafos in Kato Pafos and Pafos Castle closed
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that the Archaeological Sites of Nea Pafos in Kato Pafos and the Pafos Castle will remain closed to the public from 19 April 2021, until further notice. The decision was made after the detection of a Covid-19 case amongst the personnel located at the sites. The Department of Antiquities apologizes for the inconvenience caused by this decision, which, however, is deemed necessary for the protection of public health. The Department of Antiquities, announces that as of the 14th April 2021, the Archaeological Site of Amathous will be open to the public. All the appropriate measures as listed in the relevant Covid-19 decrees have been complied and the ticket office, as well as all public areas have been disinfected by a specialized crew.
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF AMATHOUS
The Department of Antiquities, announces that the Archaeological Site of Amathous will remain closed to the public from 5 April 2021, until further notice. The decision was made after the detection of Covid-19 cases amongst the personnel located at the site. The Department of Antiquities apologizes for the inconvenience caused by the decision, which however is deemed necessary for the protection of public health.
Obituary for the loss of Carole McCartney
The Department of Antiquities wishes to express its great sadness for the loss of Dr. Carole McCartney, an exemplary archaeologist, who passed away on Saturday, 13 March 2021. Carole McCartney was a valued colleague, one of the most renowned scholars of the early Cypriot prehistory, a close collaborator, and a dear friend of the Department of Antiquities. Above all, she loved Cyprus, not only as a scientist, but also as a local inhabitant. Carole McCartney was born in 1965 and studied Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, from where she later received a Masters’ degree, in 1989, and a PhD in 1996 on the analysis of core and chipped stone technologies of the late Aceramic period in the Levant.
She visited Cyprus for the first time in 1987, as a member of the Archaeological Mission of the University of Edinburgh, under the direction of the late Eddie Peltenburg, who excavated sites of the Chalcolithic period in the Pafos district. This first trip was decisive for Carole, since she decided to stay in Cyprus and raise her family in Kissonerga. As a Cypriot citizen, who spoke Greek, she was an active member of Cypriot society and an esteemed member of the Cypriot archaeological community. She took part in excavations in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean for over 30 years, while her research has shed important light on the Neolithic Aceramic Period of Cyprus. As she has been one of the leading experts on the study of lithics worldwide, she contributed significantly in the identification of finds from various sites across the eastern Mediterranean region. Her numerous scientific publications and contributions attest to her archaeological activity and the great importance of her research work
She was a close partner of the Department of Antiquities and contributed with her invaluable knowledge and exceptional insight on the updating of the Neolithic permanent exhibition gallery of the Cyprus Museum, the preparation of the relevant thematic entities for the New Cyprus Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the District of Pafos, which has been recently renovated and of Larnaka, which is under renovation. Without doubt, the excavations she conducted in collaboration with the University of Cyprus and the Universities of Cornell and Trent, at the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) site of Ayia Varvara-Asprokremnos (c. 9,000 BC), at the foothills of the Troodos Mountains, was an important landmark in her career. The finds, possibly linked to the exploitation of mineral resources, workshops and ritual activities, threw light on aspects such as technology, exchanges and other practices of everyday life during the Pre Pottery Neolithic in Cyprus and the Middle East. Her work will always be linked to the acquisition of new data concerning the Neolithic way of life and the central role Cyprus had in its diffusion to the West.
Apart from being a great scientist, Carole McCartney was also a person of high moral values, and an enthusiastic teacher. As a research fellow of the Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprus, she taught students from different universities worldwide on the lithic material of Cyprus, and trained the future generation of archaeologists of Cypriot prehistory. Her loss leaves a major gap in Archaeology. We will always be grateful for her great contribution and friendship. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. May she rest in peace.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THE PAFOS DISTRICT
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, in the framework of the policy to gradually extend the opening hours of Museums under the jurisdiction of the Department of Antiquities, announces that the opening hours of the Archaeological Museum of the Pafos District will be extended to 17.30 daily. The Museum will also be open to the public on weekends (10.00-17.30 daily, Mondays closed).
It is noted that entrance to the Museums under the jurisdiction of the Department of Antiquities is free of charge.
THE MEDIEVAL CASTLES OF PAFOS AND LARNAKA WILL BE LIT RED BY THE DEPARTMEMT OF ANTIQUITIES FOR THE WORLD ENCEPHALITIS DAY
– 22 FEBRUARY 2021
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the Department of Antiquities on 22nd of February 2021, as part of the World Encephalitis Day, will light red the Medieval Castles of Pafos and Larnaka, to highlight the solidarity of the entire society towards our fellow men and women, who suffer from this condition.
The Department of Antiquities, as always, stands together with all citizens, as our cultural heritage comprises an integral part of the society and is the link between the past and the future. Thus, following the call of the honorary ambassador of the Encephalitis Society in Cyprus, soprano Ms Aliki Chrysochou, the Department of Antiquities embraces this campaign as well, so as to contribute to the efforts aiming at raising awareness concerning this disease. During the campaign, organised by the Encephalitis Society, monuments and landmarks across the world will be lit in red, such as the Niagara Falls and the Danube Bridges in Vienna.
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and the spinal cord, and it every year affects 500.000 people. It is caused by an infection invading the brain or occurring through the immune system. Despite that it lacks of any obvious features, it infects both adults and children, regardless of age, sex and nationality. The consequences of this condition are unfortunately severe, as it damages the brain, which makes everyday life particularly difficult. Due to the severity of the disease, our monuments are lit in red to shed light on the need to protect our less fortunate fellow men and women, who are fighting for their health and life. As we currently experience the new circumstances caused by the pandemic, let us not forget that some people are more anxious concerning their health. It is therefore of immense importance to have our archaeological heritage light up the path that we, as society, should follow, to achieve cohesion, love and effective development. Our great concern should be the safety of those who suffer, as well as of the island as a whole. Celebration of the inclusion of Cyprus in UNESCO, 6 February 1961-2021
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on the 6th of February 2021 the Medieval Castle of Pafos will be lit blue, for the celebration of sixty years from the inclusion of Cyprus in UNESCO, as a member state. Through its lighting, the Department of Antiquities wishes to underline the need to protect our World Heritage, as well as the importance of this Organisation, in the fields of Culture, Education and Sciences. The inclusion of our country in UNESCO in 1961, upon the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, manifests the meaning of this decision, as it created the conditions for Cyprus to collaborate with the rest of the member states in important sectors that would contribute, and still do so, in the formation of our society and contemporary culture. In our days, sustainable development must build on the universal values that have been preserved through our heritage. This belief comprises the mission of UNESCO, while as a United Nations Organisation, it represents the need to protect the human rights, peace and equality. In essence, the vision of the Department of Antiquities draws on this line of thought as well.
Within this framework, the close relationship between the Department of Antiquities and UNESCO, through the years, is attested by the validation of conventions, and related activities, aiming at protecting cultural heritage. These include the1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which currently counts 194 member states. This Convention was validated by Cyprus in 1975, i.e. a year after the Turkish Invasion, thus reflecting the systematic efforts of the Republic of Cyprus and the Department of Antiquities for the protection and preservation of our cultural heritage.
The other two important UNESCO conventions, for the protection of cultural heritage, is the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and its two Protocols. The Department of Antiquities, between 2007-2011 represented the Republic of Cyprus and was member of the Intergovernmental Commission of the Second Protocol of this Convention, while it also contributed in writing the guidelines for its implementation. Moreover, between 2015-2019, the Department of Antiquities was an elected member of the Convention’s Commission, while it has also served the 1970 Convention’s Commission as an elected member, until 2019. Furthermore, it has served as member of the Intergovernmental Commission for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin.
In this context, and having included three sites in the UNESCO World Heritage List – the archaeological sites of Nea Pafos (Kato Pafos and Tombs of the Kings) and Palaepafos in 1980, the ten Byzantine and Post-Byzantine painted churches in Troodos (nine churches were inscribed in 1985 and one in 2001), and the archaeological site of Choirokoitia in 1998 – the Department of Antiquities promotes activities relating to the management, conservation, research and presentation of these important monuments and their Outstanding Universal Value. At the same time, the Department of Antiquities has included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, a considerable number of archaeological and natural sites from across the island.
At the core of these endeavors is the need to provide for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Cyprus, so as growth is based on heritage values and traditions. The Department of Antiquities, through lighting the Medieval Castle of Pafos, wishes to raise awareness among society concerning the significance of both the cultural and natural heritage. It is our belief that for better days to come, it is vital to respect universal humanitarian values.
SUBJECT: OBITUARY FOR POLISH PROFESSOR DR. WIKTOR ANDRZEJ DASZEWSKI, DIRECTOR OF EXCAVATIONS IN KATO PAFOS
It is with great sorrow that the Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces the death of the archaeologist Dr. Wiktor Andrzej Daszewski, professor at the University of Warsaw and Director of the Polish archaeological excavations in Kato Pafos.
Professor Daszewski was born in 1936 in the city of Lvov, now in Ukraine, and studied initially in Warsaw and then pursued a Master’s degree at Oxford University. Since 1981 he was the Director of the Centre for Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw and professor of the same university since 2001. The late Dr. Daszewski was a scientist of international standing with multifarious work in the field for the protection of World Cultural Heritage, had worked as programme coordinator for the protection of various archaeological sites under UNESCO (in Tunisia, Peru) and oversaw the establishment and organization of many museums abroad such as the museum of Cairo and that of Aswan. Moreover his excavations and publications are quite extensive. He conducted multiple excavations for many years in Egypt (1986-2007), in the area of Marina El-Alamein and was one of the pioneers of Cypriot Archaeology with his contribution in the archaeological research of ancient Pafos since 1967. Since 1971 and for the last forty years he was the Director of excavations in Pafos, leaving behind him an indelible mark on the archaeological research of the city. Under the direction of W.A. Daszewski, some of the wealthiest Roman houses of Kato Pafos with the most important mosaic floors and murals came to light, as well as most of the works of art that adorn today the Archaeological Museum of Pafos District. The work of W.A. Daszewski has placed Pafos and Cyprus in general at the centre of international archaeological research and his contribution to the promotion of Cyprus on the international scene has been decisive.
With his death the Scientific Community and the Department of Antiquities lose an exceptional member and Cyprus loses a faithful friend. The staff of the Department of Antiquities offers their condolences to his family.
SUBJECT: MUSEUMS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND ANCIENT MONUMENTS CLOSED UNTIL 31 JANUARY 2021
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that Museums, Archaeological Sites and Ancient Monuments will remain closed from the 10th January 2021 until the 31st of January 2021, as precautionary measures taken to prevent and control the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 based on the latest health measures decided by the Council of Ministers and announced by the Minister of Health on 8th January 2021.
The Department of Antiquities takes part in the World Prematurity Day
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that today, 17 November 2020, it will again take part in the purple lighting promoted by the “Miracle Babies” Association on World Prematurity Day. Participation in this action aims at raising public awareness regarding the problems involving preterm birth. This year, the Department of Antiquities will light purple the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia and the Medieval Castles of Lemessos and Pafos.
By lighting the Cyprus Museum and these monuments in the colour which symbolizes Prematurity, the Department of Antiquities wishes to highlight that cultural heritage is an integral part of our society and the link between the past and the future, so as to ensure social cohesion and growth. In our days, given the unprecedented conditions in everyday life, resulting from the pandemic, this role of culture becomes even more apparent and crucial. In fact, the archaeological heritage comprises the par excellence tangible evidence of the entire journey of humanity through the centuries; thus, the purple lighting of our archaeological heritage will at the same time light up the need to protect the human values, from the moment of birth. Today, in the occasion of the World Prematurity Day, let us consider the development of our society and embrace our cultural heritage, in order to secure the future of both our fellow citizens and Cyprus, as a whole.
LARNAKA CASTLE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that Larnaka Castle will remain closed for the public from the 25th of September 2020 until the 31st of December 2020, due to construction works for the installation of a new system of internal and external lighting of the Castle. The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused.
SUBJECT: PROCEDURE FOR THE CREATION OF SHELTERS
FOR THE MOSAICS AND OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS
WITHIN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF NEA PAFOS
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the procedure of the evaluation of the proposals submitted by architecture firms, following the international competition to design protective shelters at the World Heritage site of Nea Pafos, has been completed. In particular, the shortlisted firms are six (6) and are now asked to submit a concept design, so as to finally select the architecture firm that will implement the project. In due course, the final design will be monitored to assess performance, based on the requirements and needs of the archaeological site.
The concept design for protective shelters is part of the activities that are being put forward as part of the collaboration of the Department of Antiquities with the Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, which began in 2018, for the development of a comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the World Heritage sites of Nea Pafos and Tombs of the Kings. This collaboration stems from the strategic objectives of the Department of Antiquities regarding the application of the most recent international achievements to the management of the cultural heritage of Cyprus, i.e. to archaeological sites, monuments and museums across the island.
As it has already been announced in the past, the procedure for the design of protective shelters began between 2 - 6 of April 2019, when a meeting was held in situ, with the participation of international specialists from various fields of expertise, including architecture, engineering, environmental monitoring and hydrology. All experts had previous experience with shelters in other World Heritage sites. The purpose of this meeting was to study, exchange knowledge and decide on the requirements and criteria for the design. It is once more underlined that the design and implementation of the protective shelters is primarily based on the special conditions and features of the archaeological site; for example, the need to protect the sensitive archaeological remains, to preserve the authenticity and integrity of the site and its natural settings, the need for a holistic approach, the presentation and increase of the visitors’ experience. The detailed and careful assessment of all these aspects, with the contribution of renowned specialists from across the globe, attests to the Department of Antiquities’ efforts to provide the best possible solution for the unique mosaics of this very important World Heritage archaeological site.
The entire procedure, from the evaluation of the archaeological remains, the risks and needs of the archaeological site, to the architecture firm that will design the shelters following the international competition, requires a certain timeframe for all the subsequent actions. Despite the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic affected the initial timeline, yet, the procedure continues as planned by the Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute.
Moreover, the procedure, as a whole, manifests that the Department of Antiquities aims at finding the best possible scientific solution for sheltering the mosaics. It is underlined that the mosaics are already being protected, as the most appropriate methods in the field of mosaics’ conservation internationally, are being applied for their preservation, until the most effective shelter design is implemented. In particular, the participation of the Department of Antiquities in international organisations responsible for the protection of ancient mosaics, such as MOSAIKON and ICCM (International Committee for the Conservation of Mosaics), demonstrates in the best possible way that this part of the archeological record is being highly valued and protected. This collaboration continues through the years, under various activities.
Finally, it important to note that the core of the Conservation and Management Plan for the archaeological sites of Nea Pafos and Tombs of the Kings, is the protection and preservation of all the values these sites represent, including cultural and environmental values. All actions within this framework, from mapping of the sites to visitor management, aim at addressing the challenges and promoting this unique World Heritage site.
Handing over of Cypriot antiquity at the High Commission
of the Republic of Cyprus in the United Kingdom
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on the 21st August 2020 a Cypriot antiquity was handed over to the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in London Mr. Andreas Kakouris by DC Ray Swan of the London Metropolitan Police. The antiquity, which was looted and illegally exported from Cyprus following the Turkish invasion of 1974, was handed over to the London Metropolitan Police by Mr. Costas Paraskevaides, the owner of ArtAncient, a London-based antiquities shop. The said antiquity is a Bichrome ware miniature clay jar (approx. 6 cm high) dating to the Cypro-Archaic I period (750 – 600 BC).
The Department of Antiquities, the Office for Combating Illegal Possession and Trafficking of Antiquities of the Cyprus Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wish to thank Mr. Paraskevaides for handing over the antiquity and the London Metropolitan Police for its valuable contribution and collaboration with the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. The physical repatriation of the antiquity will take place in the near future.
Every repatriation of a stole and illegally exported cultural object is of utmost importance on many levels, since each and every such object represents a part of a country’s history and identity. For the Cyprus authorities, the identification and repatriation of stolen cultural objects is an extremely high priority, bearing in mind that the island has sadly suffered large-scale looting and illicit trafficking of cultural objects, especially as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation.
The Department of Antiquities, in close collaboration with all other competent authorities and the National Committee for Combating the Looting and Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage continue their efforts to identify looted and stolen cultural objects which have been dispersed around the globe.
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE HERITAGE WEEKEND –
THE LIGHTHOUSE IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF PAFOS
This year’s International Lighthouse Day, which was established to raise awareness concerning the significance of the lighthouses, the lighthouse keepers and navigation, acquires a new meaning, as the Covid-19 pandemic imposed the cessation and limitation of connections among countries and people for the first time. This recent situation, however, at the same time demonstrated the importance of inter-cultural connections, established through the ages, predominantly via the sea. For this reason, as well as because this year’s International Lighthouse Day coincided with other celebrations for historical events, it was decided that it will instead be celebrated as an International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend, between 22-23 August 2020.
On this occasion, the Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, would like to remind all citizens of the importance of the Lighthouse, which is situated within the archaeological site of Pafos, the building complex of which (“houses of the lighthouse keeper), together with the surrounding area, were restored by the Department of Antiquities in 2017. Furthermore, a permanent exhibition, entitled “Cyprus, the sea and the lighthouses: a diachronic history”, was created and installed in these houses. Through this very important project, which was envisioned and implemented solely by the Department of Antiquities, a central part of our maritime history, that of the lighthouse heritage, is being highlighted for the first time, as the Pafos Lighthouse comprises the only Lighthouse complex that has to date been conserved, restored and presented in Cyprus. The preservation and upgrading of the area of the Lighthouse of Pafos, also resulted in the creation of one of the most popular and picturesque landmarks, which attracts visitors from throughout the island. Most importantly, through its international promotion, it transfers the significance of the cultural heritage of Cyprus across the globe.
Moreover, the fact that this lighthouse is located within a UNESCO World Heritage site, that of Nea Pafos which is also part of the NATURA 2000 network because of its unique natural environment, makes it even more special. The association of the lighthouse with the archaeological site of Pafos becomes more intriguing, when one considers the fact that the city of Nea Pafos was established in the Hellenistic period in order to replace Palaia Pafos (archaeological site of Palaipafos), due to the direct access its port offered to the sea.
The Lighthouse of Pafos, the management of which is under the authority of the Cyprus Ports’ Authority, was constructed at the beginning of British rule, following the type of a tower with circular section, the lighting mechanism being at the balcony. The Lighthouse comprises a single building complex together with the houses of the lighthouse keeper, who lived in very difficult conditions in order to secure the protection and safety of sailors. Other lighthouses along the coastline of Cyprus, also constructed under British rule, are those of Cape Greco in Agia Napa, Cape Kiti in Larnaka, Cape Gata at Akrotiri, Keryneia, Karpasia (at Kleides) and Kormakiti, while the one at the Akamas peninsula is the most recent.
The lighthouses, together with the harbours, the anchorages, the shipwrecks, the anchors, the amphorae, and the graffiti and other representations of ships, dating to different periods, are all part of the maritime tradition and maritime cultural heritage of Cyprus. Building on its significance, the Department of Antiquities invites all citizens to visit the Lighthouse in the archaeological site of Pafos on International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend, so as to get to know and enjoy our cultural heritage, our island traditions and the natural landscape surrounding all the monuments of this unique World Heritage site.
Finally, the Department of Antiquities wishes to inform all citizens once more, that all measures and protocols of the Ministry of Health for safety and protection from Covid-19 are being applied to all archaeological sites, monuments and museums. Let us take the opportunity provided by the unusual conditions imposed by the pandemic, and the summer vacation, to visit and get familiar with our cultural heritage; especially in our days, it is crucial that we, and mainly our children, become aware of the authenticity of the diachronic values that our archaeological heritage represents.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE EARLY CHRISTIAN BASILICA
OF CHRYSOPOLITISSA AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF NEA (KATO) PAFOS
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the footbridges of the Early Christian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa will be closed for maintenance works.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that Museums, Archaeological Sites and Ancient Monuments will re-open to the public on 1 June 2020. They will operate with all the safety measures in place as instructed by the Ministry of Health such as alcoholic antiseptic solutions placed at the entrance of each Museum/ Archaeological Site, marked safe routes will be placed for visitors to follow and the staff will ensure that social distancing between visitors is upheld.
INTERNATIONAL MUSEM DAY AND EUROPEAN NIGHT OF MUSEUMS 2020
MUSEUMS FOR EQUALITY: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) announce that, due to the measures taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, all museums in Cyprus remain closed until May 2020. As such, all events that were planned to be organised within the framework of the celebrations for International Museum Day (18th May) and the European Night of Museums, have been cancelled.
Although Museum doors are temporarily closed to the public, their collections can still be explored online! The public can visit the websites of Museums and their pages on social media (e.g. Instagram, Facebook etc.) and enjoy numerous interesting posts and programs.
With the theme “Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion”, International Museum Day 2020 highlights the role and value of Museums in society. Museums can be seen as cultural hubs which contribute towards social change and are in a position to cultivate and promote values, such as peace, equality, harmonious coexistence, mutual understanding and social cohesion in general. Museums can act as common points of reference between different groups. Through their permanent and periodic exhibitions and their various other events, they are in a position to highlight and celebrate diversity and multiculturalism, tackle prejudice and discrimination and promote equality.
Museums this year are therefore celebrating International Museum Day online and are inviting the public to join these celebrations from a distance!
“SHARED CULTURES, SHARED HERITAGE, SHARED RESPONSIBILITY”
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, CYPRUS,
CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MONUMENTS AND SITES,
18 APRIL 2020
The 18th April has been designated by UNESCO as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, following a proposal by ICOMOS. Each year the day is celebrated with a different topic and related events, aiming at raising public awareness with regards to the significance of cultural heritage. The Department of Antiquities shares the belief, also expressed by international organisations for Culture and the European Commission, that modern-day challenges can be addressed based on the knowledge of the past and the heritage of Humanity.
Unfortunately, this year’s pandemic and the potential dangerous consequences of the coronavirus, prevent us from organizing events to celebrate the day. Yet, the difficult times faced by all states, across the globe, attest to the need to collaborate and support each other, on a personal, communal and by-communal level; such a global unity can only be achieved by following the human values represented by our Culture. Based on this reality, the most appropriate theme to celebrate this year’s International Day for Monuments and Sites is that of “Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility”, as it highlights the importance of shared actions in order to address the great challenges faced by human societies. This worldwide pandemic is another reminder of the interdependencies between societies and the tight affiliations that exist among their cultures.
This year’s topic encompasses issues of cultural identity at a time of vast migration and population shift, armed conflict, and environmental destruction. The core of Shared Cultures is the connection, which exists among multiple and diverse social groups and communities, through common values apparent in landscapes, practices and material culture. It also recognizes that, in some instances in the past, shared cultural practices, customs and ideology were not transmitted smoothly, but were rather forced upon populations. Moreover, some indigenous cultures were not willing to share their knowledge, while, we also recently witnessed the destruction of cultural symbols and artefacts, and the subsequent brutal consequences upon World Cultural Heritage.
All of the aforementioned features are also present in the Cultural Heritage of Cyprus, as the island became the bridge, through the ages, for the transfer of artefacts, ideas and people, between cultures from the East to the West, and vice versa, due to its geographic location. The prevailing conditions were not always peaceful, but it is these exchanges that led to our distinctive, Shared Culture, comprising local and imported cultural traits dating to different periods. Even today, because of its vicinity to a region severely affected by armed conflict, Cyprus plays an important role in rescuing this Shared Heritage. Furthermore, the Department of Antiquities, by implementing diverse activities relating to the management, conservation, upgrading and interpretation of the archaeological sites, monuments and museums across the island, creates the solid basis for the protection of our Shared Culture and Shared Heritage. At the same time it takes part in the international endeavours to fight against the illicit trafficking and trade of cultural property. Undoubtedly, the preservation of the values reflected in our culture entails and promotes the Shared Responsibility we should all adopt towards society, so as to overcome all modern-day challenges for a brighter future.
Within this context, through the International Day for Monuments and Sites, the Department of Antiquities wishes to first underline the social role of our Shared Culture, both at a local and international level. The message of solidarity, support, love, understanding and acceptance is transferred by those common and diverse cultural traits of our Shared Heritage; it also encourages us to recognize the Shared Responsibility to unite and overcome the profound social changes and overall consequences of this pandemic. The Department of Antiquities invites the public to explore these ideas through the use of technology and Social Media Platforms. In particular, through uploading relevant material and stories in its Facebook and Instagra accounts, it invites participants to take part in a dialogue around the notion of “sharing” in Culture, Heritage and Responsibility. The underlying objective is to urge the public to celebrate this important International Day, by staying at home and following the measures taken by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus for the safety of all citizens. In the light of our shared cultural traits, We Will Make It!
WE STAY AT HOME AND LIGHT IT UP BLUE, 2 APRIL 2020,
FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, OTHER DISABILITIES,
HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THE ELDERLY:
OUR MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS PROVIDE STRENGH AND HOPE
IN THIS PANDEMIC
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on the 2nd of April, on the occasion of International Autism Awareness Day, it will participate in the Light it Up Blue worldwide campaign, once more. By lighting blue important ancient monuments and museums throughout the island, the Department of Antiquities aims at raising social awareness with regards to the difficulties faced by persons in the Autism spectrum and their families. Once again, this endeavor will highlight the fundamental right for inclusion in all facets of life, the need for continuous education and a decent life, especially for when the parents will not be in the position to support their children.
Unfortunately, this year’s pandemic and the difficult times faced across the globe, as well as the potential dangerous consequences of the coronavirus, bring these social issues, and the need for an immediate solution, to the fore. The concern of the entire society, within these circumstances, must primarily be the protection of all vulnerable groups, including people with health conditions and the elderly. For this reason, the Department of Antiquities has decided to dedicate this year’s blue lighting to all our fellow men and women that are currently at risk, together with people on the Autism spectrum, hoping to pass on the message of strength, patience and love.
The museums that will be lit up blue are the Cyprus Museum in Lefkosia, the Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District, and the Local Archaeological Museum of Marion-Arsinoe in Polis. Moreover, the Castles of Kolossi, Pafos, Lemesos, and Larnaka, as well as the Medieval Manor House at Kouklia, and the archaeological sites of Choirokoitia and Amathous, will also be illuminated in blue. Most importantly, the Department of Antiquities urges everyone to obey the measures imposed by the Republic of Cyprus for the safety of the entire society. The blue light of our museums and monuments will still lighten up our souls, while we stay and protect ourselves at home.
Finally, by lighting up blue our monuments and museums, the Department of Antiquities wishes to underline that, even under these unprecedented conditions, our cultural heritage continues to comprise the vibrant nucleus of our society. It is through the values of our cultural heritage that we can achieve social cohesion, individual responsibility and solidarity. Our heritage, lit up in blue on the 2nd of April, will symbolize our hope and support to people with Autism and other disabilities, underlying health conditions and difficulties in general, as well as to all our fellow women and men. It will transfer the message that we can win this pandemic, through our attitude and support towards doctors, nurses and other medical staff that are currently fighting this coronavirus outbreak. A better world can only be created based on solidarity, understanding, and the broader universal human values, that we aim at preserving through the protection of our cultural heritage.
SUBJECT: MUSEUMS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND ANCIENT MONUMENTS CLOSED UNTIL 31 MAY 2020
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that Museums, Archaeological Sites and Ancient Monuments will remain closed until the 31st of May 2020, as precautionary measures taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.
The Department of Antiquities apologizes to the public for any inconvenience caused.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE HOUSES OF DIONYSOS AND AION AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAFOS, AND THE HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Houses of Dionysos and Aion at the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, and the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, during the following dates:
House of Dionysos: 10 February 2020- 14 February 2020
House of Aion: 17 February 2020- 18 February 2020
House of Eustolios: 24 February 2020- 25 February 2020
PAFOS CASTLE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Pafos Castle will open to the public on Monday, December 23, 2019. The Pafos Medieval Castle had been closed to visitors for a period of about two and a half months, due to the upgrading of its electrical installation and the installation of specialized lighting, including the possibility of alternating the colour of the lighting on both its exterior and interior surfaces.
The project was implemented by the Department of Electromechanical Services in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities and is part of the ongoing efforts made by the Department of Antiquities to promote Cyprus’ cultural heritage. The promotion of the Pafos Castle, which constitutes a landmark of the city, a place of public gathering and a setting for the city's diverse cultural events, remains a priority for the Department of Antiquities. The implementation of this project is expected to further contribute to the promotion of the city's cultural wealth and in particular of the picturesque port of Kato Pafos.
The Pafos Castle is the first Castle to be illuminated as part of a wider program implemented by the Department of Antiquities and the Department of Electromechanical Services, which includes the upgrading of the electrical installations and the installation of specialized lighting on all four castles in Cyprus. It will be followed by the Castles of Larnaka, Lemesos and Kolossi, which are scheduled to be completed within 2020-2021.
HALA SULTAN MOSQUE
NOT ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS ON 11 NOVEMBER 2019
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that due to the celebrations of Mevlid Kandili or Mawlid, an organised visit by a large number of pilgrims will take place at the Mosque of Hala Sultan in Larnaka. The mosque will not be accessible to the general public on Monday 11 November 2019.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
ANNOUNCEMENT - CYPRUS RALLY 2019The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works announces that, due to the Cyprus Rally 2019 (Nicosia Super Special Stage), the Cyprus Museum and the Ethnological Museum, (The House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios) in Lefkosia will remain closed to the public.
ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE RECENT COLLAPSE OF PART OF THE MEDIEVAL FORTIFICATION WALLS OF LEFKOSIA
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, wishes to express its deep grief and disappointment over the latest collapse of a section of the Venetian walls of Nicosia, a Monument listed in the First Schedule of the Antiquities Law since 1935. The collapse of this extensive section of the Quirini bastion follows the partial collapse of the curtain wall which occurred in the Ledra Palace area last March.
This continuing destruction testifies to the deplorable state of preservation of the Venetian Walls in the occupied part of the city of Nicosia, after years of neglect on the part of the illegal regime in the north. This negligence towards the cultural heritage of our shared common cultural heritage can only be perceived as criminal.
It is emphasized that the Nicosia Walls, which feature a circular fortification with eleven heart-shaped bastions spaced at equal distances and three gates, were designed by the then famous Italian engineer Giulio Savorgnano. They constitute a prominent fortification work of the Venetian period in Cyprus and they are considered to be a model for the asteroid city, defining European fortification architecture up until the 18th century. Given their importance, it is imperative to safeguard them through the implementation of protective measures in order to preserve them for future generations.
It is our hope that the damage will be repaired promptly and towards this aim, we express our support to the efforts of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and our willingness to contribute to the restoration of the Medieval Walls, with both expertise and staff.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM (HOUSE OF HADJIGEORGAKIS KORNESIOS)
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that from the 8th of August until the 12th of August 2019, the Ethnological Museum (House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios) in Lefkosia will be closed to the public due to conservation works.
HALA SULTAN MOSQUE
NOT ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS ON 13 AUGUST 2019
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that, the Mosque will not be accessible to the general public on Tuesday 13 August 2019, due to an organized visit by a large number of pilgrims on the occasion of the celebrations of Kurban Bayram or Eid Al-Aha.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
ANCIENT SHIPWRECK IN THE SEA OFF PROTARAS, CYPRUS
The Department of Antiquities announces the discovery of an ancient shipwreck in the sea off Protaras, Cyprus. The site was reported by Spyros Spyrou and Andreas Kritiotis, both volunteer divers of the underwater archaeological research team of the Maritime Archaeological Research Laboratory (MARELab), Archaeological Research Unit, University of Cyprus. The Department of Antiquities acted immediately after it was reported, in order to secure the necessary funds to cover the cost of the preliminary in situ investigation, as soon as possible.
A team of MARELab archaeologists, students and volunteers, led by Dr Stella Demesticha, Associate Professor of Maritime Archaeology, is already at Protaras. The team is working on the documentation and protection of the site, in collaboration with Dr Dimitris Skarlatos, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geoinformatics, Cyprus University of Technology, and Eleni Loizides, Conservator, at the Department of Antiquities.
The site is a wreck of a Roman ship, loaded with transport amphorae, most probably from Syria and Cilicia. It is the first undisturbed Roman shipwreck ever found in Cyprus, the study of which is expected to shed new light on the breadth and the scale of seaborne trade between Cyprus and the rest of the Roman provinces of the eastern Mediterranean.
This project also marks a milestone for Cypriot archaeology, because it is the first time that an underwater archaeological project is fully funded by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.
The Department of Antiquities and the Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprus express their deep appreciation and thanks to Spyros Spyrou and Andreas Kritiotis for immediately reporting their discovery to the authorities. Sincere thanks are also owed to all volunteers and supporters of this project, which was organized on a very short notice; thanks also to the generosity and collaboration of diverse institutions and individuals. This enthusiastic mobilization of authorities and citizens around an important archaeological site sends optimistic messages regarding the protection of cultural heritage by Cypriot society.
Ancient shipwreck in the sea off Protaras, Cyprus, 2019
PRESS RELEASE: 25TH JUNE 2019
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that due to the period of mourning declared following the passing of former President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, its Museums, Monuments and Archaeological Sites will have public holiday opening hours on Tuesday 25th June 2019. The public can visit the Department of Antiquities’ website (www.mcw.gov.cy/da) for more information on public holiday opening hours.
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transports, Communications and Works announces that the Ethnographic Museum at Geroskipou will be closed to the public from the 18th of June 2019 until the 30th of October 2019, due to restoration works
PRESS RELEASE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THE PAFOS DISTRICT
The Department of Antiquities, in response to the many articles in the Press concerning the written allegations of the Mayor of Pafos regarding the renovation of the Archaeological Museum of Pafos District, would like to make the following statement:
The Archaeological Museum of Pafos District, like all the archaeological and ethnological museums that fall under the competent authority of the Department of Antiquities, is given the utmost attention by the Department. In response to the increasing development of the science of museology worldwide, the Department of Antiquities has over the last few years given emphasis to the modernization of museums, so as to enhance the promotion of the cultural heritage of Cyprus.
One of the primary goals of the Department of Antiquities with regard to museums is the improvement of the visitor’s experience, in both older and newly established museums so as to meet the demands of the public and to comply with new technologies. Each project entails the expertise of a wide range of specialists (archaeologists, museologists/museographers, conservators, architects, lighting specialists etc), to achieve the promotion and preservation of our cultural heritage in the best possible way. It is important to underline that each project has its own complexities since each museum has its own identity expressed through the artefacts on display and requires its own specific museological design.
At the same time, our primary concern is to adhere to standard procedures which the Department of Antiquities is following, in cooperation with the competent Departments and Services of the State. Therefore, Mr Phaedonos’ alleged claim that there have been problems relating to the structure of the tenders comes as a great surprise. Both the tender documents and the decision of the Tenders’ Review Authority have been publicised. In any case it is the tenderer’s undeniable right to appeal the decision of the Tenders’ Review Authority. In fact, the final decision of the Tenders’ Review Authority was in agreement with the competent authority, namely the Department of Antiquities.
We would, therefore, like to assure the public that the Department of Antiquities is constantly working for the upgrading of museums, archaeological sites and Ancient Monuments, with the aim of enhancing the visitor’s experience and ultimately for the protection and promotion of our cultural heritage.
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, wishes to express its deepest grief concerning the damages caused by the devastating fire on one of the most iconic and important cultural heritage monuments of humankind, that of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
It was with great concern that we witnessed the events of 15 April 2019, which tragically resulted in the immense structural damage suffered by this emblematic world heritage monument of Paris, of France and of all humankind. The images circulated globally by the mass media and social networks were particularly disheartening, but as the fire is now completely extinguished, thanks to the courageous efforts by the Parisian fire fighters, the complete destruction of the Cathedral was evaded which thus provides hope for the preservation and restoration of this unique historic Monument to its previous magnificent grandeur.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy and express our solidarity, support and assistance to the French people and the French Ministry of Culture during this tragic time and we express our willingness to provide assistance in the restoration of Notre Dane. We hope that this will be the last major cultural loss that will be experienced by humanity as a whole, and whose protection is part of the collective duty of us all.
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES AND THE GETTY CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces its collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, for the development of a comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the World Heritage sites of Nea Pafos and the Tombs of the Kings to guide their future preservation and enhance their full range of values, both cultural and natural. This collaboration, begun in 2018, involves mapping of the sites, assessments of significance, condition of mosaics and architectural remains, and the management context, including visitor management, and interpretation and presentation of the sites, followed by development of key responses to the main conservation and management challenges.
One of the principle challenges is protection and presentation of the exceptional mosaics and other significant features of the site of Nea Pafos; to this end, a meeting focused on sheltering these important archaeological remains is currently being held (2nd – 6th of April 2019). The meeting brings together an international group of specialists, from various fields of expertise, including architecture, engineering, environmental monitoring, hydrology, and experience with shelters in other World Heritage sites, to work with heritage professionals from the Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute. The objective is to examine all factors that should be taken into account for the design and implementation of sheltering, ranging from the need to protect the archaeological remains, consider the natural values and environmental context, ensure the preservation of the mosaics, and enhance the interpretation, presentation, and visitor experience. The meeting is taking place on site, for an in-depth understanding of the context, the values and the challenges inherent in the process of shelter-design.
The site of Nea Pafos is the most visited archaeological site in Cyprus, and provides a unique natural landscape and cultural attraction. All activities undertaken in the framework of the Conservation and Management Plan, including this meeting on protective shelters, are ultimately aimed at preserving the values of Pafos – artistic, historic, social and natural – and communicating them to the local community and to visitors from around the world.
ANNOUNCEMENT: ILLICIT ACTIVITIES IN THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces the successful prevention of illicit activities, concerning the survey for the location of antiquities in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus without permission, in contravention of the Antiquities Law of Cyprus. This was achieved as a result of the co-operation of all the competent authorities, that is the Department of Antiquities, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the Ministry of Defense and the Cyprus Police.
ANNOUNCEMENT: CYPRUS MUSEUM
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the Cyprus Museum will be closed on Saturday the 23rd of February 2019, from 8.00 to 13.00 due to an interruption of the electricity supply, as a result of works carried out by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. The Department of Antiquities apologies to the public for any inconvenience caused.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE HOUSES OF DIONYSOS AND AION AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAFOS, AND THE HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Houses of Dionysos and Aion at the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, and the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, during the following dates:
House of Dionysos: 18 February 2019 - 22 February 2019
House of Aion: 25 February 2019 - 26 February 2019
House of Eustolios: House of Eustolios: 13-14 March 2019 RENOVATION WORKS AT THE CYPRUS MUSEUM
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that, due to renovation works at the Cyprus Museum, some exhibition rooms may be closed to the public between Monday 28/1/19 and Friday 17/5/19. The Department of Antiquities apologises in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused.
PRESS RELEASE, 28th December 2018
ANSWER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES ON THE RECENT ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS REGARDING THE REPATRIATION OF 100 BRONZE AGE ANTIQUITIES
I refer to a number of recent articles published in the daily press and in particular to the articles published in Politis newspaper on December 22, 2018 titled "Το Walk of Truth επαναπατρίζει αρχαιότητες της Εποχής του Χαλκού (Walk of Truth repatriates antiquities of the Bronze Age)" and in O Fileleftheros dated December 23, 2018 titled "Απονομή Δικαιοσύνης, ο επαναπατρισμός αρχαιοτήτων (Delivering justice, the repatriation of antiquities)" and I would like the following statement to be published in the press, so as to provide an accurate account of the events related to the issue:
The Cypriot antiquities that are in the collection of the English architect/artist David Johnson are known both to the Department of Antiquities and to the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus and, contrary to what the above articles report, the Department of Antiquities replied positively to the offer of a "possible" donation of the antiquities to the Cyprus Museum, should Mr. Johnson eventually make the decision to donate them. The return, according to Mr. Johnson’s wishes, would occur after both he and his wife pass away. His final decision was however pending and as it turned out, it was dependent upon approval on behalf of the Department of Antiquities, of purchases of Cypriot antiquities from unknown sources, which he would not disclose, on the pretext that these would be returned to the Cyprus Museum after his death. In the latest communication between the Department of Antiquities and Mr. D. Johnson, dated 13 December 2018, the Department of Antiquities once more reaffirmed that, if he so wished, the Department would gladly accept his donation.
The fight against illicit trafficking and the suppression of the illicit trade of Cyprus’ cultural heritage, as well as that of other peoples, is a primary objective of the Department of Antiquities. It is thus evident that, the involvement of the competent Department in dealings of this kind is inconceivable. As Mr Johnson has already stated and according to the said press reports, in recent years foreign museums cannot easily accept collections of antiquities originating from other countries, even though, these have been allegedly "legally" acquired. We have not been informed of the content of the agreement between Mr Johnson and the organization Walk of Truth, but the repatriation of the Cypriot antiquities and "the choice of the appropriate space" for their exhibition, are the exclusive responsibility of the competent authorities, that is the Department of Antiquities.
Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou
Director
Department of Antiquities, Cyprus
GUIDED TOURS TO THE EXHIBITION BY DIMITRIS ALITHINOS
“Hysteron, Proteron, Us”
Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District
1st and 15th December 2018, 10:00-11:30
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that during the exhibition of Dimitris Alithinos Hysteron, Proteron, Us, guided tours will be offered during the following dates and times:
1st December 2018, 10:00-11:30
15th December 2018, 10:00-11:30
The exhibition takes place at the Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District and it is organized within the framework of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, using the slogan “Our heritage: where the past meets the future”. The guided tours will be offered by Mr. Yiannis Violaris, Αrchaeological Officer of the Department of Antiquities.
REPATRIATION OF THE MOSAIC REPRESENTING APOSTLE MARKOS FROM THE OCCUPIED CHURCH OF PANAGIA KANAKARIA IN LYTHRAGKOMI
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the mosaic of Apostle Markos, which adorned the apse of the occupied church of Panagia Kanakaria in Lythragkomi, Famagusta District, has been repatriated to Cyprus from the Netherlands. The mosaic was located in the Principality of Monaco by the Dutch private detective Arthur Brand, known for tracing major works of art, working with the police authorities of many countries. Information about the mosaic was originally provided to the Cypriot authorities in 2016 by AHEPA, a Greek - American organization in the USA.
The walled mosaics of Panagia Kanakaria, dating back to the 6th century AD., are highly important works of art and among the few remaining early Christian mosaics in the world. The mosaic of Apostle Markos was violently detached and stolen from the church, between 1977-79 by Turkish looter and art dealer Aydin Dikmen, along with the rest of the mosaics depicting the Apostles and other saints. The mosaics were broken down into pieces and found their way in the international art markets.
Pieces of the mosaics, such as the figures of Apostles Luke, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Thomas and Andrew, as well as the upper part of the Virgin Mary and Christ, the hands of the Virgin Mary and the hand of Archangel Gabriel, have been gradually repatriated since 1983, while a few more pieces of the mosaic decoration are still missing.
The mosaic of Apostle Markos was handed over on the 16th November 2018 by Arthur Brand at the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in The Hague, in the presence of the Ambassador Mr. Elpidoforos Economou, Mr. Martin Finkelnberg of the Dutch Police and of the team travelling from Cyprus, composed of the Director of the Department of Antiquities Dr. Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, the Legal Counselor of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus Mr. Leonidas Georgiou, the Inspector Officer of the Assistant Chief of Police Mr. Michalis Gavrielides and Department of Antiquities' Conservator, specialist in mosaics, Dr. Eleftherios Charalambous. The repatriation was made possible through the coordinated actions of all involved authorities of the State including the Legal Service of the Republic, the Department of Customs and Excise and the Church of Cyprus.
The Department of Antiquities, in cooperation with all responsible authorities and bodies, continues its efforts to repatriate the remaining mosaics from the Church of Panagia Kanakaria, as well as all other cultural treasures that have been illicitly removed from the occupied areas of Cyprus.
ANNOUNCEMENTThe Department of Antiquities announces that due to the celebrations of Mevlid Kandili or Mawlid, an organised visit by a large number of pilgrims will take place at the Mosque of Hala Sultan in Larnaka. The mosque will not be accessible to the general public on Tuesday 20 November 2018.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Department of Antiquities announces that the Ethnological Museum (House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios) will be closed for the public on Saturday 10 of November 2018, 09.30-13.00, due to improvement works in the building by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. The Department of Antiquities apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused.
The Department of Antiquities and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation announce their participation in the “World Heritage Journeys”, developed by UNESCO in collaboration with National Geographic, for the creation, for the first time, of a web platform dedicated to the promotion of sustainable travel to some of the most remarkable World Heritage sites in Europe. The initiative is co-funded by the European Union and features 34 selected World Heritage sites spread across 19 European Union countries.
UNESCO is now launching the web platform (https://visitworldheritage.com), and encourages people to ‘travel differently, travel deeper’, which means travelling beyond the major tourist hubs, staying longer and experiencing more of what the local region has to offer. In particular, the “World Heritage Journeys” launch will take place when UNESCO Paris Headquarters opens its doors to the public on 15-16 September 2018 for the celebration of the European Heritage Days.
“Our goal is to change how people travel. Staying longer in destinations, experiencing the local culture and its environment, and gaining a deeper knowledge and appreciation of World Heritage values,” said Mechtild Rφssler, Director of the World Heritage Centre at UNESCO.
“World Heritage Journeys” invites travelers to travel along four cultural heritage itineraries – “Royal Europe”, “Ancient Europe”, “Romantic Europe” and “Underground Europe” - which intertwine to tell fascinating stories of Europe's heritage and history. The website has practical information and tools to support travelers in planning their European holidays based on local knowledge about the destinations’ cultural heritage. “In addition to reaching travelers directly, we hope that the travel industry—including tour operators, travel agents, and local and national tourism authorities—will be inspired by the content we have curated, and will develop and promote authentic tourism that aligns with the goals of the project and reflects the outstanding universal value of World Heritage.”
World Heritage Journeys will also play a key role in attracting Chinese visitors to Europe for the 2018 EU/China Tourism Year, an initiative led by the European Commission and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China in collaboration with the European Travel Commission (ETC). The website is available in English, Chinese and French. The platform also contributes to the goals of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage.
According to Frank Biasi, Director of digital development and travel programs at National Geographic Maps “This project is a great example of how National Geographic ignites the explorer in all of us looking to explore the farthest reaches of the Earth and beyond. It seeks to contribute to the economic health of the communities in and around the World Heritage sites, and guide tourists to unique cultural attractions and experiences, as recommended by local experts”. Biasi also says that “With this local knowledge, the website encourages travelers from North America, China and other major tourism markets to travel differently and travel deeper, and use the platform to inspire and plan their European trips.”
The Department of Antiquities and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation have been working in collaboration with UNESCO and National Geographic for over 18 months to develop inspiring and educational content to be featured on the platform. UNESCO has decided to include Pafos in the cultural heritage itinerary of Romantic Europe, as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love (https://visitworldheritage.com/Pafos). Combined with other World Heritage destinations of romantic nature, the objective is to highlight the significance of Pafos’ archaeological and cultural heritage, in conjunction with other local values, such as the ones embedded in the unique nature, gastronomy, and hospitality, encountered in the broader region.
The promotion of these assets, as a whole, will attract visitors, and contribute in the sustainable growth of the island, and most importantly the reinforcement of the relationship between heritage and society. The information provided on the website, following the guidelines posed by UNESCO and National Geographic, is given in an attractive manner, and aims at establishing a bridge towards this end, by highlighting these values to locals and to people from abroad, deriving from different cultural contexts. This project also marks the close collaboration between the Department of Antiquities and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation aiming at further developing cultural tourism in Cyprus.
World Heritage sites participating in the “World Heritage Journeys”:
18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex (Italy)
Ancient City of Nessebar (Bulgaria)
Aranjuez Cultural Landscape (Spain)
Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia (Italy)
Archaeological Ensemble of Tαrraco (Spain)
Archaeological Site of Olympia (Greece)
Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars (France)
Cultural Landscape of Sintra (Portugal)
Gardens and Castle at Kromμψν (Czech Republic)
Historic Centre of Brugge (Belgium)
Historic Centre of San Gimignano (Italy)
Historic Town of Banskα tiavnica and The technical Monuments in its Vicinity, Slovakia
Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (Czech Republic)
Major Mining Sites of Wallonia (Belgium)
Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System (Germany)
Mining Area of The Great Copper Mountain in Falun (Sweden)
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (France)
Nord-Pas De Calais Mining Basin (France)
Palace and Park Of Versailles (France)
Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (Germany)
Pafos (Cyprus)
Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (France)
Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier (Germany)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (United Kingdom)
Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus (Greece)
Stari Grad Plain (Croatia)
The Par Force Hunting Landscape in North Zealand (Denmark)
The Royal Domain of Drottningholm (Sweden)
Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (Hungary)
Upper Middle Rhine Valley (Germany)
Vilnius Historic Centre (Lithuania)
Wachau Cultural Landscape (Austria)
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (Poland)
Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen (Germany)
HALA SULTAN MOSQUE
NOT ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS ON 28 AUGUST 2018
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that, due to the celebrations of Kurban Bayram or Eid Al-Adha, an organised visit by a large number of pilgrims will take place at the Mosque of Hala Sultan in Larnaka. The mosque will not be accessible to the general public on Tuesday 28 August 2018.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MONUMENTS AND SITES, 18 APRIL 2018
“HERITAGE FOR GENERATIONS”
Following a proposal by ICOMOS, the 18th April as of 1983, was designated by UNESCO as the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The day is celebrated each year with events that aim to make the public aware of their cultural heritage. Citizens are encouraged through various events and other activities, to learn about and appreciate their heritage.
In this framework, a different topic is promoted on a yearly basis under which all events are centered around. This year’s theme is “Heritage for Generations”, which focuses on the transfer of knowledge between generations as a crucial step in cultural development. Inter-generational transfer of knowledge, combining the knowledge of experienced practitioners with the energy and dynamism of newer members provides for a more holistic approach.
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on the occasion of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, entry to the following archaeological sites and ancient monuments on 18 April 2018 will be free of charge.
1. Archaeological site of Nea Pafos (Mosaics), Kato Pafos
2. Necropolis of Nea Pafos known as “The Tombs of the Kings”, Kato Pafos
3. Pafos Castle, Kato Pafos
4. Archaeological site of Palaepafos, Kouklia
5. Archaeological site of Agios Georgios, Pegia
6. Archaeological site of Kourion, Episkopi
7. Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, Episkopi
8. Medieval Castle of Kolossi, Kolossi
9. Archaeological site of Amathus, Agios Tychon
10. Archaeological site of Kition, Larnaka
11. Neolithic site, Choirokoitia
12. Archaeological site at the location Tenta, Kalavasos
13. “Royal Chapel” of Agia Aikaterini, Pyrga
14. Archaeological site and royal tombs of Ancient Tamassos, Politiko
For the full PROGRAM of events press HERE
Press Release Ministry of Foreign Affairs
At a ceremony which was held yesterday, 29 March 2018 at the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Berlin, two archaeological objects, which were illegally exported from Cyprus after the Turkish invasion of 1974, were handed over to the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Germany, Mr. Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, by Mr. Gόnter Puhze and Mrs. Micaela Puhze owners of the Galerie Gόnter Puhze. READ MORE HERE
LIGHT IT UP BLUE - BLUE LIGHTING OF MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS FOR INTERNATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS DAY, 2 APRIL 2018
READ MORE HERE
HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that from March 15, 2018, the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion will be open to the public.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE HOUSES OF DIONYSOS AND AION AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAFOS, AND THE HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Houses of Dionysos and Aion at the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, and the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, during the following dates:
House of Dionysos: 12 February 2018 - 16 February 2018
House of Aion: 21 February 2018 - 22 February 2018
House of Eustolios: 26 February 2018 - 27 February 2018
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that due to the celebrations of Mevlid Kandili or Mawlid, an organised visit by a large number of pilgrims will take place at the Mosque of Hala Sultan in Larnaka. The mosque will therefore not be accessible to the general public on Wednesday 29 November 2017.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
PURPLE LIGHTING OF CASTLES AND THE CYPRUS MUSEUM ON THE WORLD PREMATURITY DAY, 17TH NOVEMBER 2017
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on the 17th of November 2017 it will take part in the purple lighting promoted by the "Miracle Babies" Association on World Prematurity Day. The objective, through the purple lighting of the Medieval Castles of Pafos, Lemesos, Larnaka and the Cyprus Museum in Lefkosia, is to raise awareness on the problems involving preterm birth, and the need to establish an Intensive Care Unit for the Newborn.
The participation in this endeavor to raise public awareness is associated with the vision and mission of the Department of Antiquities for social cohesion, based on the principles and values of culture, so as to address problems and contribute in the development of modern civilisation. The purple lighting for Prematurity primarily highlights that our archaeological heritage includes all human values, from the moment of their birth. As the living nucleus of modern society, we must therefore protect and cherish our Culture.
As part of Celebrating Paphos2017 European Capital of Culture, an exhibition of photographs by Robert S³aboρski titled “IN THE HEART OF THE ANCIENT CITY. Research of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow at the Agora and beyond in Paphos Archaeological Park, Cyprus” has been organized this year.
The exhibition was inaugurated on the 6th of October 2017 by the Director of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, Dr Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou in the presence of the Vice-Rector of Jagiellonian University, Professor Armen Edigarian, HE the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Cyprus, Mrs. Barbara Tuge-Ereciρska, the representative of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Works, Mrs. Afrodite Koufterou, and Professor Ewdoksia Papuci-W³adyka, the Director of the ‘Paphos Agora Project’. The Mayor of Pafos, Mr. Fedonas Fedonos, as well as the members of the Municipal Council and many guests were also present.
The exhibition is on display at the Visitors Centre in the Archaeological Site of Pafos near the harbour and will be open until the end of December 2017. It is accompanied by a film by Hubert Chudzio titled “Paphos Agora Project” with English subtitles. A bilingual Polish-English catalogue of the exhibition has been published.
OPENING CEREMONY OF A PERMANENT EXHIBITION TITLED "CYPRUS, THE SEA AND THE LIGHTHOUSES: A DIACHRONIC HISTORY"
AT THE LIGHTHOUSE WITHIN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAFOS
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on Wednesday 25th of October at 18:00, on the occasion of the restoration of the area of the Lighthouse within the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, the opening ceremony of a permanent exhibition titled "Cyprus, the sea and the lighthouses: a diachronic history" will take place. The ceremony will be accompanied by a music event under the direction of Giorgos Kalogerou with poetry by Nikos Kavvadias at the Odeon in the archaeological site. An artistic intervention by Victoria Coeln, with special lighting of the Lighthouse and the broader region, will also take place, in collaboration with the Embassy of Austria in Cyprus. A reception will follow.
The Department of Antiquities proceeded with the restoration of the wider area of the Lighthouse, due to its significance for the cultural heritage of Pafos, and Cyprus in general. The works undertaken formed part of the protection and promotion activities of the archaeological site of Kato Pafos, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, as the Lighthouse, which is under the authority of the Cyprus Ports Authority, is located within this site. As the Department of Antiquities manages the area of the Lighthouse, the "houses of the Lighthouse keeper" and the surrounding area were restored, while footpaths were also created.
The archaeological, historical and cultural value of the Lighthouse, as well as the diachronic relationship between this region and the sea, is highlighted through the exhibition held by the Department of Antiquities, which is presented in two parts in the "houses of the Lighthouse keeper", in accordance with the spatial organization of the buildings. Moreover, due to the importance of the natural landscape, informative material was created in collaboration with the Department of Environment, the Fauna and Wildlife Service, and Birdlife Cyprus, so as to ultimately contribute to the protection of these unique environmental elements. This project comprises the first attempt to protect and present a Lighthouse in Cyprus and, based on the strategy of the Department of Antiquities, it aims at the preservation and promotion of our cultural heritage, as a whole.
The event, which has been included in the platform "Celebrating - Pafos 2017", is under the auspices of the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr Marios Demetriades, who will also inaugurate the ceremony. The event is open to the public.
International Colloquium
“NEA PAPHOS AND WESTERN CYPRUS
New Archaeological and Historical Perspectives”
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, within the framework of Pafos, European Capital of Culture 2017, announces the organization of an international colloquium entitled: Nea Paphos and Western Cyprus, New Archaeological and Historical Perspectives.
The main aim of this scientific meeting, besides the presentation of new discoveries made by the archaeological missions currently working on the site of Nea Paphos, is to study the evolution of the city, as well as that of other sites in Western Cyprus, from the Hellenistic period to Early Medieval times.
Seventy distinguished scientists, archaeologists and historians working in the Pafos District from international and local universities and institutes will participate in the Colloquium. The presentations will cover the following topics: The beginnings of Nea Paphos, the urban development of Nea Paphos, relations of Nea Paphos with peripheral centres of Western Cyprus, Palaepaphos, Arsinoe and other sites, the Necropoleis of Western Cyprus, Art and architecture, Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages.
The opening ceremony of the Colloquium will take place on Wednesday the 11th of October 2017, at 18:00 in Kouklia, at the Local Archaeological Museum of Palaipafos, and will continue on the following day, October 12th until October 15th in the Palaia Elektriki conference room, in Pafos from 8:00–19:00.
The languages of the colloquium are Greek and English.
The Scientific Committee
Dr Claire Balandier, Maξtre de conf. Hab. Universitι d’Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse
Dr Demetrios Michaelides, Professor Emeritus, University of Cyprus
Dr Jolanta M³ynarczyk, Professor, University of Warsaw
Dr Eustathios Raptou, Department of Antiquities of Cyprus
Dr Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou, Director of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus
ANNOUNCEMENT
HOUSE OF EUSTOLIOS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that from September 4, 2017 until the Spring of 2018, conservation will be carried out at the House of Eustolios in the archaeological site of Kourion. As a result, during this period, the porticos with mosaic floors that surround the internal courtyard of the House, will be closed to the public. The Department of Antiquities apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused.
ANNOUNCEMENT
HOUSE OF THESEUS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF NEA PAFOS
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that from August 3, 2017 until October 6, 2017, conservation will be carried out on the mosaic floors in the House of Theseus. As a result, during this period, rooms 39 and 40 (“Achilles first bath”) will be closed to the public. The Department of Antiquities apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that as of the 16th of July 2017, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States of America, concerning the imposition of import Restrictions on archaeological objects including ecclesiastical, ritual and ethnological objects dated up to 1850 A.D., is renewed for an additional five-year period.
The MoU, which entered into force in 2002, was renewed for two consecutive five-year periods, from 2007 to 2012 and from 2012 to 2017. In this latter period, an important development consisted of the inclusion of ritual and ethnological objects dating up to 1850, as well as of coins of the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods. The import of such objects into the USA is permitted only if the objects are accompanied with an export license, issued by the Republic of Cyprus. These same restrictions will be in force until 2022. The MoU’s renewal, reflects the strong commitment of the United States to help safeguard the cultural heritage of Cyprus and offers the opportunity for ongoing cooperation, aiming to reduce the illicit trade of cultural objects. This MoU is also considered to strengthen the bilateral relations of the United States of America with Cyprus.
PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the duration of the temporary exhibition “Amathous of Cyprus, a city most ancient” is extended until December 29, 2017.
The exhibition is presented at the Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District. Due to the large numbers of visitors from schools and the wider public, the duration of the exhibition will be extended.
During the Summer period guided tours will be offered by Archaeological Officers of the Department of Antiquities during the following dates and times:
8 July 2017, at 10:00 (the tour will be offered in Greek)
29 July 2017, at 10:00 (the tour will be offered in English)
5 August 2017, at 10:00 (the tour will be offered in Greek)
26 August 2017, at 10:00 (the tour will be offered in English)
Guided tours will also be offered during the period September-December 2017. The dates will be announced at a later date.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that, due to the celebrations of the month of Ramadan, a visit by a number of pilgrims will take place at the Mosque of Hala Sultan in Larnaka. Τhe mosque will therefore not be accessible to the general public on Tuesday 27 June 2017.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on Wednesday 14 June, from 15.00-18.00 and Saturday June 17, 2017 the Cyprus Museum and the Ethnological Museum, The House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios will remain closed due to the Cyprus Rally 2017.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Pafos Castle will be closed to the public on Saturday the 20th of May from 13.00 to 19.30 and on Sunday 21st of Μay 2017, from 11.00 to 13.30 due to events relating to “Pafos 2017”. The Department of Antiquities apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused to the visitors of the monument.
LIGHT IT UP 4 HD - LIGHTING OF MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS
FOR HUNTINGTON DISEASE (HD) MAY AWARENESS MONTH
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that from the 15th until the 21st of May 2017, it will participate in the international event entitled Light it Up 4 HD, in the framework of Huntington’s Disease (HD) May Awareness month. Amongst other events, significant buildings and monuments worldwide will turn purple and blue (purple for Juvenile Huntington disease and blue for Huntington disease (HD) [for further information see: https://www.huntingtonsociety.ca/lightitup4hd/]. In the context of this event, the Cyprus Museum, the Medieval castles of Pafos, Lemesos, Kolossi and Larnaka, and other public buildings in Cyprus will turn purple and blue.
The Department of Antiquities supports the efforts of the newly established Huntington's Disease Association of Cyprus which, in collaboration with the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, is dedicated to informing the public and supporting individuals and families affected directly or indirectly by Huntington's Disease. With this participation, once again, the Department of Antiquities declares the significance of cultural heritage in constructing a healthier and more humanistic present via the employment past.
PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on Tuesday May 9, 2017 from 12 pm and Wednesday May 10, 2017 the archaeological site of Kourion will be closed for the public due to the Annual General Meeting of the European Regional Development Bank.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF LARNAKA DISTRICT
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that from May 8th, 2017 until November 2017, the Archaeological Museum of Larnaka District will be closed for the public due to improvement works in the building as well as work concerning the new exhibition of the museum's archaeological collection. The Department of Antiquities apologizes for any inconvenience that may be caused.
INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITION FOR THE NEW CYPRUS MUSEUM
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that on September 16, 2016, the international architectural competition for the New Cyprus Museum was announced, and on January 20, 2017, the last date for the submission of proposals, a total of one hundred and twenty-nine (129) entries were received.
On February 3, 2017, the evaluation of the first stage of the Contest was completed and seven (7) architectural proposals for the New Cyprus Museum were selected, representing a wide range of different approaches.
The seven (7) architects / architectural offices selected are the following:
• DIMITRIS THOMOPOULOS – GREECE
• GILBARTOLOME ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN WORKSHOP SL – SPAIN
• PAUL KALOUSTIAN - LEBANON
• PEDRO PITARCH ALONSO – SPAIN
• SITE SPECIFIC, ARQUITECTURA LDA AND MANUEL AIRES MATEUS – PORTUGAL
• THEONI XANTHI – GREECE
• YANNIS KIZIS / KIZIS STUDIO SA ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS – GREECE
The official announcement of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, dated 6/2/2017, can be found at the following link: http://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/mcw.nsf/All/1FC78915C13B8AF6C22580BF001D3FE6?OpenDocument
Services sought for the Conservation of Ceramic Finds from Underwater Excavations and Surveys as part of the Department of Antiquities’ work in the Conservation of Underwater Finds
The Department of Antiquities would like to inform prospective tenderers that clarifications have been posted on https://www.eprocurement.gov.cy/ceproc/cft/listClarification.do?resourceId=1839311
LIGHT IT UP BLUE - BLUE LIGHTING OF MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS
FOR INTERNATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS DAY, 2 APRIL 2017
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that on 2 April 2017 it will participate in the international event entitled Light it Up Blue, for the celebration of International Autism Awareness Day. In the context of this event, the Cyprus Museum, the Archaeological Museums of Lemesos and Larnaka Districts, the Local Archaeological Museum of Marion-Arsinoe, the Castles of Pafos, Lemesos, Kolossi and Larnaka, the Medieval Manor House at Kouklia, and the archaeological sites at Choirokoitia and Amathous, will be lit blue. The participation in this international endeavour to raise public awareness on the idiosyncrasies and difficulties faced by persons in the Autism spectrum and their families, aligns with the vision and mission of the Department of Antiquities to create a solid framework for social development based on archaeological and cultural values. With this action, the Department of Antiquities wishes to stress once again that the protection and promotion of our archaeological heritage does not exist independently of the social context, but comprises of actions targeted towards all citizens and for the prosperity of modern culture.
Services sought for the Conservation of Ceramic Finds from Underwater Excavations and Surveys as part of the Department of Antiquities’ work in the Conservation of Underwater Finds
The Department of Antiquities announces it is tendering for services for the conservation of ceramic finds from underwater excavations and surveys.
The project is funded 100% by the Honor Frost Foundation.
Deadline of application: 12 April 2017, 11am
To download the Tender Documents (in Greek) please click on the link below:
https://www.eprocurement.gov.cy/ceproc/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=1839311
or contact 22 806708 or 22 865874.
RESTORATION WORKS AT THE PREHISTORIC
SETTLEMENT LEMPA / LAKKOI
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that at the Prehistoric settlement Lempa/Lakkoi will remain closed to the public from 15th of February, 2017 due to restoration works.
CONSERVATION WORKS AT THE HOUSES OF DIONYSOS AND AION
AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAFOS, AND THE HOUSE
OF EUSTOLIOS AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KOURION
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that the Houses of Dionysos and Aion at the archaeological site of Kato Pafos and the House of Eustolios at the archaeological site of Kourion, will be closed to the public, due to scheduled conservation works, during the following dates:
House of Dionysos: 20 February 2017 – 24 February 2017
House of Aion: 28 February 2017 – 1 March 2017
House of Eustolios: 2 March 2017 – 3 March 2017
GUIDED TOURS TO THE EXHIBITION
“Amathous of Cyprus, a city most ancient”
Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District
7th October 2016 – 7th July 2017
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, announces that for the duration of the temporary exhibition “Amathous of Cyprus, a city most ancient” at the Archaeological Museum of the Lemesos District, guided tours will be offered by Archaeological Officers of the Department of Antiquities during the following dates and times:
28 January 2017, at 10:00 (in Greek)
4 February 2017, at 10:00 (in Greek)
11 March 2017, at 10:00 (in Greek)
18 March 2017, at 10:00 (in English)
8 April 2017, at 10:00 (in Greek)
29 April 2017, at 10:00 (in Greek)
6 May 2017, at 10:00 (in English)
20 May 2017, at 10:00 (in Greek)
10 June 2017, at 10:00 (in English)
24 June 2017, at 10:00 (in Greek)
ANNOUNCEMENT
KOURION ARCHAELOGICAL SITE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, would like to inform the public wishing to celebrate Green Monday at the ancient Kourion beach, that ascending and descending the ancient Kourion Hill with 4X4 quad bikes and motorcycles is strictly prohibited. This area has been declared an Ancient Monument of Schedule A. In the last few years it has been observed that on Green Mondays, visitors taking part in such actions are destroying the archaeological stratigraphy and the architectural remains of the site. We would like to urge the public to avoid these activities as they are considered to be both dangerous and destructive for our cultural heritage.
We hope for your understanding in this serious matter and anticipate that the public will conform to the instructions of the Department of Antiquities.
CEREMONY IN THE BYZANTINE MUSEUM TO MARK THE REPATRIATION OF 173 CULTURAL TREASURES
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works announces that on Tuesday 12 November 2013, a ceremony will be organized in the Byzantine Museum of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation, Nicosia to mark the repatriation of the 173 ecclesiastical cultural treasures which were stolen from the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. It constitutes the largest number of cultural objects ever repatriated in Cyprus and the repatriation was achieved after a long legal battle in the Regional Court of Munich. The 173 byzantine and post-byzantine antiquities that still bear the signs of irreversible damage caused during the process of their detachment from the churches, come from Greek-Cypriot churches and churches of the Maronite community. They are unique examples of ecclesiastical art of Cyprus and will be temporarily exhibited in the Byzantine Museum until the day of their return to the places where they belong.
NEW GUIDELINES FOR ARTICLES TO BE PUBLISHED IN
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES, CYPRUS (RDAC)
NEW SERIES
The Editors of the Department of Antiquities have prepared new submission guidelines for articles to be published in the RDAC New Series (as of 2014). This decision aims at improving the scientific standard of the publication through peer-reviewing: the excavation/survey reports will be reviewed by an in-house committee and any other articles (study of objects, architecture etc) by external peer-reviewers. A standard referencing system will be used by all authors that will include footnotes and a list of works cited. Articles submitted for publication must be in either Greek or English only.
With regard to the spelling of geographical names, the Department of Antiquities recognises the importance of the traditional spelling as in the archaeological literature. However, according to a decision by the Ministerial Council (no. 31.075 of 15.12.1988), all government services are required to follow the standardization as indicated in the publication by M.N. Christodoulou and K. Konstantinides, A Complete Gazetteer of Cyprus (Nicosia 1987). For this reason as well as for purposes of continuity, the standardized spelling of geographical names will be used in the article texts. However, in order to eliminate identification problems, a concordance index will be included at the end of the volume that will inform the reader as to the corresponding spelling in the archaeological literature.
For more information or for queries, you may contact Mr Efthymios Shaftacolas (Archaeological Officer of Publications) via email (aphro21@hotmail.com) or by telephone (+357-22865815 / +357-99639673).
OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW VISITORS’ CENTRE
OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KITION, LARNAKA
Friday, 18th of October 2013, at 5:30 pm
5:30 pm: Tour by personnel of the Department of Antiquities
6:00 pm: Address by the Minister of Communications and Works
Mr Tasos Mitsopoulos
Address by the Mayor of Larnaka
Mr Andreas Louroutziatis
Address by the Acting Director of the Department of Antiquities,
Dr Marina Solomidou-Ieronymidou
6:10 pm: Speech by the excavator of the site, Dr Vassos Karageorghis,
Professor Emeritus of the University of Cyprus
6:30 pm: Musical programme by the “Melodia” vocal group of Kition-
Aradippou Hellenic Music School
...........................................................................
A cocktail reception will follow at the Visitors’ Centre
PRESENTATION OF THE PILOT PROJECT
«GUIDED TOURS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS AT THE HOUSE OF DIONYSOS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAPHOS»,
5 OCTOBER 2013
The Department of Antiquities, aiming at increasing the relationship between all citizens and the archaeological sites and monuments of Cyprus, announces the presentation of the pilot project entitled “Tours for visually impaired persons at the House of Dionysos, Archaeological Site of Kato Paphos” by the Minister of Communication and Works, Mr. T. Mitsopoulos, on Saturday 5th of October 2013 at 17:30.
The objective of the Department of Antiquities is to provide access to all citizens to the archaeological heritage of Cyprus. In particular, it is the first time that an opportunity is given to visually impaired persons to get familiar with and understand, in a direct and tangible manner, the archaeological material and related aspects, such as a mosaic and its manufacture technology. Most importantly, this project highlights further the value and great significance embedded in the preservation and promotion of our archaeological heritage.
In collaboration with the School for the Blind “St Barnabas”, bilingual informative panels have been produced in the Braille writing system and placed at the “House of Dionysos”, while a plan of the same house in relief, enables a direct understanding of the architectural organization. Moreover, a copy of a mosaic has been created with dspaces in relief, in an attempt to provide an insight into the character of the motifs depicted on the surface. Guides have also been published in Greek and in English in the Braille writing system, as part of the efforts to provide accessibility to all available historic and archaeological information relating to the archaeological site of Paphos and the “House of Dionysos”. For the people with reduced sight the guides were published in an enlarged font. These guides will be provided to the persons with visual disability by the Department of Antiquities free of charge. In addition, the guards of the archaeological site have been trained by special trainers of the School for the Blind, so as to act as guides to visually impaired persons, in order to increase the benefits of their visit. It is important to note that this is a pilot project and that it will be soon applied to other monuments and other archaeological sites.
The opening ceremony of the presentation of the pilot project will commence at 17:30 with a guided tour at the House of Dionysos by an Archaeological Officer of the Department of Antiquities. The event will continue at the ancient Odeon and will be addressed by the Minister of Communications and Works Mr. T. Mitsopoulos, the Mayor of Paphos Mr. S. Vergas, the Acting Director of the Department of Antiquities Dr M. Solomidou – Ieronymidou, and the Acting Director of the School for the Blind Mrs Pelagia Egglezaki – Karpasiti. The main part of the event comprises a concert by students of the Programme of the Ministry of Education and Culture for the Development of Musical Talents, under the artistic direction of Professor Mathaios Kariolou.
Finally, a kite aerial photography exhibition of ancient sites and monuments of Cyprus by Mr. Thomas Sagory will be hosted for a week at the Visitors Centre of the Archaeological Site of Kato Paphos. The exhibition, entitled “Cyprus – An aerial perspective”, is co-organized with the French Institute of the French Embassy in Cyprus.
ROOM II OF THE CYPRUS MUSEUM
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, announces to the public that Room II of the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia is currently under renovation and is closed to the public.
MOSAIKON TRAINING WORKSHOP
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, announces that the second MOSAIKON training workshop in the conservation and management of archaeological sites with mosaics, will be held in Paphos from 28 April until 16 May 2014. The course is organized in collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute and the Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprus.
More information on the course, as well as the application form due by 30 September 2013, are available on the website
http://www.getty.edu/conservation/our_projects/education/mosaikon/mosaikon_course2014.html
PAFOS MEDIEVAL CASTLE
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that the Paphos Medieval Castle will be closed to the public from the 26th of August 2013 to the 9th of September 2013, both dates included, due to works relating to the Paphos Aphrodite Festival 2013.
TREE PLANTING AT CHOIROKOITIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works announces that on Wednesday, 7th August 2013 at 19:00 pm, tree planting will take place at the archaeological site of Choirokoitia in the presence of the Minister of Communications and Works, aiming to the restoration of the landscape at the site following the recent destructive fire.
REVISED OPENING HOURS FOR DISTRICT MUSEUMS
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works announces that the Larnaka, Limassol and Pafos District Museums will remain closed for the public on Saturdays during the period 1st August until 31st of December or until further notice.
REPATRIATION CEREMONY IN MUNICH
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works announces that on Tuesday 16 July 2013 a ceremony was organized to mark the extremely important decision taken by the Regional Court of Munich on the 18th of March, 2013 that follows the decision of the District Court of Munich delivered on September 2010 for the repatriation of cultural treasures, which were stolen from the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
The ceremony involved the symbolic return of 173 objects of ecclesiastical art, which were stolen from churches in the occupied part of Cyprus after the Turkish invasion of 1974 and exported illegally. It took place in the Bavarian Police Department in Munich and was attended and addressed by the Minister of Justice of Bavaria, Beate Merk, the President of the Bavarian Police Department Dr Peter Dathe, the First Criminal Commissioner Dr Franz Weber, the Bishop of Neapolis Porfyrios on behalf of the Church of Cyprus and, Dr. Despo Pilides, Acting Director, on behalf of the Department of Antiquities. A representative of the Embassy of Cyprus in Berilin, as well as other distinguished guests and the Bavarian press were also present. The icon of St Basil from the church of Panagia Galaktoforousa at Palaikythro was presented to the Cypriot representatives, while another five objects were exhibited for symbolic reasons.
Even though restored so as to be able to travel to Cyprus, the signs of violent detachment and bad handling of the objects by the looters were evident. The exhibited objects comprised the wall mosaic fragment of St Thomas from Panagia Kanakaria at Lythrangomi, two fragments of the wall-painting of the Last Judgment from the church of Antifonitis at Kalograia, the icon of Christ from the church of Agios Theodoros, Karpasia, and the icon of Virgin Mary portraying Christ, Agios Ioannis Eleimon, and the portraits of the founders from the church of Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos at Koutsoventis.
This repatriation, which will take place in the near future, concerns the largest in number of cultural goods restitution case that the Republic of Cyprus has ever experienced. Also important was the significance attached to the event by the Bavarian press and mass media.
RENOVATION WORKS IN ROOM II OF THE CYPRUS MUSEUMThe Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, announces to the public that between Wednesday 10th July 2013 and Tuesday 30th July 2013, inclusive, Room II of the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia will be
closed for visitors due to renovation works.
MUSEUM OF MAA-PALAIOKASTRO
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, announces that as of Wednesday, 23rd of January 2013, the Museum of Maa Palaiokastro will remain closed for restoration work.
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, announces that on the 11th January 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and her counterpart Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Federal Council, Mr Didier Burkhalter signed an Agreement on the Import and Repatriation of Cultural Property in Bern. The Agreement, a result of consultation which began in 2006, concerns Cypriot and Swiss antiquities dated from prehistoric times until 1500 AD.
The Agreement prohibits the import of cultural goods in both states, when the national legislation of the source country has not been followed. At the same time, the Agreement outlines the framework of collaboration of the two countries in issues related to the return of cultural property that has been illegally exported from its country of origin and at the same time it promotes scientific collaboration and cultural exchanges between Cyprus and Switzerland.
The signing of the Agreement, along with the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Cyprus and the USA (July 2012) concerning the imposition of import restrictions on Cypriot archaeological objects, is an extremely important step towards the enhancement of the protection of the cultural heritage of Cyprus and especially towards the prevention of the illegal trade of cultural treasures that are systematically being looted in the island’s occupied areas.
RENEWAL OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS AND USA
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that on the 10th of July 2012 a ceremonial exchange of diplomatic notes was held between Cyprus and the United States of America signifying the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States of America, concerning the imposition of import Restrictions on archaeological objects including ecclesiastical, ritual and ethnological objects dated up to 1850 A.D, as well as coins dating up to 1500 A.D.
The MoU, which entered into force in 2002, was renewed for an additional five years in 2007 and has now been renewed for a further five-year-period, extending to ritual and ethnological objects dating up to 1850. The import of such objects into the USA is permitted only if the objects are accompanied with an export license issued by the Republic of Cyprus. The MoU’s renewal reflects the strong commitment of the United States to help safeguard Cypriot heritage and offers the opportunity for ongoing cooperation, aiming to reduce the illicit trade of cultural objects. It also strengthens the bilateral relations of the United States of America with Cyprus.
anThrOPOS: Faces of Cyprus through the Ages
CYPRUS MUSEUM
(Special Exhibition Hall)
18 MAY 2012 – 18 JANUARY 2013
PROGRAM
FRIDAY, 18 MAY 2012
08:00 - 23:00 The Cyprus Museum will be open and entry will be free. At the Museum this year, celebrations for International Museum Day, the European Night of Museums and Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the E.U. will be combined.
An exhibition entitled: “anThrOPOS: Faces of Cyprus through the Ages” will be organised in the Cyprus Museum’s Special Exhibition Hall. The exhibition explores the human form as it is represented in the art of Cyprus from the Neolithic period until today, focusing specifically on depictions of the human face. Ancient stone and terracotta heads will be presented and emphasis will be placed on facial features, hairstyles, headdresses as well as various other mediums of body ornamentation (jewellery, tattoos etc) as depicted through the ages. Through this variety of representations the visitor will be able to trace features which highlight the concept of personal and group identity as well as trends in face representation throughout antiquity. The visitor’s journey will continue with an exhibition of unique photographic portraits of Cypriot villagers taken in the 30’s, 40’ and 50’s by Porphyrios Dikaios during his archaeological explorations of the island. This dialogue of past and present is completed with an audiovisual installation by Haris Epaminonda, inspired by faces of the past. The artist’s 2012 project is a new addition to her ongoing work entitled ‘Chronicles’ (2010-ongoing).
18:00-19:00 & 20:00-21:00 Guided tours
19:30 (Library): The new publication of the Department of Antiquities titled: “Faces and Places of Cyprus (1933-1956): Porphyrios Dikaios’ Photographs at the Department of Antiquities” will be presented by Professor Euphrosyne Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou, University of Cyprus.
20:00 - 23:00 Live jazz music with DKQ and reception in the gardens of the Cyprus Museum.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that, as of 16 July 2012, the following Museums will be open to the public on Mondays from 08:00 – 14:30:
- Lemesos (Limasol) District Museum
- Larnaka District Museum
- Pafos District Museum
- Local Museum of Marion-Arsinoe (Polis Chrysochous)
ANNOUNCEMENT: TAMASOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that, as of 1 August 2012, visitors will be able to visit the Archaeological SIte of Tamasos only after telephone appointment, from Monday to Friday between the hours 9.30 - 17.00 (April - AUgust) and 8.30 - 16.00 (September - March).
Visitors are requested to contact Mrs Maria Michaeildou (99218525).
THE REPATRIATION OF THE WALL PAINTINGS
OF THE CHURCH OF AGIOS EUPHEMIANOS, LYSI
The Department of Antiquities expresses great satisfaction for the repatriation of the wall paintings of Agios Euphemianos of Lysi, which arrived in Cyprus on Friday 16th March 2012 and have been placed in the Byzantine Museum of Archbishop Makarios III Foundation in Nicosia.
The wall paintings, dating to the 13th century were once part of the interior decoration of the Church of Agios Euphemianos, also known as Agios Themonianos, in currently occupied Lysi. The Christ Pantocrator, surrounded by a frieze of angels, as well as the Preparation of the Throne attended by the Mother of God and St. John the Baptist is depicted on the dome. In the conch of the apse, the Mother of God is depicted, flanked by the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The decorated interior of Agios Euphemianos is considered to be one of the most important works of Cypriot religious art, an integral part of the cultural heritage of Cyprus and the wider Byzantine culture.
The wall paintings have been returned to Cyprus, after having been kept for nearly three decades in the Menil Foundation in Houston, Texas in the USA, following the coordinated efforts of the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and the Church of Cyprus. The willingness of the Menil Foundation to return the wall paintings is much appreciated. The successful return of the wall paintings was achieved in a spirit of co-operation and provides evidence for the positive international climate created through various international and bilateral agreements between states that support the return of illegally exported treasures. Cyprus is actively involved in the efforts to protect cultural property, through the signing of memoranda with the United States of America and other countries and by participating in European and international fora.
The difficult task of the transportation of the wall paintings in Cyprus was achieved through the close collaboration between the Department of Antiquities, the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus and the Menil Foundation. Conservators of the Department of Antiquities and the Menil Foundation conserved the wall paintings prior to their move, supervised their packing and accompanied the antiquities from the Menil Foundation Museum to the Byzantine Museum in Nicosia. In preparing the infrastructure for the re-exhibition, a large multidisciplinary team was involved including archaeologists, conservators, architects, civil engineers and specialised companies for transportation and installation. We express our gratitude to the Menil Foundation for its cooperation and we hope that its actions will set an example for the return of other important Cypriot antiquities, which are still abroad.
The wall paintings have been placed in a specially designed area in the first room of the Byzantine Museum of Archbishop Makarios III Foundation, in an attempt to provide as close an authentic setting as possible for the wall paintings. Our wish, however, is that the wall paintings will one day return to their place of origin, in the chapel of Agios Euphemianos in Lysi, after the restoration of the monument that is now in a bad state of preservation, stripped of its interior decoration.
The repatriated wall paintings have only filled a small gap in the lacuna created after the looting and illegal export of the cultural heritage of communities such as Lysi, where the memory of this heritage is retained alive through the reminiscences of its inhabitants.
CONSERVATION WORK AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF KATO PAPHOS, HOUSE OF AION
COMPLETION OF CONSERVATION WORKS AT HOUSE OF DIONYSOS, KATO (NEA) PAPHOS
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces to the public that all conservation works at the House of Dionysos, at the archaeological site of Kato Paphos, have been completed.
The project on the conservation of the mosaics and the upgrade of the shelter at the House of Dionysos was conducted by the Department of Antiquities in four phases. The project lasted for one year. The first phase of the mosaic conservation involved rooms 5 (geometric pattern), 6 (Phaedra and Hippolytos), 7 (geometric pattern), 8 (the Rape of Ganymede), 9 (geometric pattern). The second phase involved the mosaics found in the atrium (10, 11, 12 and 16). The third conservation phase involved rooms 2 (Narcissus), 3 (the Four Seasons), 15 (the Peacock), 13 and 14 (geometric patterns). The final phase involved conservation of the pebble mosaic floor depicting Scylla (room 1) and the mosaic floor depicting the Triumph of Dionysos (room 4).
Prior to the conservation of the mosaics, the Department of Antiquities had conducted a research focusing on the ancient manufacturing technology of the mosaics, the type of rocks used and their characteristics, as well as the composition and the characteristics of the plaster.
The large-scale works that were conducted for the shelter´s upgrade involved the replacement of the wall panels with wooden panels, the replacement of doors and windows, the internal and external painting of the shelter and the pedestrian bridges, the foreclosure of the roof, the installation of gutters, gully grates and water pipes to remove the water from the atrium and the shelter, and the disinsectisation of the shelter.
PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF CYPRUS AND SWITZERLAND IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON THE ILLICIT
TREFFICKING OF ANTIQUITIES
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Government of Switzerland initialed a bilateral agreement on 24 May 2011, after negotiations held between the representatives of Switzerland and the representatives of the Department of Antiquities, the Ministry of Communications and Works, the Legal Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the imposition of restrictions on the illegal import of cultural goods.
The agreement is launched within the context of the general efforts for the protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of both countries and the prevention of the illicit trafficking of cultural goods. It also specifies that the two countries will co-operate in the field by exchanging information, expertise and through the organization of exhibitions, conferences and training seminars.
The agreement was initialed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Works Mr. Michael Constantinides and the Head of the Specialized Service of the Swiss Federal Office of Culture Mr. Benno Widmer.
MOSQUE OF HALA SULTAN
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities announces that every Fridays the Mosque of Hala Sultan (Hala Sultan Tekke) in Larnaka will be closed between the hours of 13.00 until 15.00. MOSQUE-CHURCH OF AGIOS ANDRONIKOS (POLIS CHRYSOCHOUS)
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities, announces that, as of 15 June 2010, the working hours of the Mosque (Church of Agios Andronikos) in Polis Chrysochou, are as follows:
Monday – Friday 10.00 – 13.00
Saturday Closed
Sunday 8.30 – 16.00 CYPRUS - CHINA AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL PROPERTY
For the purpose of protecting cultural heritage, Cyprus and China proceeded to initial a Memorandum for the prevention of the theft, clandestine excavation and illicit import and export of cultural property.
The agreement was initialled on the 8th of May by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Works, Makis Constantinides and the Deputy Director-General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China, Dong Baohua, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Beijing, Marios Ieronymides, the Director of the Department of Antiquities, Pavlos Flourentzos, and the Director of the Department of Merchant Shipping, Sergios Sergiou and their Chinese counterparts.
According to the official announcement, “this agreement is considered important in relation to the cultural wealth of both countries. Cyprus has already signed a similar agreement with the U.S.A. In this way the government of Cyprus is trying to achieve the greatest protection possible for its cultural heritage”.. ANOUNCEMENT
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
The Ministry of Communications and Works, Department of Antiquities announces that on the 20th of July 2007 a ceremonial exchange of diplomatic notes was held between Cyprus and the United States of America signifying the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that protects the rich archaeological and ethnological heritage of Cyprus.
The MOU, which entered into force in 2002 is extended for an additional five years, effective July 16, 2007. Its continuation reflects the strong commitment of the United States to help safeguard Cypriot heritage and offers the opportunity for ongoing cooperation to reduce further pillage, thereby increasing opportunities for scientific study of intact sites. It also illustrates the strength of U.S – Cyprus bilateral relations.
The MOU enables the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue import restrictions on pre-Classical and Classical archaeological objects and Byzantine period ecclesiastical and ritual ethnological material unless accompanied by an export permit issued by Cyprus.
Much of the history of the island can be understood only from archaeological remains, because historical texts are very rare. The rich archaeological heritage of Cyprus illustrates the interaction of the island’s inhabitants with neighboring societies, while maintaining a unique Cypriot character. Byzantine ritual and ecclesiastical material such as icons, mosaics and frescos - ranging from approximately the 4th century A.D. through approximately the 15th century A.D. – illustrate the high degree of artistic achievement in Cyprus.
With the extension of this MOU, the list of restricted categories was amended to include ancient coins of Cypriot types produced from the end of the 6th century B.C. to 235 A.D. Coins, a significant and inseparable part of the archaeological record of the island, are especially valuable to understanding the history of Cyprus.
It is worth noting that this is the first time that the U.S have accepted to include coins in such a Memorandum.
For more information visit our 'Legislation' page or click here:
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Ministry of Communications and Works (Department of Antiquities), following a resolution of the Council of Ministers (No. 65.484), announces that the free entry of Cypriots and Europeans to the museums and archaeological sites of Cyprus on Sundays will no longer apply from 1.1.2008.
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