A unique silver-gilt bowl: An amalgam of civilizations
Cyprus, since antiquity, is a crossroad of civilizations. The geographical position of the island, situated in the most eastern part of the Mediterranean, renders it a crossroad, a candle of civilizations. This is evident through the examination of the material culture excavated in the island. Foreign influences can be seen not only in the imported material but also in architecture, social and cultural practices, etc.
View of the central tondo, c. Met Museum)
One unique example of the influences occurred in Cyprus during the Archaic period is a silver-gilt bowl, said to be found at Kourion. Probably it was discovered during the excavations of Luigi Palma Cesnola in the area around 1874. The extraordinary piece dates to the Archaic period and more specifically in ca. 725-675 B.C. The preservation and condition of this masterpiece is exceptional. It is of the finest quality, representing an amalgamation of Egyptian, Assyrian and Phoenician features. The main tondo shows a winged deity of Assyrian type felling a rampant lion with a sword. There is also a variety of animal and narrative motifs.
The bowl, c. Met Museum
At the top, there is Cypriot syllabic inscription: “I am [the bowl] of Akestor, king of Paphos.”
but It seems that the bowl was partly obliterated and replaced: “I am [the bowl] of Timokretes“, presumably the next owner.
The bowl is exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum, Fifth Avenue in Gallery 174. New York.
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