CYPRUS:
A Civilization at the Smithsonian Museum
THE
SMITHSONIAN’S Museum of Natural History in Washington is to
exhibit a large collection of Cypriot artifacts to mark the 50th
anniversary of the Cyprus Republic titled ‘Cyprus: Crossroads of
Civilizations’.
The exhibition will be on view from September 29 until May 1 next
year and it will feature about 260 items, many of which are being
displayed for the first time in the US.
They cover nearly 11,000 years of history, from the Cypriot-Archaic
period through to the Venetian period, and include artifacts from the
earliest villages to the masterpieces of medieval religious art.
The exhibition is expected to be displayed at other US museums, and
in Canada, which has already expressed an interest in hosting the
exhibition.
The formal opening of the exhibition will take place on September 28,
by President Demetris Christofias.
Head of Press and Information Division at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Androula Lanitis, in an interview with Cyprus News Agency
said the exhibition was organised under an initiative by Cyprus’
Ambassador to the US Andreas Kakouris.
The Council of Ministers approved the project at the end of 2008.
Lanitis said the Smithsonian accepted the proposal to host the
exhibition, set to coincide with celebrations to mark the 50th
anniversary on October 1 although, Cyprus officially obtained
independence on August 16, 1960.
Cyprus’ Ottoman period from 1571-1878 is not included in the
exhibition because it didn’t produce anything of “significant
archaeological value”, the Cyprus News Agency said and in the
subsequent period of British rule there only remained only samples of
folkloric art.
Parallel to the exhibition at the Smithsonian, various events and
functions will take place including scientific lectures on Cypriot
archaeology, lectures on wine since ancient times, on mythology and
Aphrodite, on the first pets people kept, on the Mazotos shipwreck
and on Christianity and Byzantium.
Representatives of the Smithsonian visited Cyprus in October last
year to inspect all of the items to be displayed.
Lanitis said they showed a keen interest in the skeleton of a cat,
found near the archaeological site of Syllourokambos.
The Department of Antiquities will send a replica of the skeleton to
the Smithsonian because the skeleton itself cannot be transported.
The Smithsonian will also organise various events and educational
programmes to promote the exhibition.
One way will be though the ‘Discovery Station’ and the ‘Discovery
Room’.
The Discovery Station will comprise a mobile cart, placed outside the
main exhibition hall containing various items such as urns and tools
and visitors will have the chance to learn about their use in ancient
times.
The Discovery Room is addressed primarily to children, who will be
able to have their questions answered by an expert. Children will
also have the chance to try on traditional Cypriot costumes.
All of the items which will go on display have been selected by the
Curator of the exhibition and the Department of Antiquities, Lanitis
said.
“We shall try to take the exhibition on tour until around mid 2012
before Cyprus assumes the six monthly rotating presidency of the
European Union,” she added.
Smithsonian exhibitions attract thousands of visitors every year.
A catalogue on the exhibition will be on sale throughout the
duration, which will contain, in addition to the exhibits, articles
on various historical periods by renowned archaeologists from Cyprus
and abroad.
