Panayiotis Panayides | Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (original) (raw)
Books by Panayiotis Panayides
Cyprus in the Long Late Antiquity. History and Archaeology Between the Sixth and Eighth Centuries, 2023
Cyprus was a thriving and densely populated late antique province. The Arab raids of the mid-seve... more Cyprus was a thriving and densely populated late antique province. The Arab raids of the mid-seventh century did not abruptly bring the island’s prosperity to an end. Recent research highlights long-lasting continuity in both urban and rural contexts. This volume brings together historians and archaeologists working on diverse aspects of Cyprus between the sixth and eighth centuries. They discuss topics as varied as rural prosperity, urban endurance, artisanal production, civic and private religion, and maritime connectivity. The role of the imperial administration and of the Church is touched upon in several contributions. Other articles place Cyprus back into its wider Mediterranean context. Together, they produce a comprehensive impression of the quality of life on the island in the Long Late Antiquity.
Conferences by Panayiotis Panayides
Postponed - new dates: 13-15 January 2021 Symposium co-organised by Prof. Ine Jacobs (ine.jacob... more Postponed - new dates: 13-15 January 2021
Symposium co-organised by Prof. Ine Jacobs (ine.jacobs@classics.ox.ac.uk, Faculty of Classics, Faculty of History, School of Archaeology) and Dr Panayiotis Panayides (panayiotis.panayides@classics.ox.ac.uk, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Classics, Corpus Christi College) in collaboration with the Faculty of Classics, the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research (OCBR), and the Cyprus High Commission in the UK.
Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 March 2020
Lecture Theatre, Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies, 66 St Giles', Oxford
Cyprus in Late Antiquity was a thriving and densely populated province. During the sixth and seventh centuries, the growing affluence of the island is conspicuous in comparison to other regions of the Eastern Roman Empire. In the traditional historical view, the late antique period on Cyprus ended abruptly as a result of the Arab raids of the mid-seventh century. The original focus of urban archaeology on monumental structures and Christian basilicas tended to stress the impact of these raids further; layers of destruction were often uncritically associated with the Arabs, overshadowing archaeological evidence that hinted at continuities beyond the mid-seventh century.
In recent decades, archaeological research on late antique Cyprus has shifted its focus away from urban centres and single monuments in favour of a more contextual perspective. Building on well-established traditions of field prospection, diachronic survey projects and small-scale excavations are revealing a complex web of settlement patterns. They have shown that economic, political and cultural contacts between the island and the wider eastern Mediterranean were continued. Moreover, they also suggest that the end or transformation of occupation on individual sites cannot always be explained by catastrophic events, but should be interpreted in terms of local adaptation to changing needs and contacts.
This symposium brings together archaeologists and historians engaged in the study of Cyprus between the sixth and eighth centuries. They will collate the results of recent and past research to arrive at a comprehensive, interdisciplinary reconstruction of life on the island in the Long Late Antiquity.
PhD Thesis by Panayiotis Panayides
Research undertaken in Durham University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health: Department of Ar... more Research undertaken in Durham University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health: Department of Archaeology; supervised by Dr Anna Leone.
Viva voce examination held on April 15th, 2016.
Examiners: Prof. Roland R. R. Smith (University of Oxford), Dr Catherine M. Draycott (Durham University).
Outcome: passed forthwith (no corrections; thesis passed unconditionally).
Articles by Panayiotis Panayides
![Research paper thumbnail of Castrating the Gods of Salamis: a case study on the sexual mutilation of statuary in Late Antiquity [full text on request]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/60657054/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Sabine Rogge, Christina Ioannou, Theodoros Mavrojannis (eds), Salamis of Cyprus, History and Archaeology from the Earliest Times to Late Antiquity. Conference in Nicosia, 21–23 May 2015. Schriften des Instituts für Interdisziplinäre Zypern-Studien, vol. 13, Waxmann Verlag GmbH., 2019
Schriften des Instituts für Interdisziplinäre Zypern-Studien, vol. 13, 2019, ca. 778 pages, hardc... more Schriften des Instituts für Interdisziplinäre Zypern-Studien, vol. 13, 2019, ca. 778 pages, hardcover., with numerous coloured illustrations, € 94,00, ISBN 978-3-8309-3479-0 E-Book: € 84,99, ISBN 978-3-8309-8479-5 www.waxmann.com Further book information here. Steinfurter Str. 555 48159 Münster Fon +49 (0)2 51 -2 65 04-0 Fax +49 (0)2 51 -2 65 04-26
![Research paper thumbnail of Cyprus at the End of Antiquity: new archaeological discoveries [in Greek]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/58003643/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Chroniko, 4th Edition, Issue 12; May 12th, 2018
![Research paper thumbnail of Ύστερη Αρχαιότητα και Πρώιμη Βυζαντινή περίοδος (284-649 μ.Χ.). In Neocleous, S. (ed.) Ιστορία της Κύπρου. Τόμος 1. 11.000 π.Χ – 649 μ.Χ. Ecumenical Hellenism Foundation (Athens 2018) [full text on request]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/57901821/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](
Approaching Cyprus: Proceedings of the Post-Graduate Conference of Cypriot Archaeology (PoCA) held at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, 1st-3rd November 2013, Edited by Richard Maguire and Jane Chick, Aug 2016
Book Reviews by Panayiotis Panayides
Conference Presentations by Panayiotis Panayides
Some of the most important Roman and late antique buildings at Kourion, Cyprus, were excavated be... more Some of the most important Roman and late antique buildings at Kourion, Cyprus, were excavated before and just after World War II by the University Museum of the Pennsylvania University. Notable amongst those paved in mosaic are the complex of Eustolios and the so-called House with the Achilles mosaic. While the results of these excavations have never been properly published, their mosaic pavements are well-known and have frequently been discussed in scholarship for their iconography, symbolism, and craftsmanship. Yet still unknown but of no less importance are a number of fragments from mosaic floors that have been kept in store since their discovery: they represent figural compositions and geometric patterns that not only compliment the already known material, but also enhance the repertory of Roman and late antique mosaic floors of Cyprus in general.
This paper will communicate these objects to the scientific community for the first time; the aim is to examine the evidence in many scales of context, from the buildings where the fragments have been excavated to regional trends of mosaic floor decoration in Kourion and Cyprus in general.
Public bathing establishments retained their importance as urban settings for the display of scul... more Public bathing establishments retained their importance as urban settings for the display of sculpture throughout the Roman and Late Roman periods. Bath complexes, largely neutral in cultic terms, not only received frequent and generous renovations and redecorations, but also continued displaying mythological sculptures well in Christian times.
In the late antique period, when the production of new sculpture dwindled, it was not an uncommon practice to remove statues from disused buildings and redisplay them in new contexts, either by retaining their original form or altering it intentionally. Although a frequent phenomenon, the translocation and redeployment of statues in late antique cities was less frequently documented epigraphically. The practice may, nevertheless, be discerned by assessing statuary assemblages against various variables.
During redecorations, a selection process may have presumably been in play while, the redisplay of old statues from buildings of a different function in bath complexes may also suggest that the statues too acquired a different function and meaning. This paper will probe into these issues and present preliminary results of ongoing research on the reuse of statues in late antique public bathing establishments, through the analysis of selected occurrences of the phenomenon across the Mediterranean.
![Research paper thumbnail of The topography of Limassol city and district through the archaeological record (first to seventh centuries AD) [in Greek]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/55333447/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](The aim of this study is a concise presentation of the so-far known archaeological data concernin... more The aim of this study is a concise presentation of the so-far known archaeological data concerning the city and district of Limassol (modern boundaries), from the first to the seventh century AD, as revealed through field surveys and excavations, mostly of a salvage nature. The period covers over six centuries and spans from Roman times to the end of antiquity, when the appearance and constituent elements of ‘classical’ cities were transformed beyond recognition. The paper will assess how the human presence is archaeologically documented, the nature of human activities and the possible role the natural environment might have had over the appearance and development of settlements.
A unique group of sculpture from Early Christian Cyprus comes from the so-called Villa of Theseus... more A unique group of sculpture from Early Christian Cyprus comes from the so-called Villa of Theseus, at Nea Paphos. The group comprises (at least) twenty sculptures of divinities and mythological figures, which range in date from the Hellenistic to the Late Roman periods. Their discovery with connection to late antique layers demonstrates the long-lasting importance of sculpture to the villa culture and confirms the empire-wide appreciation of local elites to the medium in late antique times. In this paper, the decoration of the Villa of Theseus will be re-assessed in order to efficiently envisage its sculptural environment, between the late fourth and late sixth centuries. Possibilities for the display and usage of the sculptures within the villa will be offered, while possible reasons for the selection of particular iconographical types will also be suggested, within the broader context of Nea Paphos.
This paper concerns secondary structures that altered the original plan of buildings, dated betwe... more This paper concerns secondary structures that altered the original plan of buildings, dated between the fourth and seventh centuries on the island of Cyprus. Their appearance was almost always considered an indication of urban decline and, as such, were dismissed by classical archaeologists, most of the times with insufficient (if any) archaeological documentation, so that floors and architecture be restored to their ‘original plan’.
The paper presents chronologically a brief survey of the appearance and evolution of secondary structures in public spaces. The evidence is then summarised according to the function of these structures, their spatial and temporal occurrence.
The excavations of the University of Warsaw in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Kato Paphos unco... more The excavations of the University of Warsaw in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Kato Paphos uncovered a unique group of at least twenty sculptures, predominantly depicting mythological figures and divinities. The building took its definite architectural form in the late fourth century, although its construction had started early in the second half of the second century. In terms of decoration, the villa reached its heyday between the late fourth and sixth centuries. Most of the sculptures, which vary in scale and style, have, nevertheless, been described as reduced copies of the late second or early third century at the latest. Yet, their discovery in late antique layers establishes their availability at the time and confirms the importance of sculpture to the villa culture that boomed in Late Antiquity (fourth to seventh century).
It is the aim of this paper to study the statuary from the Villa of Theseus against the background of the architectural development of the building. Immovable decorative elements and architectural features will be considered, in order to assess where sculpture might have been displayed and reconstruct—to the extent possible—the ancient viewers’ experience. The selection of certain sculptural subjects and their significance (decorative, allegorical, religious) will also be discussed.
The villa boom of the fourth century stimulated a revived interest of the wealthy to acquire stat... more The villa boom of the fourth century stimulated a revived interest of the wealthy to acquire statuary and conspicuously embellish their homes with prestigious forms of decoration, mural and floor mosaics, paintings, and marble veneers. In the context of Roman self-representation and social competition, sculptures were deliberately chosen as means of self-promotion, markers of status, wealth, and cultural identity. On the other hand, in a period marked by religious transformations, the presence of statuary in domestic contexts may potentially reveal its owner’s religious beliefs. These increasing demands on statuary in the fourth century ushered in the production of mythological sculptures well into the late fourth and early fifth century and favored the activities of antiquities markets, trading second-hand statuary. In this paper, I will be exploring Late Antique domestic statuary collections with a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean. A review of single collections will provide some indications on the level of access local aristocrats had to contemporary or antique sculptures, while comparisons between different sculptural assemblages will seek to discern similarities and deviations in display, content, and significance.
The Polish excavations in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Nea Paphos produced a wealth of sculp... more The Polish excavations in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Nea Paphos produced a wealth of sculptures, including a well-preserved marble statuette of Asclepius, thought to date in the late second century AD. The statuette follows the popular Giustini type, showing Asclepius leaning on his staff, around which entwines a snake, which touches with its mouth an egg in the god’s hand. So far, figures of Asclepius holding an egg have been limited to small-scale sculptures and predominantly come from the Eastern Mediterranean. By contrast, sculptures of the god with only a snake around his staff are by far more numerous and represented in various scales. The egg was introduced in the iconography of Asclepius in the late second century; its spherical shape, as we learn from a contemporary commentary on the Hippocratic Oath, symbolised the universe, which, being in the hand of the healing god, is in need of medicine. While such cosmological associations of the egg go back in the Orphic theogony, it was a late development in the iconography of the god, suggesting that the symbolism was comprehensible to its contemporary viewers. As a first point of departure, it shall be mentioned that the commentary of the Hippocratic Oath betrays signs of Christian influence. Similar notions for the god's nature and mission appear in literary accounts written between the second and fifth centuries.
In this paper, my aim will be to juxtapose the textual evidence with this new image of Asclepius with an egg, in order to place the latter within its proper chronological framework. The analysis will demonstrate that the appearance of the egg in Asclepius's right hand fits in with a new perception of the healing god and his mission, which emerged in Early Christian times. The final part of my paper will seek to contextualise the statuette within its archaeological context providing glimpses into the life of the élite of Nea Paphos in late antiquity.
Cyprus in the Long Late Antiquity. History and Archaeology Between the Sixth and Eighth Centuries, 2023
Cyprus was a thriving and densely populated late antique province. The Arab raids of the mid-seve... more Cyprus was a thriving and densely populated late antique province. The Arab raids of the mid-seventh century did not abruptly bring the island’s prosperity to an end. Recent research highlights long-lasting continuity in both urban and rural contexts. This volume brings together historians and archaeologists working on diverse aspects of Cyprus between the sixth and eighth centuries. They discuss topics as varied as rural prosperity, urban endurance, artisanal production, civic and private religion, and maritime connectivity. The role of the imperial administration and of the Church is touched upon in several contributions. Other articles place Cyprus back into its wider Mediterranean context. Together, they produce a comprehensive impression of the quality of life on the island in the Long Late Antiquity.
Postponed - new dates: 13-15 January 2021 Symposium co-organised by Prof. Ine Jacobs (ine.jacob... more Postponed - new dates: 13-15 January 2021
Symposium co-organised by Prof. Ine Jacobs (ine.jacobs@classics.ox.ac.uk, Faculty of Classics, Faculty of History, School of Archaeology) and Dr Panayiotis Panayides (panayiotis.panayides@classics.ox.ac.uk, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Classics, Corpus Christi College) in collaboration with the Faculty of Classics, the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research (OCBR), and the Cyprus High Commission in the UK.
Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 March 2020
Lecture Theatre, Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies, 66 St Giles', Oxford
Cyprus in Late Antiquity was a thriving and densely populated province. During the sixth and seventh centuries, the growing affluence of the island is conspicuous in comparison to other regions of the Eastern Roman Empire. In the traditional historical view, the late antique period on Cyprus ended abruptly as a result of the Arab raids of the mid-seventh century. The original focus of urban archaeology on monumental structures and Christian basilicas tended to stress the impact of these raids further; layers of destruction were often uncritically associated with the Arabs, overshadowing archaeological evidence that hinted at continuities beyond the mid-seventh century.
In recent decades, archaeological research on late antique Cyprus has shifted its focus away from urban centres and single monuments in favour of a more contextual perspective. Building on well-established traditions of field prospection, diachronic survey projects and small-scale excavations are revealing a complex web of settlement patterns. They have shown that economic, political and cultural contacts between the island and the wider eastern Mediterranean were continued. Moreover, they also suggest that the end or transformation of occupation on individual sites cannot always be explained by catastrophic events, but should be interpreted in terms of local adaptation to changing needs and contacts.
This symposium brings together archaeologists and historians engaged in the study of Cyprus between the sixth and eighth centuries. They will collate the results of recent and past research to arrive at a comprehensive, interdisciplinary reconstruction of life on the island in the Long Late Antiquity.
Research undertaken in Durham University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health: Department of Ar... more Research undertaken in Durham University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health: Department of Archaeology; supervised by Dr Anna Leone.
Viva voce examination held on April 15th, 2016.
Examiners: Prof. Roland R. R. Smith (University of Oxford), Dr Catherine M. Draycott (Durham University).
Outcome: passed forthwith (no corrections; thesis passed unconditionally).
Sabine Rogge, Christina Ioannou, Theodoros Mavrojannis (eds), Salamis of Cyprus, History and Archaeology from the Earliest Times to Late Antiquity. Conference in Nicosia, 21–23 May 2015. Schriften des Instituts für Interdisziplinäre Zypern-Studien, vol. 13, Waxmann Verlag GmbH., 2019
Schriften des Instituts für Interdisziplinäre Zypern-Studien, vol. 13, 2019, ca. 778 pages, hardc... more Schriften des Instituts für Interdisziplinäre Zypern-Studien, vol. 13, 2019, ca. 778 pages, hardcover., with numerous coloured illustrations, € 94,00, ISBN 978-3-8309-3479-0 E-Book: € 84,99, ISBN 978-3-8309-8479-5 www.waxmann.com Further book information here. Steinfurter Str. 555 48159 Münster Fon +49 (0)2 51 -2 65 04-0 Fax +49 (0)2 51 -2 65 04-26
Chroniko, 4th Edition, Issue 12; May 12th, 2018
Approaching Cyprus: Proceedings of the Post-Graduate Conference of Cypriot Archaeology (PoCA) held at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, 1st-3rd November 2013, Edited by Richard Maguire and Jane Chick, Aug 2016
Some of the most important Roman and late antique buildings at Kourion, Cyprus, were excavated be... more Some of the most important Roman and late antique buildings at Kourion, Cyprus, were excavated before and just after World War II by the University Museum of the Pennsylvania University. Notable amongst those paved in mosaic are the complex of Eustolios and the so-called House with the Achilles mosaic. While the results of these excavations have never been properly published, their mosaic pavements are well-known and have frequently been discussed in scholarship for their iconography, symbolism, and craftsmanship. Yet still unknown but of no less importance are a number of fragments from mosaic floors that have been kept in store since their discovery: they represent figural compositions and geometric patterns that not only compliment the already known material, but also enhance the repertory of Roman and late antique mosaic floors of Cyprus in general.
This paper will communicate these objects to the scientific community for the first time; the aim is to examine the evidence in many scales of context, from the buildings where the fragments have been excavated to regional trends of mosaic floor decoration in Kourion and Cyprus in general.
Public bathing establishments retained their importance as urban settings for the display of scul... more Public bathing establishments retained their importance as urban settings for the display of sculpture throughout the Roman and Late Roman periods. Bath complexes, largely neutral in cultic terms, not only received frequent and generous renovations and redecorations, but also continued displaying mythological sculptures well in Christian times.
In the late antique period, when the production of new sculpture dwindled, it was not an uncommon practice to remove statues from disused buildings and redisplay them in new contexts, either by retaining their original form or altering it intentionally. Although a frequent phenomenon, the translocation and redeployment of statues in late antique cities was less frequently documented epigraphically. The practice may, nevertheless, be discerned by assessing statuary assemblages against various variables.
During redecorations, a selection process may have presumably been in play while, the redisplay of old statues from buildings of a different function in bath complexes may also suggest that the statues too acquired a different function and meaning. This paper will probe into these issues and present preliminary results of ongoing research on the reuse of statues in late antique public bathing establishments, through the analysis of selected occurrences of the phenomenon across the Mediterranean.
The aim of this study is a concise presentation of the so-far known archaeological data concernin... more The aim of this study is a concise presentation of the so-far known archaeological data concerning the city and district of Limassol (modern boundaries), from the first to the seventh century AD, as revealed through field surveys and excavations, mostly of a salvage nature. The period covers over six centuries and spans from Roman times to the end of antiquity, when the appearance and constituent elements of ‘classical’ cities were transformed beyond recognition. The paper will assess how the human presence is archaeologically documented, the nature of human activities and the possible role the natural environment might have had over the appearance and development of settlements.
A unique group of sculpture from Early Christian Cyprus comes from the so-called Villa of Theseus... more A unique group of sculpture from Early Christian Cyprus comes from the so-called Villa of Theseus, at Nea Paphos. The group comprises (at least) twenty sculptures of divinities and mythological figures, which range in date from the Hellenistic to the Late Roman periods. Their discovery with connection to late antique layers demonstrates the long-lasting importance of sculpture to the villa culture and confirms the empire-wide appreciation of local elites to the medium in late antique times. In this paper, the decoration of the Villa of Theseus will be re-assessed in order to efficiently envisage its sculptural environment, between the late fourth and late sixth centuries. Possibilities for the display and usage of the sculptures within the villa will be offered, while possible reasons for the selection of particular iconographical types will also be suggested, within the broader context of Nea Paphos.
This paper concerns secondary structures that altered the original plan of buildings, dated betwe... more This paper concerns secondary structures that altered the original plan of buildings, dated between the fourth and seventh centuries on the island of Cyprus. Their appearance was almost always considered an indication of urban decline and, as such, were dismissed by classical archaeologists, most of the times with insufficient (if any) archaeological documentation, so that floors and architecture be restored to their ‘original plan’.
The paper presents chronologically a brief survey of the appearance and evolution of secondary structures in public spaces. The evidence is then summarised according to the function of these structures, their spatial and temporal occurrence.
The excavations of the University of Warsaw in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Kato Paphos unco... more The excavations of the University of Warsaw in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Kato Paphos uncovered a unique group of at least twenty sculptures, predominantly depicting mythological figures and divinities. The building took its definite architectural form in the late fourth century, although its construction had started early in the second half of the second century. In terms of decoration, the villa reached its heyday between the late fourth and sixth centuries. Most of the sculptures, which vary in scale and style, have, nevertheless, been described as reduced copies of the late second or early third century at the latest. Yet, their discovery in late antique layers establishes their availability at the time and confirms the importance of sculpture to the villa culture that boomed in Late Antiquity (fourth to seventh century).
It is the aim of this paper to study the statuary from the Villa of Theseus against the background of the architectural development of the building. Immovable decorative elements and architectural features will be considered, in order to assess where sculpture might have been displayed and reconstruct—to the extent possible—the ancient viewers’ experience. The selection of certain sculptural subjects and their significance (decorative, allegorical, religious) will also be discussed.
The villa boom of the fourth century stimulated a revived interest of the wealthy to acquire stat... more The villa boom of the fourth century stimulated a revived interest of the wealthy to acquire statuary and conspicuously embellish their homes with prestigious forms of decoration, mural and floor mosaics, paintings, and marble veneers. In the context of Roman self-representation and social competition, sculptures were deliberately chosen as means of self-promotion, markers of status, wealth, and cultural identity. On the other hand, in a period marked by religious transformations, the presence of statuary in domestic contexts may potentially reveal its owner’s religious beliefs. These increasing demands on statuary in the fourth century ushered in the production of mythological sculptures well into the late fourth and early fifth century and favored the activities of antiquities markets, trading second-hand statuary. In this paper, I will be exploring Late Antique domestic statuary collections with a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean. A review of single collections will provide some indications on the level of access local aristocrats had to contemporary or antique sculptures, while comparisons between different sculptural assemblages will seek to discern similarities and deviations in display, content, and significance.
The Polish excavations in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Nea Paphos produced a wealth of sculp... more The Polish excavations in the so-called Villa of Theseus in Nea Paphos produced a wealth of sculptures, including a well-preserved marble statuette of Asclepius, thought to date in the late second century AD. The statuette follows the popular Giustini type, showing Asclepius leaning on his staff, around which entwines a snake, which touches with its mouth an egg in the god’s hand. So far, figures of Asclepius holding an egg have been limited to small-scale sculptures and predominantly come from the Eastern Mediterranean. By contrast, sculptures of the god with only a snake around his staff are by far more numerous and represented in various scales. The egg was introduced in the iconography of Asclepius in the late second century; its spherical shape, as we learn from a contemporary commentary on the Hippocratic Oath, symbolised the universe, which, being in the hand of the healing god, is in need of medicine. While such cosmological associations of the egg go back in the Orphic theogony, it was a late development in the iconography of the god, suggesting that the symbolism was comprehensible to its contemporary viewers. As a first point of departure, it shall be mentioned that the commentary of the Hippocratic Oath betrays signs of Christian influence. Similar notions for the god's nature and mission appear in literary accounts written between the second and fifth centuries.
In this paper, my aim will be to juxtapose the textual evidence with this new image of Asclepius with an egg, in order to place the latter within its proper chronological framework. The analysis will demonstrate that the appearance of the egg in Asclepius's right hand fits in with a new perception of the healing god and his mission, which emerged in Early Christian times. The final part of my paper will seek to contextualise the statuette within its archaeological context providing glimpses into the life of the élite of Nea Paphos in late antiquity.
There has been a long-standing tendency in previous scholarship to correlate the foundation of th... more There has been a long-standing tendency in previous scholarship to correlate the foundation of the Christian Salamis/Constantia in Cyprus in the 4th century with Christian aversion and hostility towards its pagan past. By re-evaluating the archaeological evidence, this paper aims to explore the fate of the Roman sculpture of the baths, from the 4th to the 7th century. The statuary, inscriptions and the architectural transformations of the complex are inextricably studied, providing a set of arrays that not only challenge the prevailing interpretations but also brings about interesting insights into the life and afterlife of these statues.
The statuary collections of the so-called “Villa of Theseus” in Nea Paphos, Malloutena and the “H... more The statuary collections of the so-called “Villa of Theseus” in Nea Paphos, Malloutena and the “House of the Gladiators” in Kourion have so far been the only published groups of supposedly domestic sculpture that can be attributed to specific buildings of the Early Christian period in Cyprus, although I will argue that the analysis of the statuary will bring up a different perspective. Much ink has been spilt for their floor mosaic programs, while their statuary assemblages have generally been studied detached from their actual context, with most studies addressing stylistic and iconographical features. This paper makes a first attempt in studying these assemblages by integrating evidence from the architecture of the buildings and their construction phases. While its focus resides on the statuary, it aims to contribute to a better understanding of the architecture and the character of the surrounding space.
The identification of spolia in Early Christian basilicas in Cyprus highlights the involvement of... more The identification of spolia in Early Christian basilicas in Cyprus highlights the involvement of the Church in the process but also brings up questions on its role in the practice of spoliation and allows further discussions on any possible meanings of this practice. By drawing focus on the architecture of two early Christian basilicas in Cyprus, this paper discusses that the issue of re-use was primarily motivated by economic forces and that the church builders valued the materials on the basis of their usefulness, rather than by considering any ideological implications arising from such re-use.