HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
 
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SALAMIS

SALAMIS IN THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS.
BY ALEXANDER PALMA DI CESNOLÀ, F.S.A.,
page 94

attribute; in the left hand, the wonder-working cornucopia of Amalthea. Over the right shoulder of this figure, a belt orfillet passes, holding up at the back of the hero the lion's skin with which he is usually depicted. The annexed illustration represents (fig. 214) a figure, in the Phœnician style, with Assyrian influence, apparently of Hera (Juno), or Demeter (Ceres), draped in a chiton poderes, or tunic, reaching down to the feet; (fig. 212). The two necklaces with which thefigure is ornamented have been already alluded to in an earlier chapter.1

1 See p. 30, fig. 16.

the hands, with bracelets, at the side, and collar round the neck. A long shawl, or peplos, forminga kind of kalyptron, passes over the head like that over the figures of Hera or Juno, and Demeter, indicating a married goddess, possibly Aphrodite. The inscription at the back (fig. 215) is obscure; possibly, Dr. Birch tells me, Cypriote; with vertical lines introduced at intervals. The second and seventh characters are not in the usual Cypriote alphabet. It may read:— Ta. xe . lo . le . li . pò . e . mo. Ταξίλλη eπoιει με; but the reading of this archaic inscription is very uncertain. A very pretty example represents a lady seated and suckling her infant; a second stands with the child in her arms; another stands, half draped, in the manner of the Venus of Milo, and in an attitude not unlike that of this famous statue. One of the statuettes of this class is of a very elegant design (fig. 216). It represents a female with the flowing drapery of the best Greek period falling down over the back and lower parts of the statuette, the body reclining in a graceful curve against a small term or altar, with a carved capital and moulded base. The arms are wanting, but, notwithstanding this defect, the great beauty of the object is readily apparent to the most superficial examination. I owe the use of this woodcut to the kindness of the British Archaeological Association. For a similar figure the reader may refer to the accompanying Plate.

 

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