1948

Kourion Excavations,

2 November, 1948Dear Fro:

I sent you a letter yesterday under this same date. Just put it down to my being forehanded; the fact that I tried to cut to wonder if I am building up to asking for a raise or some other pleasantness, seeing that I have been running pretty close to a letter a day, recently. I can assure you that there are no ulterior motives, darn it.

The occasion for today's letter is to report that we cleaned the chief of panel of the big new mosaic today, and have been congratulating ourselves ever since. It is really very good in its Roman way. The outer patterns of the panel are taken up with various geometrical and formal patterns which effect a transition from the square frame to a large circular medallion in the center. The core of the whole thing is a circular medallion about a yard in diameter containing in an inscription bust of a beautiful lady, who is thought, fully labelled in an inscription as "foundation" "construction" or possibly "colonization". I suspect that it means in this case the spirit of the building, a personification fulfilling a post somewhat similar to Hestia's. It is an excellent piece of work, a strong and carefully worked out composition with real technical mastery. From an artistic standpoint it is much the finest single panel of any of the mosaics found as yet in the palace. In general style it recalls somewhat the Centocelle mosaic in the museum, the head of Bacchus on which Mr. Parkinson was working last summer. The work is a little coarser, but it is still very good.

We are not yet certain of the date, save that it is almost certainly earlier than the big Christian mosaic, probably second or third century A.D. Historically it is important in that the concept of a personification, therefore a deity of sorts, is a pagan one, in contrast with the incipient Christianity of the later mosaic. All in all, it is really quite a respectable discovery.

We have not yet cleared off the entire mosaic; it is covered with a very hard lime deposit which will take a good deal of work to remove. I think, however, this. It is, incidentally, that any other section of it will be as fine or ancient repairs (quite minor ones) on the for what appear to be two ancient part of the cheek, and a small section of the background including part of it and send them letter K. I will take some coloured pictures of it and send them along in due course.

Fales is gaining momentum and getting more and more done every day. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he were to have the whole palace cleared down to the latest floors by the time I leave. It has gained greatly in appearance during this season, and is definitely becoming a handsome building, in spite of the absence of colonades and the like. It is very spacious, and its situation is magnificent, at the edge of the great cliffs looking out over the plain and the sea beyond.

Once more, greetings to everybody.