January–April 1954

Feb. 8, 1954Dear Roger,

I'm sorry to be so prompt about answering, but the number T 2034 reacts on me like waving a red flag in front of a bull. As you remarked, it is an unusual piece, and I will now briefly recount its history: We found one piece of the carcass on a shelf in 1946, with a tag attached to it reading: [handwritten: Απολλων 5/12/35 Τεμαχιον αγαλματος ευρεθεν εξω κατω απο την σκαλαν στον νοτιον στον δρομον του προς Ναον. 1. στρωμαι. Ο - Ευρεκεν Πανάγις Εροτοκριτου.] [handwritten: (can inquired, but he remembered nothing about it)] We have a photograph of this one. Before we left in 1948, another fragment turned up (I believe thighs) and we never got a picture of it joined. Regularly, about two times a year, we have asked for a photograph of the two fragments of body joined, and (authorities George, Joe, Christos) it has not been able to be found). We finally turned in the manuscript with no plate reference, and have now made up the plates, but I think we must now fit it in somehow, and since you said "yell" I am yelling for a photograph, preferably a good one, and preferably not a Leica, and preferably from a good angle with good light showing the modelling on the torso. I can't imagine what the head is like, but we should like a really careful description from you with particular attention to whether it appears to have been cast from a mold or not; if it was cast, then we should like measurements with dividers taken (if Christophis is still around, he knows how to do it), from parting between lips to start of hairline over forehead, and from the point between inner junction of eyelids at outer corners; the sketch will give you a better idea.

John has confirmed what I wrote about the Stadium, and, since it appears to be Peter who is interested, you might tell him that John wrote an account for a periodical called the "Crown Colonist" in either 1947 or 1948 at the behest of the then Lord Governor, and if anybody has a copy I am sure they must possess a file in Nicosia.

As for the mold, we will get it up to Ellen as opportunity provides. Now that it's here, we should like to get a cast done in clay, rather than plaster. The Cyprus Museum might bury it in the courtyard (are you aware of that wonderful territory for future archaeologists?) and it is only my New England conscience that makes me think it should be returned. But it should.

I find that what extra copies we have here are the General Introduction, Materials and Methods, and Appendices to the Catalogue (stuff other than terracottas of importance for chronology, or otherwise noteworthy).

Watch that Judas tree, and, in case you dont' know, there are two artichoke bushes in "our" front-yard which actually produce one excellent artichoke each, every year. Don't let the staff get ahead of you. And watch the apricot-tree if you really are feeling orchardy; the blossoms are ethereal, but the fruit inedible -I know why, too, but I'm running out of paper.

We should be grateful for one or two good photographs of 2034 as soon as possible.

Handwritten: As usual, Sue