1958–1961

Curium Excavations : The Early Christian Basilica

Excavations undertaken in 1934 and subsequently by the late George H. MacFadden of the Basilica at Curium (Museum Bulletin, vol. 7, 1938, pp. 3-4) have been carried further as a joint undertaking of the University Museum and the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus by A. H. S. Megaw, Esq., the Director of Antiquities, in several periods of excavation, the latest in October, 1959. The Basilica was erected in the early 5th century A.D. and is thought to have been the cathedral church of the early bishops of Curium.

Mr. Megaw writes:

"As for the Basilica I am glad to say that the whole area of the church proper is now cleared as far as the west wall, but the Narthex and the "Bishop's Palace" to the west and the Baptistery identified in 1956 to the north remains they were. I have done a little judicious restoration, of the apse wall for example, and the one surviving column is to be re-erected next week. Along the East wall runs a street, which rises in two flights of steps to the north, where it may have continued along the front of the "Mint". We have found more of those nice fragments with low relief ornamentation from the marble revetments and, much to our surprise, some fragments of wall mosaics with parts of two little Saint figures, in situ on the wall of a little chapel to the North East."

Mr. Megaw hopes to spend a few more weeks at Episkopi after the Cypriote Independance Day in February working on the Basilica following his relinquishment of his duties as Director and prior to his departure from the island whose archaeological activities he has so ably organized for many years. It is hoped that an article dealing with the Basilica as now revealed will appear in an early number of the Expedition.