1978–1980

Continued from scan 20

… 4 & 6, Anapiron Polemou Athens 140, Greece

May 21, 1978Dr. Roger Edwards The University Museum 33rd & Spruce Streets Philadelphia, PA.19174

Dear Roger,

Thank you for your letter of April 12, which would have been answered before this had I not been engaged on that "one more season" at the Kourion Basilica.

I have been at fault in not keeping you informed of progress since I resumed work there in 1974, under Dumbarton Oaks sponsorship. As soon as my offprints reach me, I shall send you a copy of my preliminary report published in the last vol. of their Papers. That covers what we have found to the W of the Basilica and the smart baptistery to the N. Since then we have dealt with the NW corner of the site: a small double-deck atrium with ranges of buildings of poor construction to N and W. There is something else to the N of the baptistery, reached from the atrium; but in view of the deep overlay and encroachment by the outworks of the Tourist Pavilion (stupidly built alongside), I have decided against tackling it. One must draw the line somewhere: I have other unfinished business to think about.

Later this year I am invited to Dumbarton Oaks, where we expect to be for three months from about September 20. This will provide opportunities to discuss, both there and in the University Museum, the matter of publication which raises some preliminary problems. I have written, thanks to your loan of two of George McFadden's notebooks, a draft account of his work at the Basilica in 1934 and 1935 (was nothing done later?) for which his photographs would be helpful. I understand that his Kourion negs were destroyed in the London blitz, and have it in my head that you have no Basilica prints in the Museum; but surely he must have had his own set. I wonder if his sister kept anything of that sort. Then there are some gaps on the Episkopi copy of the inventory which can perhaps be filled from yours.

In the end, Susan Young did not take up the E.C. mosaics of Cyprus for her PhD dissertation; the increasing dichotomy of the Island rules out any study project covering Cyprus as a whole. But I am glad that David Rupp is to publish the Eustolios mosaics and trust he will make full use of the excavation records, not excluding those of DeCoursey Fales (despite his strange conclusions). Rupp has engaged an able young draughtsman whom I introduced to archaeological work - and the recording of mosaics in particular - at the Basilica.

Looking forward to seeing you again in the fall and to meeting Martin Biddle, with whom I have a bond in an admirable architect, photographer and factotum, whose talents have latterly been divided between Winchester and Kourion; and with best wishes, in which Elektra joins,

Sincerely,

Handwritten: Peter

Handwritten: ano 10