Enkomi inventory 1960H. de Contenson

partially uncovered in 1961.

The nature and chronology of these places of worship could be clarified at the course of the 1962 campaign. Alongside a new lot of figurines and female idols of schematic style resembling the statuettes from Ayios Iakovos (SCE, t.I, pl. LXVIII, no. 6,13,18,29,44), all found ritually broken, were discovered the remains of numerous vessels in beige earth, crushed in place and spread over three superimposed floors, numbered from top to bottom I (the most recent) to III. Uncovered between 0 m 40 and 0 m 80 average depth below the present surface, these three floors of compressed brown clayey earth, difficult to identify, form part of a sanctuary comprising a vast quadrangular hall (or temenos) which measures ten metres thirty in length north-south by over eight in width east-west. On this hall, opened to the west smaller rooms where vessels and terracotta figurines were recovered. These objects rest in layers which cover those the level of Early Iron I, characterised by pottery of the 'Granary' style, cf. Enkomi- Alasia,I, p. 367,fig.114, and are therefore later than it. The walls with foundations of rubble and superstructure of brick of the main hall of this new sanctuary of the town of Enkomi-Alasia were apparently coated with some lime white covering. In the hall, significant discoveries, hitherto unpublished at Enkomi, took place. They confirm the cultic character of the building. These are figured terracottas, representing kinds of centaurs, with quadruped animal bodies (bull or horse?) schematised and with two human heads. The geometric decoration painted on their cylindrical body recalls still the Close Style. The two heads, painted likewise to better emphasise the facial features, present some differences of detail, intended to individualise them. The single head, preserved from a second of these hybrid and bicephalous beings is distinguished by a large aquiline nose, pastille eyes, a painted geometric decoration in red, and long straight locks modelled and applied, descending from the nape, along the of cylindrical neck. The legs of these monsters are also stylised and end in circular swellings.

The ochre-red earth of the centaur with the long neck is very badly fired and friable, which explains its fragmentary state. These two centaurs lay together, against the wall north of the large hall, which has also yielded 26 bull skulls, sometimes found