Letter from Schaeffer to Dikaios on the discovery of a statuette of a Baal-type godClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

Printed: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Printed: - 2 -

Printed: TELEGRAM FOR DISPATCH

Printed: IN CLEAR

Le Castel Blanc, 14 Rue Turgot, St. Germain-en-Laye, (Seine et Oise).

5 January 1949

Dear friend,

I do not wish to delay a moment in sending you my sincere congratulations on the fine success with which you inaugurate your participation in the research of the Franco-English Mission at Enkomi.

Mr Megaw told me a few words in his letter of 30 December, but obviously this only sharpened my curiosity. The discovery of a bronze statuette of a Baal-type god, 55cms in height (exceptional size), is of capital importance, for it confirms the importance of the Syrian element in this port so close to Ras Shamra and the Syrian coast. Other discoveries led me to sense this (cf. Missions en Chypre, pp.52,58,69, etc.). It may well be that you are there in a sanctuary with votive offerings of the Syrian colony established probably as early as the Middle Bronze (or Middle Empire) at Enkomi, counterpart of the Cypriot colony at Ras Shamra.

Of course I await your letter with impatience when, towards the end of your research, you can summarise your research.

I must report in February to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres on the activity of my Mission in Turkey and at Ras Shamra, and speak of the constitution of the Franco-English Mission at Enkomi. Send me a very succinct report with photographs of the principal objects found by you at Enkomi. I shall read it in your name to the Académie.

Of course this report will not be published; I shall only announce to the press that a reading of your report has been given to the Académie.

You will find enclosed the mock-up of the title page and table of contents of Volume I of the Franco-English Mission, which I should like to set in train this year; I propose in my letter to Mr Megaw to give up preliminary reports and to produce at once a definitive publication in book form. This would be more worthy and we would gain time while avoiding a dispersal of our publication funds.

P.T.O.

Handwritten: signature