Letter from Schaeffer to Dikaios on Dikaios's contributions and the figurine of a godClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

Printed: Le Castel Blanc — not present

Le Castel Blanc, 14 Rue Turgot, St.Germain-en-Laye, (Seine et Dise). 17 March 1949.

Mr P. Dikaios, Curator of the Museum of Nicosia.

Dear friend,

I receive a letter from Mr Megaw, to whom I shall reply directly regarding the printing costs of Enkomi I. He tells me that you fear you may not be able to finish your contributions by June. In any case, prepare for Enkomi I your study of the statue of 1948 and the 48 excavations, which is, in short, merely an enlargement of your report to the Académie. I can moreover grant you an extension until 1 August, having had to postpone my departure on mission until the 15th of this month. Thus I shall be able to send the volume to press before that date.

I await your text and the documentation for the Académie, and then your contribution for the Illustrated London News.

As regards your connection between your statue and the Nergab who struck Alasia according to one of the Tell Amarna letters, I think it is a good one. In my article for Enkomi I, of which I shall give an extract to the Académie in reply to the identification proposed by Mr Dussaud, Alasia - Enkomi, I linked this god not with your statue but with the earthquake from which Enkomi, like the whole Syria-Cyprus zone, had suffered in the time of Amenophis IV. Among the Babylonians and Assyrians, Nergal is the god of natural catastrophes, epidemics, earthquakes etc. Was he worshipped at Enkomi to win his favour?

In any case, given its importance, your statue probably represents the protective god of the city, a major god of the pantheon of Alasia, if not the supreme god.

If you resume your excavations in April-May, what will your research programme be?

Please present my respectful homage to Mrs Dikaios and the best regards of my wife, and believe me, dear Ami, cordially yours

Handwritten: signature

P.S. May I ask you to indicate to me, if possible in grammes, or kilos, the weight of the large ingot of Enkomi (Case 44A,22) in your catalogue, and to send me a print of the photograph. Existet-

Stamp: ÉTABLISSEMENT ... (partially illegible)

Printed: AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES

T.S.V.P.