Article on Enkomi 1949/1950 for the Archaeological Institute of AmericaClaude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer

Whereas in Mycenae close style and granary style have been considered to be contemporary, in Cyprus, as far as our present evidence goes at Enkomi these two styles have no direct connection with each other and belong to two immediately successive periods.

What concern the general historical conclusions to be drawn from our new Enkomi-Alasia finds, we are inclined to believe that the information given by the king of Alasia (Kinyras ?) in his message to Amenophis IV (Tell Amarna letter 38) concerning the invasion of the Lukka (Lycians) in the north part of the island has to be taken as [illegible] real. From there they reached the Egyptian sea frontier possibly with the help of other Cypriote adventures, the island having thus become the advanced base for all the piraticcal activities which threatened Egyptian commerce at this period. The position of the Alasia king seems to have been weak. Either he was consistent to the Lukka's advance or could not prevent it. It may have been he, who was deposed by the Achaian chieftains, when they took over the island capital, Enkomi-Alasia, during ven the XIV. cen and built themselves the small palace which we have excavated there in 1949 and 1950. This Achaian conquest of Cyprus was perhaps primarily intended to put an end to the time piratical activities of the Lukki which threatened the important commerce with Egypt (see now Stubbings, Mycenaean pottery from the Levant, esp. chapt. VI. Mycenaean III pottery in Egypt). It m ay be connected with a general Mycenaean expansion during the XIV. cen, the summit of Mycenaean civilisation, the most famous episode of which, as some scholars now believe, may have been the Trojan war. The traditional date (beginning of XIII. cen.) would in this case, need correction.

The localisation in Cyprus of the most eastern foothold of the Achaeans would also explain the reaction of the Hittites and their efforts to neutralizing menace on their south-eastern flank. It was probably from Cyprus that came the Achaians mentioned among the sea raiders, whom Mineptha (Merenptah) defeated at Perire (ca 1220 B.C.). And it may have been this unsuccessful attempt to invade Egypte which caused the weakening of the Achaean piratopostition in Cyprus. In any case, it was at this juncture, towards the end of the XIII. cen that the Achaean regime in Enkomi-Alasia underwent a profound change. the inhabitants of the ancient dynasty on Enkomi our Enkomi palace lost their power and possessions and were replaced by another (Achaian ?) chieftain contemporary with the close style pottery and who may have possibly been attarsiya of the man of Piggaya. According to the Mauwatawa texts, they had taken over the island when Muwatallis II (ca 1220-1205) was king of the Hittites.