Compendium of Cypriot Archeology

Alexis Drakopoulos Collection of Cypriot Artifacts

From the early Bronze Age to the late Archaic period, Cypriots have left behind a wealth of artifacts that provide a fascinating glimpse into their daily lives, beliefs, and artistic achievements. Through the creation of this compendium we seek to offer a comprehensive overview of the island's material culture.

The compendium is divided into five main sections: Pottery, Statues, Jewelry, Weapons & Armor, and Tools. Each section explores the development of these crafts over time, highlighting the unique styles, techniques, and influences that shaped them. Through detailed descriptions, high-quality photographs, and expert analysis, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the skill and creativity of ancient Cypriot artisans.

Note that each section may have numerous subsections to further explore each topic in considerable depth.

Cypriot Artifacts

Pottery

Pottery

Discover the broad range of ceramics created over millenia in Cyprus.

Statues

Statues

description

Jewelry

Jewelry

description

Tools

Tools

description

Prerequisites

Chronology

Our compendium will reference periods and assume the reader is familiar with the following chronology:

PeriodStart Date (BC)End Date (BC)
Paleolithic?11000 ~ 10500 BC
Neolithic10500 ~ 10000 BC~4000 BC
Chalcolithic~4000 BC~ 2400 BC
Bronze Age~2400 BC~1050 BC
Cypro-Geometric~1050 BC~750 BC
Cypro-Archaic~750 BC~480 BC
Classical~480 BC~330 BC

You may notice that the Iron age is not mentioned, as it has already been split into the Cypro-Geometric and Cypro-Archaic periods. These two periods commonly describe the Iron Age. Also note that while the Cypro-Archaic reaches to 480 BC, we do try to make periods after 570 BC distinct as there are large stylistic changes around this time period.

The Bronze Age can also be further broken down intro several periods:

PeriodStart Date (BC)End Date (BC)
Philia25002350
Early Cypriot I24002350
Early Cypriot II21502100
Early Cypriot III21001950
Middle Cypriot I19501850
Middle Cypriot II18501750
Middle Cypriot III17501650
Late Cypriot I16501450
Late Cypriot II14501200
Late Cypriot III12001050

however the compendium usually just refers to the Early, Middle and Late Bronze age periods.