Expedition
Princeton Cyprus Expedition
Polis Chrysochous, Cyprus · founded 1983
Expedition in Polis Chrysochous, founded 1983; part of Princeton University. 30 people in the register connected with it.
The Cypriot collection
No finds held by Princeton: laws had changed and no object found at Polis has left Cyprus to join the Princeton University Art Museum's collections; finds are in Cypriot museums, principally the Local Museum of Marion and Arsinoe (2012)
History
- 1980After Vassos Karageorghis, Director of Antiquities, suggested that Princeton continue its connection with Cyprus begun by Erik Sjoqvist, William Childs looked at various sites with Sophocles Hadjisavvas as guide; Polis tis Khrysokhou was chosen because published work concerned only its cemeteries, not the town.
Polis ChrysochousWilliam A. P. ChildsVassos KarageorghisSophocles HadjisavvasErik SjöqvistChilds et al. 2012
- 1983Princeton Cyprus Expedition formed; survey of the Polis area with Kenneth Hamma (then University of Southern California) and graduate students including Nancy Serwint; a grid was laid over the town site.
Polis ChrysochousWilliam A. P. ChildsKenneth HammaNancy SerwintChilds et al. 2012
- 1984Excavation began on the basis of 1 x 1.5 m trial trenches. Early work included the Classical sanctuary at Maratheri (grid A.H9), where the head of the colossal terracotta statue was found in 1984 and the fist in 1985.
Polis-MaratheriWilliam A. P. ChildsChilds et al. 2012
- 1984–2007Excavation in three zones: Peristeries (B grid: Cypro-Archaic sanctuary and public building, workshops, houses, some deposits back to the Geometric period), Maratheri (A.H9: Cypro-Classical sanctuary and city wall) and Petrerades (E.F1, E.F2, E.G0, E.G1: Hellenistic to medieval town, including a basilica). Active digging ended 2007, followed by study seasons.
Polis ChrysochousWilliam A. P. ChildsChilds et al. 2012
- 1988First preliminary report: Childs, RDAC 1988, 121-130.
- 1997Childs, 'The Iron Age Kingdom of Marion', BASOR 308, 37-48.
- 1999Interim report on the 1994-1997 seasons, RDAC 1999, 223-236.
- 2006N. Papalexandrou, report on the Cypro-Archaic public building at Peristeries, 1999-2003, RDAC 2006, 223-237 (known only as a citation).
- 2008Childs, 'Princeton University's Excavations of Ancient Marion and Arsinoe', Near Eastern Archaeology 71.1-2, 64-75.
- 20 October 2012 – 20 January 2013Princeton University Art Museum exhibition 'City of Gold: Tomb and Temple in Ancient Cyprus', curated by Childs, Joanna S. Smith and J. Michael Padgett: 110 objects, all from Polis, loaned by the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, the British Museum and the Louvre; the first exhibition of Cypriot antiquities devoted solely to Polis. Supported by the A. G. Leventis Foundation, the Department of Art and Archaeology and the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies, with other donors.
PrincetonWilliam A. P. ChildsJoanna S. SmithJ. Michael PadgettMaria HadjicostiJames Christen StewardChilds et al. 2012
- 2012Catalogue City of Gold: The Archaeology of Polis Chrysochous, Cyprus, published by the Princeton University Art Museum: five essays and 110 entries, a preliminary assessment with study continuing.
PrincetonWilliam A. P. ChildsJoanna S. SmithJ. Michael PadgettChilds et al. 2012
People
30 peopleStaff and members · 30
- David Bylundstaff (1983–2007) · architectChilds et al. 20121983
- Elise Chasséarchitect (field drawings, plans, sections)1983
- Kelley des Rochesstaff (1983–2007) · architectChilds et al. 20121983
- Nancy Serwintstudent (from 1983) · graduate student on the 1983 survey; later assistant directorChilds et al. 20121983
- Nora Laosarchitect1983
- William A. P. Childsfounder (1983–2007) · field-director (1983–2007) · founder and directorChilds et al. 2012Childs et al. 20121983
- Alexandros Koupparisstaff (1985–2012) · excavation foremanChilds et al. 20121985
- Joanna S. Smithassistant (from 1988) · began working with it in 1988; assistant directorChilds et al. 20121988
- Nassos Papalexandroumember (from 1990) · member from 1990; author of reports on the Cypro-Archaic public buildingChilds et al. 20121990
- Aurélie von Biebersteinstaff (c. 1994–2012) · conservatorChilds et al. 20121994
- Mary Grace Weirmember (from 1995) · member from 1995Childs et al. 20121995
- Maria G. Paranimember (from 2003) · post-Classical team memberChilds et al. 20122003
- Alan M. Stahlspecialist (from 2006) · coin specialist (began working with the expedition in 2006)Childs et al. 20122006
- O. Karagiorgouspecialist (2008–2012) · post-Classical specialist (seals)Childs et al. 20122008
- R. Scott Moorespecialist (from 2009) · post-Classical pottery specialistChilds et al. 20122009
- Brandon R. Olsonspecialist (from 2010) · member from 2010; pottery specialist (Hellenistic and Roman)Childs et al. 20122010
- Kyle L. Killianspecialist (from 2010) · post-Classical team, medieval ceramics; joined 2010Childs et al. 20122010
- Amy Papalexandrouspecialistdossier 2026
- Charles Nickliesarchitect
- Chris Panfilarchitect (field drawings, plans, sections)
- Erik Sjöqvistmember (1927–1931)Childs et al. 2012
- Kenneth Hammamember (1983–1983)Childs et al. 2012
- Krista Ziembastaff (1983–2007)Childs et al. 2012
- Nancy Corbinstaff · registrar of findsChilds et al. 2012
6 more
- P. W. Wallaceother (1983–1985)Karageorghis 1984
- Sophocles Hadjisavvasofficial (1980–1980)Childs et al. 2012
- Tina Najbjergspecialistdossier 2026
- Vassos Karageorghisofficial (1980–1980)Childs et al. 2012
- Veronica Conklingarchitect
- William Caraherspecialistdossier 2026
Objects
Colossal Egyptianizing terracotta male statue, reconstructed height nearly 3 m, late 6th c. BCE
R496/TC5 (Princeton Cyprus Expedition)from Polis-Maratheri, area A.H91984–1985Childs et al. 2012
Fragment of a statue, Late Archaic, limestone
R3322/SC22from Polis-Maratheri, trench A.H9:r131986Childs et al. 2012, fig. 2.11
Female statue head with Nubian features, terracotta, late 6th c. BCE
R9913from Polis-Peristeries, bothros B.D7:r15 Sondage 41990Childs et al. 2012, fig. 3.2
Statuette of Aphrodite and Eros, terracotta, 4th c. BCE (Paphos District Museum)
R1612/TC90from Polis-Maratheri, trench A.H9:s151985Childs et al. 2012, fig. 3.3
Silver coin of Sasmas, king of Marion, c. 470-450 BCE (Paphos District Museum)
R39988/NM1749from Polis-Petrerades, trench E.F2:g122003Childs et al. 2012
Achaemenid seal recarved before deposition c. 500 BCE (Local Museum of Marion and Arsinoe)
R1362/SS4from Polis-Maratheri, trench A.H9:v151986Childs et al. 2012
Terracotta horse-and-rider figurines, mid-4th c. BCE
R1746/TC140, R1756/TC147from Polis-Maratheri, trench A.H9:s151985Childs et al. 2012, fig. 3.4
Sources
- 1.W. A. P. Childs (ed.), J. S. Smith (ed.), J. M. Padgett (ed.) (2012). City of Gold: The Archaeology of Polis Chrysochous, Cyprus. Princeton, Princeton University Art Museum.
- 2.V. Karageorghis (1984). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1983”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 108.
- 3.D. J. Symons (1986-1987). “Archaeology in Cyprus, 1981-85”. Archaeological Reports 33, 62-77.
- 4.W. A. P. Childs (1988). “First Preliminary Report on the Excavations at Polis Chrysochous by Princeton University”. Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 121-130.
- 5.W. A. P. Childs (1997). “The Iron Age Kingdom of Marion”. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 308, 37-48.
- 6.W. A. P. Childs (1999). “Princeton Excavations at Polis Chrysochous, 1994-1997: Interim Report”. Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 223-236.
- 7.W. A. P. Childs (2008). “Princeton University's Excavations of Ancient Marion and Arsinoe”. Near Eastern Archaeology 71, 64-75.
- 8.N. Papalexandrou (2006). “A Cypro-Archaic Public Building at Polis tis Chrysochou, 1999-2003: Preliminary Report”. Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 223-237.
- 9.repo research dossier (2026). “Local Archaeological Museum of Marion-Arsinoe research”. content/posts/research/local-archaeological-museum-of-marion-arsinoe-research.md.