Ancient CyprusAncient Cyprus

Antiquities official · Excavator · Archaeologist

A. Christodoulou

fl. 1964–1974 · Cyprus

Department of Antiquities archaeologist who joined the revived Survey Section in 1964, excavated rescue tombs near Lapithos and directed the Kourion basilica dig from 1971 to 1974.

Biography

When the Department of Antiquities revived its Archaeological Survey Section in 1964, after a gap of nearly five years, it filled the vacant posts with two young archaeologists, Michael Loulloupis and A. Christodoulou, whose main task was to deal with accidental discoveries1.

The tombs the Section excavated in 1966 were the work of Loulloupis and Christodoulou; the finds carry "C.S." (Cyprus Survey) numbers and were kept in the Survey's premises2. By 1967 and 1968 K. Nicolaou lists Loulloupis as Archaeological Officer and Christodoulou as Assistant Archaeological Officer, with responsibility for rescue digs, new sites, the prevention of tomb looting and the watching of dealers7,8. In 1968 he was in charge of 21 Early Bronze Age tombs near Lapithos, at Vrysi tou Barba and Sotira, which held Red Polished Ware and bronze daggers8,11. This Sotira is a different site from Sotira-Teppes.

From 1971 to 1974 the Department excavated the Early Christian basilica east of the Kourion stadium, on ground tentatively assigned to a shrine of Demeter and Kore, and the annual Chronique names Christodoulou as director each year3,4,5,6. The building proved to be a three-aisled basilica with a chapel, narthex and atrium, and Costello notes that the dedicatory block from the supposed shrine was found reused in it13. K. Nicolaou's 1972 and 1973 reports also name D. Christou as the other Assistant Archaeological Officer9,10. Nothing is known of his career after 1974.

Life and work

  1. 1964
    With M. Loulloupis, one of 'deux jeunes archeologues' who filled the vacant posts of the Department's Section d'Exploration Archeologique, reopened after almost five years of inactivity; the section was to deal mainly with accidental discoveries.

    NicosiaKarageorghis 1965

  2. 1966
    Excavated, with Loulloupis, the 1966 rescue tombs listed in the Chronique (Politiko-Koufos tombs 8-9, Meniko-Korypas, a Kition chamber in Ploutonos street, among others); finds registered 'C.S.' (Cyprus Survey) and kept in the Survey section's premises.

    Politiko, Meniko, KitionKarageorghis 1967

  3. 1967
    Named by Nicolaou as Assistant Archaeological Officer, in charge of the Archaeological Survey Branch with Loulloupis (Archaeological Officer): rescue excavations, recording new sites, 'coping with illegal dealings in antiquities', preventing tomb-looting, and keeping a close watch on dealers.

    CyprusNicolaou 1968

  4. 1968
    In charge of the excavation by the Survey Branch of 21 Early Bronze Age tombs found accidentally during a new coastal road north of Lapithos (3 at Vrysi tou Barba, 18 at Sotira): Red Polished Ware, bronze tools especially daggers.

    LapithosNicolaou 1970Nicolaou 1969

  5. 1971–1974
    Excavated for the Department the small three-aisled Early Christian basilica east of the Kourion stadium, on the site thought to be the 'Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore': nave 16.34 x 10.80 m, three apses, synthronon, wall mosaics, opus sectile, later lime-burning of its marble. 1972: northern chapel, narthex, east side of atrium (Hellenistic terracotta figurine fragments below a floor); 1973: atrium and rooms to the north; 1974 still directing. Costello says the work showed the inscribed block found by Walters was spolia in the basilica.

    KourionKarageorghis 1972Karageorghis 1973Karageorghis 1974Karageorghis 1975Nicolaou 1973Nicolaou 1976, p. 69IV 2014, p. 17

  6. 1972–1973
    Nicolaou lists the Archaeological Survey Branch as Loulloupis (Archaeological Officer) with Assistant Archaeological Officers A. Christodoulou (printed 'Cristodoulou' in 1972) and D. Christou; in 1973 'Mr. M. Loulloupis, Mr. A. Christodoulou and Mr. D. Christou in charge'.

    CyprusNicolaou 1973Nicolaou 1975

Connections

2 people

Fieldwork & employment

Colleagues & contacts

Sources

  1. 1.V. Karageorghis (1965). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1964”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 89.
  2. 2.V. Karageorghis (1967). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1966”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 91.
  3. 3.V. Karageorghis (1972). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1971”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 96.
  4. 4.V. Karageorghis (1973). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1972”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 97.
  5. 5.V. Karageorghis (1974). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1973”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 98.
  6. 6.V. Karageorghis (1975). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1974”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 99.
  7. 7.Kyriakos Nicolaou (1968). “Archaeological News from Cyprus, 1967”. American Journal of Archaeology 72, 369-380.
  8. 8.Kyriakos Nicolaou (1970). “Archaeological News from Cyprus, 1968”. American Journal of Archaeology 74, 71-78.
  9. 9.Kyriakos Nicolaou (1973). “Archaeological News from Cyprus, 1972”. American Journal of Archaeology 77, 425-433.
  10. 10.Kyriakos Nicolaou (1975). “Archaeological News from Cyprus, 1973”. American Journal of Archaeology 79, 125-134. Online
  11. 11.K. Nicolaou (1969). “Archaeology in Cyprus, 1966-69”. Archaeological Reports 15, 40-54.
  12. 12.K. Nicolaou (1976). “Archaeology in Cyprus, 1969-76”. Archaeological Reports 22.
  13. 13.Benjamin Costello IV (2014). Architecture and Material Culture from the Earthquake House at Kourion, Cyprus. Oxford, Archaeopress.