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The Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprusinvites you to a hybrid public lecture (ZOOM & Amphitheatre E010), Old Academy Campus, Kallipoleos Avenue
on Monday, November 3rd 2025, at 19:45 (Athens/Nicosia Time)
by
Stephan Schmid
Professor für Klassische Archäologie,
Institut für Archäologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin,
and Exzellenzcluster TOPOI, Germany
titled:
New research on the sanctuary of the great goddess at
Idalion-Moutti tou Arvili
For registration, please, click here: https://ucy.zoom.us/meeting/register/1N5wQ7adRrKaIVXdbvZK5w
Summary:
Starting in 2018, a collaborative project between the University οf Cyprus and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (the Berlin-Idalion-Project, BIP) is focusing on the excavation and study of the sanctuary of a female deity on the hill of Idalion-Moutti tou Arvili (East Acropolis). The project emerged from comprehensive archival studies aimed at re-evaluating the excavations carried out there in the late 19th century by Max Ohnefalsch-Richter. In the meantime, the current excavations are beginning to reveal both the architecture of the sanctuary and the arrangement of the statues in the temenos. Therefore, the combination of archival information consisting of text, plans and photographs, with state-of-the-art excavation methods and results, provides a fascinating opportunity to comprehensively research an important Iron Age sanctuary in Cyprus. Accordingly, the use of the sanctuary extends from the Cypro-Archaic to the Hellenistic period, with some interesting interruptions and changes. Since the 2024 excavation campaign, the deity worshipped in the sanctuary can also be considered certain, as corresponding names were inscribed in both Greek alphabetical and Cypriot syllabic script on pottery sherds found in the sanctuary. With more information gathered, it is possible to develop increasingly accurate proposals for the digital reconstruction of the original appearance of the sanctuary, but also to communicate the results to date to a wider audience. The latter purpose will also be served by an exhibition to be held in Berlin in spring 2026 as part of the Cypriot EU Council Presidency, which will be briefly touched upon in the lecture.
All Monday lectures are free and open to the public, but registration is required for access to the Zoom lecture.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
University of Cyprus, Old Campus, Kallipoleos Avenue, Artemiou Vet, 2153 Αγλαντζιά, Κύπρος, Nicosia, Cyprus
Tickets
