By Jean Christou
A NEW book detailing the “human side” of 22 years of excavations at the ancient city site of Salamis, now under Turkish occupation, will be launched in Nicosia today.
The text of the book, Excavating at Salamis in Cyprus 1952-1974, enriched with over 200 photographs, was written by renowned Cypriot archaeologist Dr Vassos Karageorghis, author of more than 70 books, who was personally involved in the excavations.
The 22 years of excavations at Salamis were no doubt the largest in extent and among the most important carried out in Cyprus in the last 50 years, continuing until the very week of the invasion.
Much has already been written about the excavations, but this is the first non-scientific book.
“There is however an aspect of the 22 years of excavations at Salamis which is not quite so well known: the human aspect,” said Karageorghis. “How a handful of archaeologists and technicians managed to deal with the enormous problems of excavation and restoration. How the citizens of Famagusta and the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages participated in the this venture throughout.”
Anna Marangou, who penned one of the appendices to the book, said yesterday that residents from the nearby villages of Ayios Georghios and Engomi had taken part in the work.
“I’m especially happy that these memories and pictures have been put together in one volume to pass on to our children and grandchildren,” she said.
Salamis flourished for almost 15 centuries from the period of its foundation in the 11th century BC as the most important ancient kingdom of Cyprus.
During the classical period, it was considered to be the capital of the island and the champion among all other kingdoms in the wars of independence against the Persians.
Salamis was destroyed by repeated earthquakes in the middle of the 4th century AD but was quickly rebuilt as a Christian city by the Emperor of Constantinople, Constantius.
The Arab invasions of the 7th century AD put an end to the life of the ancient city of Salamis. Traces of the fire which destroyed the city were still visible on the sandstone surface of the walls of the public buildings when they were excavated, and thick layers of ash were mixed with fallen debris all over the city.
In the past 50 years, Salamis became a national monument, a symbol for the Greeks of Cyprus. Its public buildings, especially its large theatre, were often used after restoration for the presentation of Greek tragedies.
Karageorghis’ book, with its 206 pages of text and 242 photographs both black and white and colour, provides easy reading and is bound to bring back memories of unforgettable experiences.
“Of all my books, this book is the closest to my heart,” Karageorghis told journalists yesterday. “I wanted to give something to the wider public, not something scientific but something emotional.”
Excavating at Salamis in Cyprus
will be launched at the premises of the Anastasios G Leventis Foundation on Nicosia’s Gladstone Street tonight. It costs £18.
