Ancient Marion and Arsinoe and the votive terracotta corpus is the title of the fourth lecture of the University of Cyprus Archaeological Research Unit’s 54th Public Lecture Series. The lecture will be presented by Dr. Nancy Serwint (Arizona State University) via zoom.
Since 1983, the ancient cities of Marion and Arsinoe, located on the northwest coast of Cyprus, have been the focus of archaeological investigation by a research team under the auspices of Princeton University. The material remains are significant, as Marion was one of the ancient city kingdoms of the island during the Iron Age, and Arsinoe was a thriving Hellenistic foundation that continued in existence throughout the Roman, Late Antique, and Byzantine periods, ultimately evolving into the modern town of Polis Chrysochous.
After an overview of the recent excavations of both sites, the lecture will consider the immense cache of terracotta sculpture discovered in two sanctuaries associated with Marion. The votive offerings represent the largest corpus of dedicatory objects yet recovered from Cyprus. The study of the material has provided important information on cult ritual; the exchange of religious, cultural, and stylistic influences in the eastern Mediterranean; and the technical strategies employed by ancient coroplasts.
Like all of this semester’s ARU/UCY Public Lectures, this one is held virtually only via Zoom at 7:30 pm. All Monday lectures are free and open to the public, but registration is required for access to the Zoom lecture. For registration, please, click here:
Public Lecture Series moderator: Dr. Athanasios K. Vionis, Director of the Archaeological Research Unit, University of Cyprus.
For the full Public Lectures program see here.