Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-02-29
WORKS OF ART DISCOVERED IN
CYPRUS.
Greek Dissatisfaction ut their Exporta-


Much attention has lately been drawn
to some important discoveries made in
the Island OF Cyprus by foreign born
American citizen. 1t will be seen from
IN article which We translate from
Greek journal published in Turkey. the
Neologos, that the Christian subjects Of
the Sultan bitterly regret the removal
from their country of so valuable histor-
lcal and antiquarian remains. The
Greeks i'll Turkey are even now as little
able to prevent the depredations of
foreign collectors as were their fathers
in the time Of Lord E]gin. It appears,
however, that even the Turks are now
awake to the importance of retaining
the wealth OF antiquities which the
country may still possess, and that the
Vizier has published an order restrain.
ing their expectation. It need not be
remarked that the story about the
American Government having made an
offer for the purchase of the collection
in question is untrue.
The Island OF Cyprus, so lavishly
endowed by nature, and judged worthy
of old to be the seat of the mother OF
Cupid, contains in it's bosom precious
archaeological memorials bearing wit
ness to the different vicissitudes Of the
island. What is beautiful never lacks
posscssors. Assyrians, Phmnici.ns,
Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans.
and others, have all crossed over to
this Island, and have left traces oftheir
passage. The district hides within it.
self an entire museum, one which, if it
ever sees the light as whole, aud is
investigated by those who are skilled
in antiquarian researches, will illustrate
many obscure parts Of history. Not
long since the Imperial govern
ment of Turkey, seeing that, both on
this Island and elsewhere in the En-
pire, many ancient relics were passing
into foreign hands, while the East was
being stripped of the most beautiful
marks of it's glory, resolved to put IN
end to the plumber of its antiquities,
and by an order of the Vizier to this
effect, shortened the long arms of the
imitators Of Elgin. But to return to
the Island of Cyprus. Before the pub
lication of the Vizier's order, to which
reference has been made, q learned
italian residing ut Larnaki, in Cyprus,
M. Ceusola, who, having distinguished
himself in the civil war in America. had
become naturalized American citizen.
and is now Consul OF thu United States
upon the Island, having expended, as
we were informed, about 5000 lire in
making excavations, got together a
large and curious collection of works,
of art, most of them in the tombs,
of which ut least eight thous-
and were uncovered, and in the
Temple Of Venus at Golgos. These
works of art are rs follows: 1000
ancient Greek, Ph@nician, and Roman
vessels Of glass 1000 Phmnician, Assy.
rian, Egyptian and Greek vases; /, 400
Greek, Roman and Byzantine lamps
425 blazen utensils of all kinds, strigiIs.
bowls, brooch pins, ETC.; SO Phmnician,
Greek and Cypriote Inscriptions; 2Ol
stone statues of various sizes from the
Temple Of Venus; 700 stone heads
from the same temple; 800 votive Of.
ferings, etc., from the same temple:
100 gold cylinders, canthari, etc. Since,
as has been mentioned, the discovery
Of these works of art by M. Censol:,
took place before the publication of the
Vlzier's order, and consequently they
ace Ills pf1Vate property, the Imperial
Government offered 5000 lire for thei,
purchase, which NJ. Censola declined.
The French Government was in treaty
for the collection when the outbreak Of
the war cut short the negotiations. Yhe
American Government outbid both, and
has offered 10000 lire.
| The spectacle of such IN auction sale
OF our treasures of the fine arts, and
that under our own eyes, is Il sad one
but we console ourselves with the hope
that in future the commands of tie
Government will be faithfully observed
and that our works of art will no Longer
travel to distant lands; but that il
anywhere in this classic land there il
buried diamond belonging to us, il
will be placed in q native casket, an.
will shed it's radiance under the SUI
that saw the birth of and enlightened
those great artists of our past history