The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-23
SOME NEW BOOkS.



prus us 5ncie1d Caies. 7ombs, and Temples. by
Gen. LOUIS PALMA III CEsNoLA Harper h
Brothcrsl The importance OF Cen Di Ces-
nolas discoveries has already been attestod by
artists and archnoogsts. but we have hero
from the pen Of the explorer tho record Of his
researches and careful study Of the untiQu-
Gcs brought to light. As We trace tho outlines
OF these patient Investigations We remember
with peculiar qualification tina, they were prose-
cuted by n fellow countrymnn. and that this
fruitful work was done by an American Consul.
We may add that tho publishers have kept in
view the largo import OF their undertaking.
and have act their imprint on n masterpiece Of
pictorial and typographical art
when We call to mind the frequent reference
10 Cyprus in Greek poetry. and the identin'a-
zion Of the island with the worship of Aphro-
ditto. II appears strange that the materials Of
authentic Cypriotc history should have been 80
slight and fragmentary. What was known up
b the date Of the Ccsnoa discoveries regarding
this composite sland-world. this point Of con
vcrgcncc for the Egyptian. the Semitic and the
Hellenic civilizations. may be very briefly told.
II Is established that Cyprus was the Chtim OF
The Old Testament. and II would seem that the
Phcnicians were the earliest coonsts. They set
tied. hs was natural. on the south coast at tho
nearest and most convenient points for trade
with the mother country. They founded the
hree towns of Ctium from which the island
SERVED its Oriental nanel Paphos and ANA
Mus tho latter being apparently the oldest.
since IL long preserved the worship OF the
Tyrian Hercules. and the custom of Offering
human sacrifices. Of which there Is no vestige
IN tho other cities The goddess OF paphos.
whose temple there had been modelled accord
ing 10 tradition on that Of the Pheniclnn As
tartc at Ascalon. and which had an hereditary
nriaaihpol tracing THAR linaaUa n m
FOUNDER. Cinyras was accepted by the Greeks
throughout the island as Aphrodite. II If to be
noted however that some OF the curious rites
practised ut Paphos suggest identity with the
divinity w0rshipped at Babylon under the name
OF Mylirta. According to legend the Greek
colonization began with the return Of the heroes
from Troy. and we may point out that with two
exceptions all the towns II Hellenic origin lay
on the north and west coasts " tho island The
fusion of the two races WIS not complete. the
languages for instance remaining distinct.
although it Is now known that specific graphic
system WIS evolved which suggests n Semitic
rather than Greek source. Az regards tho
scope Of Egyptian and Assyrian influence. IL il
certain that in the time Of Moses Cyprus was u
possession of E-ypt. having been conquered by
the feet Of Thothmes III. In b. c. 7O7. Sargon.
the Assyrian monarch. conquered the island
and made III Kings his tributaries. and the lat
her are again recorded as doing homage To
Assurbanipal upon his expedition to the Nile
land in Il. c. go. Twcnty-h years later
Aprles King Of Egypt. the Pharaoh Ilophra Of
Scripture. defeated several Cypriote monarchs
near Citum. while his successor. Amasis. over
ran the entire island, and laid. as Herodo,us
says. attribute on it. Next. Cyprus became in
sorporated with the great Persian monarchy OF
Cambyses. and. notwithstanding some vigorous
outbreaks. remained part Of it until the divi-
sion Of the East among the generals Of Alex
Ander. when the island ultimately fell to Ptol-
amy. 1t continued To belong 10 the Maccdo-
hian lords Of Egypt until the absorption OF the
Leyant by the Roman. and il 10 worth noting
that the act Of annexation was performed 10y
Marcus Cato. From the time Of Constantine to
the present hour with the exception II three
centuries Of ind 'penience under the Latin
monarchy oil the Lusignans, and somewhat less
ihan a century Of Venetian occupation. Cyprus
has formed province Of tho empire Eastern.
Byzantine, or Ouoman-whosc seat Of rule has
been Constntnopl.. Tho events which have
followed the beginning 81 the Roman period
are scarcely pertinent to our present subject
since the mos, interesting OF Gen. hi Cesnola's
discoveries are referred to the sixth. nth. and
fourth centuries before our era. In other
words. the most valuable treasures now I'M
e.-ii..-l ai.i r IA tif~ft r''frt 'NHnlbef
hundreds OF years before Cato Of Utica took
possession Of the island in the name Of the
Roman Senate and people
During a residence Of some ten years in Cy-
prus General hi Cesnola performed an amount
OF excavation which, considering his resources.
must be accounted nothing short 81 marvellous.
The sites at which his labors met with most
ample reward were Dali Golgoi. Amathus and
Kurium. in the southern part Of tho island.
Paphos and Arsinoe in the west. and Sou in