Now, almost 140 years later, the sanctuary is once again exposed and available for modern archaeological research. With the support of AMRICHA, a team of German archaeologists from the Universities of Frankfurt and Kiel/Würzburg has resumed excavations at Frangissa. Following the localization of the old excavation site through two limited test trenches last year [as detailed in the linked 2023 report], the sanctuary was extensively excavated in 2024. The nearly 2‑meter-high fill of soil and stones was removed by hand and carefully sifted. It became evident that this fill consisted of the spoil heap from the 1885 excavation, possibly containing ancient artifacts that were overlooked or deemed unimportant at the time.

During the labor-intensive work, the surrounding wall of the votive gift courtyard and over 100 statue bases of varying, sometimes colossal, sizes were uncovered. Remarkably, the 19th-century backfill not only contained the bases for votive statues indicated in the plan but also a vast quantity of statue fragments, many of significant size and extraordinary quality. The new finds from 2024 have profoundly expanded our understanding of this sacred site. Not only can many of the statues discovered in 1885, housed in museums in Nicosia and Toronto, now be completed with newly found fragments to restore their original appearance, but entirely new statue types previously unknown in Frangissa have also been documented. For example, the discovery of oversized feet in a walking stance has confirmed the existence of colossal male limestone figures from the Archaic period (7th–6th centuries BCE). Until now, such life-sized figures in Frangissa were only known in terracotta, such as the famous “Colossus of Tamassos” displayed in the Cyprus Museum. Additionally, evidence of other votive offerings not previously documented has emerged, including marbled glass beads and Egyptian faience amulets.

A particularly spectacular discovery was the unearthing of two inscribed bases. One features several local Cypriot syllabic script characters, while the other is adorned with a delicate Greek alphabetic inscription referring to the Ptolemies, the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt who controlled Cyprus from the early 3rd century BCE. This dedication demonstrates that the sanctuary played an important role not only in the Archaic and Classical periods (7th/6th and 5th/4th centuries BCE) but also after the end of the so-called royal era.

Indeed, the cult site underwent significant expansion during this later period, as evidenced by its architecture. During this time, a large peristyle courtyard, likely used for ceremonial banquets, was constructed adjacent to the votive gift room. In Ohnefalsch-Richter’s excavations, only an outer wall of this four-sided colonnaded structure was revealed, and it was not recognized as part of a larger building complex. As a result, the area of this building has remained undisturbed by modern interventions, offering a rare opportunity to examine undisturbed stratigraphic layers and gain direct insights into the building’s use. In the 2024 campaign, the dimensions of a northern-facing entrance, partially identified in 2021, were clarified. Moreover, the complex apparently included two additional doors on the west side, which were previously unknown. Although this building was not extensively excavated, targeted test trenches have now allowed its structure to be fully documented. The unexamined areas are being preserved as a kind of archive, in line with modern excavation practices, allowing future generations to conduct further investigations using new methods.

The 2024 excavations at Pera-Frangissa garnered significant attention, attracting numerous visitors from politics, academia, and the church. Notable guests included Cyprus’s Minister of Culture, Dr. V. Kassianidou, the Director of the Department of Antiquities, Dr. G. Georgiou, the German Ambassador to Cyprus, Dr. A. Schlimm, Bishop Porphyrios, and representatives of Cypriot and international universities. Alexander Malios, chairman of AMRICHA, also visited the excavations and the excavation house.

The campaign, led by Dr. Matthias Recke (University of Frankfurt) and Prof. Dr. Philipp Kobusch (University of Kiel), lasted from September 5 to October 14, 2024. Participants included students from the universities of Frankfurt, Kiel, Cologne, and Stuttgart, as well as students from Cyprus University in Nicosia. The analysis of animal bones was conducted by Dr. Angelos Hadjikoumis (Cyprus Institute), and ceramic analysis by Dr. Anna Georgiadou (University of Cyprus). A new team member, Laura Lipcsei, a conservator from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto (Canada), oversaw the professional conservation and restoration of this year’s excavation finds. With her extensive experience working on the Frangissa finds in Toronto from 1885, she brought invaluable expertise to the project. Heartfelt thanks go to all participants.

Excavations at Frangissa are planned to continue in 2025. Future investigations promise to yield important new findings and insights that will revive the ritual practices of past eras. The large-scale studies of the sanctuary initiated this year will allow the cult site to be understood within its original spatial context. Research at Frangissa is thus of immense significance not only for the specific site but also for the entire ancient Cypriot landscape and our contemporary understanding of ancient cult practices.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • season 2024 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

The initial excavation campaign in 2021, funded by Amricha, unveiled the first ancient building structures, confirming the localization of the Frangissa sanctuary, which was previously only based on survey data. The team from the Universities of Frankfurt and Kiel, led by Matthias Recke and Philipp Kobusch, deepened the exploration of these structures through the continuation of excavation activities and a 5‑week campaign in 2022. Once again, the work received financial and personnel support from Amricha, as well as funding from the ROOTS Cluster of Excellence at CAU Kiel.

Larger than expected — extent and structure of the sanctuary

The recent excavations have significantly expanded our knowledge of the building discovered in 2021. The architectural enclosure of an open district, measuring at least 12 x 17 meters, has been revealed. The walls are meticulously constructed with carefully placed stone plinths, reaching heights of up to 1.20 meters. These plinths formed the base for mud-brick masonry, which is no longer preserved today. The area’s floor consisted of a meticulously prepared, flat rammed earth floor, partially preserved despite its fragile nature.

Based on current knowledge, this complex’s construction can be dated to the Hellenistic period. However, the district underwent successive alterations after its initial construction. In a later phase, short transverse walls were erected, possibly connected to a flat stone base that was built later and ran parallel to the enclosure walls. At the current stage of excavation, this stone base is likely interpreted as a support structure for pillars that carried the roof of a hall encircling all sides. This measure further diversified the potential uses of the courtyard, potentially serving to protect particularly valuable votive offerings from the weather.

Towards the end of the excavation, a stepped structure constructed from meticulously carved ashlars was discovered in the immediate vicinity of the courtyard area. These blocks, of considerable size and quality, were previously unknown at Frangissa. The precise trimming and use of imported materials make this finding exceptional. Typically, all architectural structures within the sanctuary are made of local limestone. The complete uncovering of this monument in a future campaign will greatly enhance our understanding of the sanctuary’s layout. The fact that this monument is located outside the newly excavated courtyard complex suggests that the area utilized within the context of the sanctuary was even more extensive.

Although the exact relationship between the Hellenistic courtyard and the old excavations, and consequently the main area of the sanctuary discovered in the 19th century, remains unclear at present, the rich finds, such as votive figures, impeccably prove its connection to the sanctuary. The core of the sanctuary, documented by Max Ohnefalsch-Richter in 1885, also consisted of an open courtyard but contained a roofed cult building within it. Based on the discovered artifacts, this part of the sanctuary can be traced back to archaic times. The newly found structures are the first evidence of a larger extension phase for the Frangissa sanctuary, significantly expanding the built-up area and potential uses during Hellenistic times. The Hellenistic sanctuary is now known to be more than twice as large as previously believed.

Small shards bring important insights

Furthermore, the discovery of seemingly inconspicuous terracotta fragments yielded a particularly remarkable result. These fragments belong to a larger-than-life male terracotta figure, similar to the renowned Colossus of Tamassos in the Cyprus Museum (which originates from the same sanctuary). Like its counterpart, this figure was assembled from several individual parts, and its robe exhibited intricate incised ornaments. Fragments with similar characteristics had been previously found in 1885 and taken to the museum in Nicosia. The newly discovered fragments align perfectly with these old fragments, securing the identification of the sanctuary with the site excavated in 1885, which had previously been based on numerous circumstantial pieces of evidence.

The planned continuation of the excavation in 2023 will focus on investigating the courtyard’s function, as little is currently known about the use of the inner open space. Additionally, the precise connection between this extension and the sanctuary’s core will be explored by locating the old excavation. Only then can we gain a better understanding of the sanctuary’s overall functioning and the interaction among its individual functional parts.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • Season 2022 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.