When it was first discovered in 1885, the sanctuary was remarkable for the high density of finds—the bases of the votive statues stood side by side. However, when the site was backfilled, these bases were largely removed by Ohnefalsch-Richter and later used to refill the area. This makes the 2025 discovery of more than 20 bases still in their original locations—which Ohnefalsch-Richter presumably did not see—all the more remarkable. Some of the bases even still contained the feet of the votive statues that had stood on them. In addition to limestone, there were also terracotta feet. This provides the first evidence ever found in Cyprus that terracotta figures were not only placed on the ground or in rock carvings, but were also given their own limestone bases.

The newly discovered bases are not only arranged closely together but are in some cases even stacked on top of one another, though always in such a way that both figures remain visible. This allows us, for the first time, to trace the gradual accumulation of votive offerings in the sanctuary. Furthermore, based on the stratigraphic sequence carefully observed during the new excavations, it can now be demonstrated that these bases were covered with a leveling layer already in antiquity. The area was leveled, and then a completely new layer of bases was installed—these are the bases that Ohnefalsch-Richter excavated and of which the new excavations found well over 100 pieces in the refill of the old excavation. The question of whether this reorganization of the sanctuary—presumably toward the end of the Archaic period—was the result of a destruction, as a few clues suggest, or was merely due to a lack of space, will be the focus of the next campaigns.

With the discovery of the Archaic bases in situ and the associated statues, which can be dated to the Archaic period, the Archaic phase of the sanctuary can now be verified through archaeological evidence for the first time ever. Until now, the only artefacts known from this period were largely context-free statues discovered during the 1885 excavations. Furthermore, during this campaign, undisturbed layers containing Archaic pottery were identified for the first time since the start of modern excavations, thereby adding historical depth to the sanctuary as a whole. Thus, the new excavations can help to trace the development of a Cypriot sanctuary in detail and to understand the social and ritual processes that led to the sanctuary’s design and the placement of the votive offerings.

Der Beitrag Pera-Frangissa • Season 2025 erschien zuerst auf Amricha.

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.