Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1944, Page 95

SWEDISH EXCAVATIONS
85
importance of the acropolis of Idalion is chiefly due to the fact
that we here find a stratigraphic corroboration of the correct-
ness of the chronological results obtained through comparative
studies of the various groups of pottery found in tombs dating
from the period mentioned.
Kition.4' The Swedish archaeologists succeeded in finding the
town sanctuary, a large temple of Heracles, in the Phoenician
capital Kition in Cyprus. It was situated in a tell with cultural
strata nearly ten m. deep. The examination of this temple site
and the previous settlement in the place proved to yield extremely
important results for the illustration of the obscure problems
concerning the Phoenician question and the Phoenician expansion
towards the west. Thus it could be established that this strong-
hold was first inhabited on rather a modest scale about 1100 B. C.
The succeeding periods were accounted for through detailed strati-
graphical examinations of the tell up to the layer of the large
temple of Heracles, which, however, proved to be almost com-
pletely destroyed. In a room connected with the temple, however,
a large number of limestone sculptures were found which alí
peculiarly enough showed strong Greek influence. Through com-
parisons with results from other excavations we may at Kition
obtain good proofs how the Phoenician penetration in Cyprus
developed, first in the form of direct commercial relations, and
later in the form of a politically strong rule in the south-eastern
part and then in competition with the Greek colonies in other
parts of the island. Everything seems to indicate that this political
expansion from Phoenicia proper did not start till considerably
later than previously believed, and probably not until the 8th
century B. C.48 The excavations at Kition also exposed the re-
mains of large profane buildings of a later date, which were con-
structed above the destroyed temple of Heracles.
Ajia Irini.40 The perhaps most astonishing find of the Swedish
Cyprus Expedition was made in a temple-area near Ajia Irini
not far from the sea at the northern part of the bay of Morfou.
47 Swed. Cyp. Exp. III, p. 1.
48 Swed. Cyp. Exp. IV, forthcoming.
49 Swed. Cyp. Exp. II, p. 642. A large pithos from the Swedish ex-
cavations treated by Westholm, En senmykensk pithos frdn Cypern,
in the Konsthistorisk Tidskrift 1943.