Photo of complete 2,000-year-old statue released

ANTIQUITIES officials have released a photograph of a now-complete 2,000-year-old statue of the goddess Artemis, after Cyprus Today revealed that a missing part had been retrieved.

The 67cm-high white marble Artemis Ephesia statuette, dating back to around AD200, was discovered off the coast of Salamis by an Italian tourist while snorkelling in August 1980.

Missing pieces including a part of one of two stags or deer which decorated the image of the Ephesus cult goddess were discovered last year and have now been reunited with the goddess following months of painstaking work by state conservator Pembe Özen.

Symbolising fertility and abundance, the restored piece is now on show at Güzelyurt Museum.

Antiquities chiefs last week refused to provide a photograph of the newly displayed statuette, but issued one last Saturday with a statement from Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu confirming that the missing hand and the animal figure had been put back in their original positions by staff at the Antiquities Department’s new Conservation and Repair Centre for Cultural Assets which is equipped with modern technology for dealing with artefacts.

“The restoration is something we are very proud of,” said Mr Ataoğlu, who also spoke of plans to open more museums throughout the country to house historical items.

He said he had concluded an agreement with his Turkish counterpart to “speed up” work on TRNC archaeological excavations and to establish new museums.