Murray, Alexander S.; Smith, Arthur H.; Walters, Henry Beauchamp: Excavations in Cyprus: bequest of Miss E. T. Turner to the British Museum (London, 1900)

26

on the other what may be meant for a fish with human head. Here we may add
two stone whorls with incised patterns (Fig. 49), a limestone mould for an axe-head

1559

Fig. 51.—Fragments of Limestone Vase.

Fig. 52.

(Fig. 50), two fragments of a limestone vase with patterns in relief at the handles
(Fig. 51), and a limestone head (Fig. 52), apparently of a considerably later date.

TERRACOTTA.

Numerous statuettes of terracotta were found in the shape of rude and nude female
figures (e.g. Fig. 65, Nos. 1086-7), more or less identical with those obtained by Layard
in Assyria and more recently by the Americans at Nippur. From the dates
assigned to these images at Nippur,1 as compared with what is possible in
Cyprus, it is obvious that the production of them has nothing to do with
the general progress of art. They merely represent das
ewig IVeibliche among people who were or remained
in a primitive condition. It is true that we obtained
also certain other statuettes of this material from one
of the tombs cut in the face of the crag at Enkomi,
as for instance a female figure holding a disc or

tympanum to her breast (Fig. 53); but that was clearly one of the few instances
in which a subsequent burial may have taken place. The things were
found at the entrance of the tomb. The fragments (Figs. 55-56), with
their rich necklaces, are doubtless also later than the usual Enkomi date, while
Figs. 54 and 57 point to primitive times.

Fig. 57.

1 In the Jahrbuch, 1897, p. 201, it is noted that primitive terracotta female figures of this

class were found in the American excavations at Nippur in the lower levels near the platform of

Sargon I. (about 3800 B.C.), and elsewhere, dating about 2800 B.C. Apparently 1,000 years
made no difference.