Copy of important Athienou artefact to go on show

A copy of an important ancient votive plaque on display in New York will soon on show at the Kallinikeio Municipal Museum of Athienou, the municipality announced on Friday.

The original limestone plaque was found during archaeological excavations near the ancient city of Golgoi, now Athienou, in 1867 and has been on display at the New York Metropolitan Museum ever since.

The archaeological finding dates back to the 4^th century BC, a period marked the height of classical Greek civilisation. While dancing and banquetting are show, the plaque also depicts a family approaching an latar.

In 2018, the municipality of Athienou, thanks to a longstanding cooperation with US-based archaeologist Michalis Toumazos from Davidson University, which has been conducting excavations near the ancient Golgoi site at Athienou-Malloura since 1990, obtained a permit from the Metropolitan Museum in New York to make a copy of the plaque.

After securing details of the plaque from the museum, the Athienou municipality tasked The Cyprus Institute to create the copy. It will be displayed a grave stele.