THE AMERICAN CONSUL CESNOLA BROTHERS AND THE FATE OF ANTIQUITIES IN OTTOMAN CYPRUS

This paper aims to identify the antiquities of Ottoman Cyprus taken abroad with or without permits, focussing upon the activities of the Cesnola brothers and the efforts of the Ottoman state to obstruct them in these activities. This article employs both the wide range of research literature on this subject, including Cesnola’s extensive writings and documents from the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of State Archives, Ottoman Archives, thereby presenting the Ottoman position on the Cesnola brothers’ activities. General Palma di Cesnola, who served as American envoy between the years 1865-1876 and Russian envoy for part of his stay, became interested in the historical heritage of the island of Cyprus upon his arrival. The Ottoman governor of the island, who had suspicions about his removal of the artefacts from the island, tried to obstruct him. Overcoming these obstructions with his diplomatic position, Cesnola managed to avoid the Governor’s efforts. Initially, he visited numerous European capitals to market these antiquities of the historical heritage of the island. Later he contacted American Museums and reached an agreement with the Metropolitan Museum, where later, his position as a trustee and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Museum was facilitated with these antiquities from Cyprus. When he had to depart to take the antiquities out of the island, he invited his brother Alexander Cesnola to continue his work. Following the footsteps of his brother, Alexander Cesnola supervised the excavations and took artefacts abroad. In 1878 with the British taking over the governing of the island, he had problems obtaining excavation permits from the new administration. These developments led to the departure of Alexander Cesnola from the island.