Illicit excavation and the sale of ‘duplicate’ antiquities: Rupert Gunnis and the Cyprus Museum, 1926‑1932
In 1932, the departing Governor of Cyprus, Sir Ronald Storrs, gave Rupert Gunnis a title and salary as ‘Inspector of Antiquities’ in recognition of his aide-de-camp’s active role since 1926 as a member of the Cyprus Museum Committee. Gunnis had encroached on the responsibilities of the Curator, Mene...
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| I publikationen: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/cchyp, |
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| Huvudupphovsman: | |
| Materialtyp: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Språk: | Anglais |
| Publicerad: |
Cahiers du Centre d’Études Chypriotes
2025
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| Länkar: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Sammanfattning: | In 1932, the departing Governor of Cyprus, Sir Ronald Storrs, gave Rupert Gunnis a title and salary as ‘Inspector of Antiquities’ in recognition of his aide-de-camp’s active role since 1926 as a member of the Cyprus Museum Committee. Gunnis had encroached on the responsibilities of the Curator, Menelaos Markides, whom he disdained, by re‑organising the Museum’s collections, investigating reports of illicit excavation and purchasing significant archaeological finds for the Museum. At the same time, Gunnis was building up a private collection, much of which he exported to England. He selected for sale many of the Museum’s ‘duplicate’ antiquities, thereby greatly increasing its revenue, but also gave himself permits to acquire selected items for his own collection. The Museum’s sales policy was controversial as to whether it undermined or encouraged the illicit market for antiquities. In 1936 the inaugural Director of Antiquities, John Hilton, denounced Gunnis’s ambiguous roles, long known to the authorities in both Cyprus and England, in an official submission published accessibly here for the first time. |
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