Grim's legend stands firm as historic tale
30 December 2008
Grimsby Evening Telegraph
The legendary tale of Grim and Havelock has fascinated generations and is hailed as one of the earliest British folk-heroic tales of its kind. Grimsby Telegraph reporter SIMON FAULKNER investigates further...
A Dead king's wish, murder plot, restoration of rightful heirs and a baby with a secret Royal heritage... the stuff of any good fantasy. The ancient tale of Grim and Havelock sounds akin to the legend of King Arthur, a classic medieval romance from the pages of history. And what makes it so special is that Grimsby can claim it as its own.
The chronicle of Havelok the Dane, also known as Havelok or Lay of Havelok the Dane, is a Middle English romance story, although it is first mentioned in a piece of Anglo-Norman poetry. Widely hailed as the second oldest surviving romance written in English, the tale is believed to date to between 1295 and 1310.
Despite confusion over the spelling of Havelock - is it with a 'c' or without? - experts say there is good evidence to suggest the story was widely read - the story's characters were depicted on Grimsby's town seal in the early 13th Century.
So, what made it such a good read? Well... King Athelwold of England dies, leaving his baby daughter, Goldborough. The appointed King, Godrich Earl of Cornwall, takes care of Goldborough and promises to fulfil the dead King's wish - to marry Goldborough to the strongest man in England when she is of age. Meanwhile, King Birkabeyn of Denmark dies and Earl Godard is given the job of caring for the baby Havelock and his two sisters. But Godard, wishing to rule, kills the King's daughters and instructs a local warrior and fisherman, Grim, to drown Havelock at sea. Grim tries to follow the Earl's instructions but cannot face killing the baby. He takes him from the water, goes home and Grim and his wife decide to bring the baby up. That night, they see a ray of light shining out of the baby's mouth as he sleeps and discover a royal birthmark on his shoulder. Realising the baby's royal heritage and the danger they may be in, Grim and his family pack their belongings and set sail for England. When they landed on British soil, they found the town of Grimsby.
Havelock grows up and goes to work in Lincoln. There, he wins a shotput competition (the stone he threw is still supposed to be lying somewhere within the walls of Lincoln Castle) and Havelock gains the reputation of strongest man in England. Godrich, Earl of Cornwall, hears of Havelock, introduces Goldborough to him and keeps the dead king's wish - Goldborough and Havelock marry in Lincoln. They return home to Grimsby and, that night, Goldborough dreams about Havelock becoming king and sees light shining from his mouth. The next day Grim confirms Havelock's birthright and Havelock returns to Denmark to claim his throne. Havelock returns in victory and he and Goldborough become King and Queen of Denmark and England. They have 15 children and reign happily together for 60 years.
The tale has fascinated generations of experts and professors, not to mention Grimsby people. But the statue depicting the tale has been plagued by controversy ever since it was unveiled in May 1973 before an audience of 200 people at Nuns Corner. The model of Grimsby's founding father Grim, and his foster son Havelock, was presented as a gift to the people of the town by Grimsby Art School, then at Grimsby College. Renowned sculptor Douglas Wain-Hobson was commissioned to create a model of Grim in the style of Michelangelo's David - but the nude model was not to everyone's taste.
Kevin Gracie, chairman of the Grim And Havelock Association, a historical group formed in 1999, said: "When it arrived, one of the students was so appalled he cut off Grim's member and became something of a folk hero. The question is, was it a fitting way to honour Grim, the founder of the town? What if they had made a statue of Robin Hood in his birthday suit?"
Over the years, the statue was vandalised countless times, before eventually being removed in 2006. In 1999, Mr Gracie prepared a report which advised the college to move the statue indoors, where it would be less exposed to vandals. But the college was reluctant to take the statue down. So, in 2000, the Grim And Havelock Association launched a campaign to repair the statue in its current setting. This failed to attract much support, and now Mr Gracie believes the statue is beyond repair. He said: "The sculptor did a wonderful job but it was obviously badly constructed by the people he commissioned to cast it. As it stands, I believe it's irreparable. It can't be reconstructed. It would cost too much money."
Mr Gracie said the Grim And Havelock Association would support the building of a replacement statue of Grim - if the people wanted it. He said: "I would like to see something rugged, authentic and in period dress."
Ernie Brown, the chairman of the Heritage Committee of the Grimsby, Cleethorpes And District Civic Society, decided to find out what was happening with the statue after a student at the Grimsby Institute did a project on it, and asked him where it was. Ernie said: "I don't think enough is known locally or nationally about the story of Grim and Havelock. Too often, people associate Grimsby with grim, meaning bleak and dreary, rather than strong. powerful and resourceful, yet kind and gentle enough to save an infant and bring him up as his own. The resourcefulness of Grim still reflects the resourcefulness of Grimsby and a statue of Grim would raise people's interest in the legend."
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Archaeological work completed on 16th century shipwreck found off Namibia
End of Shipwreck Dig, Start of Years of Study.
Werner Menges
24 October 2008
The Namibian
EXCAVATIONS at the site where the remains of a centuries-old shipwreck were discovered near Oranjemund almost seven months ago have ended - and now the real work of studying what has been hailed as Namibia's most exciting archaeological discovery in decades at least is set to start.
The shipwreck site, discovered on April 1 and since then shielded from the Atlantic Ocean by a huge wall of sand that diamond mining company Namdeb constructed as part of its beach mining activities along the coast, has now been surrendered to the sea again. The archaeological dig at the site ended successfully on October 10, archaeologist Bruno Werz from the Southern African Institute of Maritime Archaeology told The Namibian in a telephone interview yesterday.
Werz, who led the excavations at the site during April and again from September 8, said the last piece of timber of the structure of the ship that met its end on that stretch of Namibia's desert coast was removed from the site on October 9. All parts of the wreck that were still present at the site were removed, with more than 95 per cent of the shipwreck material recovered before the site had to be abandoned, he said.
Thousands of Spanish and Portuguese gold coins, hundreds of kilograms of ivory, tons of copper and tin ingots, the weathered remains of cannons, navigational instruments, tableware and personal effects that must have belonged to the sailors who were on board the ship when it foundered, have been recovered from the site.
Werz estimated that a substantial part of the ship's cargo, a good cross section of personal effects of the ship's crew, and about a sixth of the length and a sixth of the height of the structure of the ship, which is thought to have been about 30 metres long, were recovered.
Werz said the team that had been involved in the dig were exhausted but also elated as their month-long work at the site came to an end. With their work at the site completed, Namdeb carried out its planned mining in the area last week, after which the pumps that had used to keep the site dry were switched off and the maintenance of the wall of sand that pushed back the ocean from the site was stopped, Werz said.
Seawater has since then been seeping in under the sea wall, and the site is now under water again. One good storm, and the sea wall should be gone, Werz said. For the archaeologists and the rest of the team that has been working at the site, the real work of studying this discovery is only starting now, Werz said.
The ship's Portuguese origin, and that it had been on an outbound voyage from Portugal, has been confirmed so far, but its name and the date on which it met its end still have to be established with certainty, he indicated. At this stage, though, it is thought that the ship dates back to the 1530s or 1540s, he said.
Werz said the excavation would actually end up being only a small part of the project of the study of the wreck. Four people have now begun to make a more detailed inventory of the items recovered from the site. This task is scheduled to continue for the next two weeks still, he said.
Werner Menges
24 October 2008
The Namibian
EXCAVATIONS at the site where the remains of a centuries-old shipwreck were discovered near Oranjemund almost seven months ago have ended - and now the real work of studying what has been hailed as Namibia's most exciting archaeological discovery in decades at least is set to start.
The shipwreck site, discovered on April 1 and since then shielded from the Atlantic Ocean by a huge wall of sand that diamond mining company Namdeb constructed as part of its beach mining activities along the coast, has now been surrendered to the sea again. The archaeological dig at the site ended successfully on October 10, archaeologist Bruno Werz from the Southern African Institute of Maritime Archaeology told The Namibian in a telephone interview yesterday.
Werz, who led the excavations at the site during April and again from September 8, said the last piece of timber of the structure of the ship that met its end on that stretch of Namibia's desert coast was removed from the site on October 9. All parts of the wreck that were still present at the site were removed, with more than 95 per cent of the shipwreck material recovered before the site had to be abandoned, he said.
Thousands of Spanish and Portuguese gold coins, hundreds of kilograms of ivory, tons of copper and tin ingots, the weathered remains of cannons, navigational instruments, tableware and personal effects that must have belonged to the sailors who were on board the ship when it foundered, have been recovered from the site.
Werz estimated that a substantial part of the ship's cargo, a good cross section of personal effects of the ship's crew, and about a sixth of the length and a sixth of the height of the structure of the ship, which is thought to have been about 30 metres long, were recovered.
Werz said the team that had been involved in the dig were exhausted but also elated as their month-long work at the site came to an end. With their work at the site completed, Namdeb carried out its planned mining in the area last week, after which the pumps that had used to keep the site dry were switched off and the maintenance of the wall of sand that pushed back the ocean from the site was stopped, Werz said.
Seawater has since then been seeping in under the sea wall, and the site is now under water again. One good storm, and the sea wall should be gone, Werz said. For the archaeologists and the rest of the team that has been working at the site, the real work of studying this discovery is only starting now, Werz said.
The ship's Portuguese origin, and that it had been on an outbound voyage from Portugal, has been confirmed so far, but its name and the date on which it met its end still have to be established with certainty, he indicated. At this stage, though, it is thought that the ship dates back to the 1530s or 1540s, he said.
Werz said the excavation would actually end up being only a small part of the project of the study of the wreck. Four people have now begun to make a more detailed inventory of the items recovered from the site. This task is scheduled to continue for the next two weeks still, he said.
Medici philosopher was murdered by poison
Mystery of Medici philosopher's death is finally solved
By Malcolm Moore
7 February 2008
The Daily Telegraph
AFTER 500 years, one of Renaissance Italy's most enduring murder mysteries has been solved by forensic scientists.
Ever since Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, a mystical and mercurial philosopher at the court of Lorenzo de' Medici, suddenly became sick and died in 1494, it has been rumoured that foul play was involved. Pico's fame has faded, but he was a celebrated figure at the Medici court.
He gained notoriety when, at the age of 23, he offered to defend 900 of his opinions on philosophy and religion against all-comers. His subsequent tract, The Oration on the Dignity of Man, has been called the "manifesto of the Renaissance''.
However, he died aged 31 - two years after Lorenzo - together with a man who might have been his lover, Antonio Ambrosini, who was also known as Poliziano. Last July, a team of scientists from the universities of Bologna, Pisa and Lecce exhumed the two corpses and subjected them to a battery of tests. The scientists used biomolecular technology and scanning equipment as well as DNA analysis to find a cause.
Yesterday they concluded that both men had been poisoned with arsenic, after finding a toxic quantity in their bones. High levels of mercury and lead were also found. Silvano Vinceti, the head of the national cultural committee that managed the exhumation, said the killers came from Pico's closest circle.
The flamboyant philosopher became an instant favourite of Lorenzo when he arrived in Florence in 1486. Lorenzo was charmed by Pico, who was essentially a Platonic philosopher influenced by Oriental mysticism. He became famous for his incredible memory and his knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic. However, Pico's close friendship with Girolamo Savonarola, the fanatical Dominican friar, appears to have earned him the enmity of Lorenzo's son, Piero de' Medici.
The forensic scientists believe it was Piero who ordered Pico's death. Savonarola, who was invited to Florence by Pico, repeatedly preached against the Medicis, urging Florentines to reject the excesses of the Renaissance. Works by Botticelli and Michelangelo were burned during the "Bonfire of the Vanities'' in 1497, when the monk's followers set fire to lavish furniture, mirrors, pagan books and immoral sculptures in the Piazza della Signora.
"Combining the results of our analysis with historical documents that have recently come to light, it seems Piero is the most likely culprit for the assassination order,'' said Mr Vinceti. However, he added: "It was probably Cristoforo da Calamaggiore, Pico's secretary, who administered the poison. In fact, da Calamaggiore admitted later that he had given him medicine because he was sick''.
Examination of Pico's remains, which have been reburied in St Mark's Church. revealed that he was well over six feet tall and burly, in direct contradiction to his portraits. He also had a much larger skull than average. Meanwhile, Poliziano was only five feet tall.
By Malcolm Moore
7 February 2008
The Daily Telegraph
AFTER 500 years, one of Renaissance Italy's most enduring murder mysteries has been solved by forensic scientists.
Ever since Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, a mystical and mercurial philosopher at the court of Lorenzo de' Medici, suddenly became sick and died in 1494, it has been rumoured that foul play was involved. Pico's fame has faded, but he was a celebrated figure at the Medici court.
He gained notoriety when, at the age of 23, he offered to defend 900 of his opinions on philosophy and religion against all-comers. His subsequent tract, The Oration on the Dignity of Man, has been called the "manifesto of the Renaissance''.
However, he died aged 31 - two years after Lorenzo - together with a man who might have been his lover, Antonio Ambrosini, who was also known as Poliziano. Last July, a team of scientists from the universities of Bologna, Pisa and Lecce exhumed the two corpses and subjected them to a battery of tests. The scientists used biomolecular technology and scanning equipment as well as DNA analysis to find a cause.
Yesterday they concluded that both men had been poisoned with arsenic, after finding a toxic quantity in their bones. High levels of mercury and lead were also found. Silvano Vinceti, the head of the national cultural committee that managed the exhumation, said the killers came from Pico's closest circle.
The flamboyant philosopher became an instant favourite of Lorenzo when he arrived in Florence in 1486. Lorenzo was charmed by Pico, who was essentially a Platonic philosopher influenced by Oriental mysticism. He became famous for his incredible memory and his knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic. However, Pico's close friendship with Girolamo Savonarola, the fanatical Dominican friar, appears to have earned him the enmity of Lorenzo's son, Piero de' Medici.
The forensic scientists believe it was Piero who ordered Pico's death. Savonarola, who was invited to Florence by Pico, repeatedly preached against the Medicis, urging Florentines to reject the excesses of the Renaissance. Works by Botticelli and Michelangelo were burned during the "Bonfire of the Vanities'' in 1497, when the monk's followers set fire to lavish furniture, mirrors, pagan books and immoral sculptures in the Piazza della Signora.
"Combining the results of our analysis with historical documents that have recently come to light, it seems Piero is the most likely culprit for the assassination order,'' said Mr Vinceti. However, he added: "It was probably Cristoforo da Calamaggiore, Pico's secretary, who administered the poison. In fact, da Calamaggiore admitted later that he had given him medicine because he was sick''.
Examination of Pico's remains, which have been reburied in St Mark's Church. revealed that he was well over six feet tall and burly, in direct contradiction to his portraits. He also had a much larger skull than average. Meanwhile, Poliziano was only five feet tall.
BBC programme on the Battle of Brunanburh
Britain's destiny decided on Wirral battleground
BY MIKE CHAPPLE
3 January 2009
Daily Post (Liverpool)
BRITAIN'S biggest and bloodiest ever battle was staged on Merseyside, a sensational new BBC TV documentary will reveal tonight. The Battle of Brunanburh actually took place at Bromborough in Wirral in 937AD, lasted from dawn to dusk, cost the lives of thousands of warriors and changed the structure of the British Isles forever. "This is one of the most important battles of British history, on a par with Hastings, yet few people have even heard of it," the writer and archeologist Neil Oliver told the Daily Post.
He will present the programme, A History of Scotland, which will recall what was called The Great Battle when it is first broadcast on BBC2 at 8pm tonight. The battle came at a time when there were two kings, Constantine II commander of the northern coalition of tribes and the Anglo Saxon Athelstan from the South. They clashed at Brunanburh which most historians are now convinced is present day Bromborough.
Much of the recent research is based on the work of Wallasey-born Professor Steve Harding and colleagues Dr Paul Cavill and Professor Judith Jesch at Nottingham University who in 2004 were at the forefront at placing the battle in Wirral. "This was the mother of all Dark Age bloodbaths which would define the shape of Britain into the modern era," said 41-year-old Oliver who first sprung to TV prominence in the series Two Men In A Trench. "This was a showdown for two very different ethnic identities - a Norse Celtic alliance versus Anglo Saxon. It aimed to settle once and for all whether Britain would be controlled by a single imperial power or remain several separate independent kingdoms, a split in perceptions which is still very much with us today."
He said that for decades after it was referred to as The Great Battle, and though Athelstan emerged victorious, such was the savage resistance of the northern "rainbow alliance" from the likes of Gaels, Picts, Celts and Vikings further conflict was avoided and his dream of completely conquering Britain shelved.
"It really was a monster gathering at Brunanburh as so much was at stake," he added. "Athelstan really believed it was his destiny to carry on where the Romans left off by controlling every part of Britain. But the fighting was so severe and both sides so devastated by it, that both withdrew to lick their wounds."
Its status as The Great Battle, however, may have been diminished by the invasion of the Normans and their victory at Hastings in 1066. "Just over 100 years later, the Normans' records would have reflected their sides of things and would have wanted their battle to be remembered above all else. But although there's no plaque in place and the evidence has only been unearthed by intensive work by academics. It many ways it puts Hastings in the shade."
Wearmouth Jarrow - Anglo-Saxon monastery
Monastery hoping that prayers will be answered
By Gavin Engelbrecht
1 January 2009
The Northern Echo
BUSINESS people and celebrities will be joining forces with church leaders this year in a final push to have a NorthEast monastery declared a World Heritage Site. The twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth Jarrow will be nominated by the Government for World Heritage Status next year. If successful, it will join Durham Cathedral and Hadrian's Wall in carrying the coveted title.
The Wearmouth-Jarrow ambassadors include influential people from the NorthEast such as Kate Adie and Steve Cram. They follow in the footsteps of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Duke of Gloucester and South Shields MP David Milliband.
The monastery centres on St Peter's Church, in Sunderland, and St Paul's Church, in Jarrow, South Tyneside. If it is to become aWorld Heritage Site, then the team responsible for promoting it must show it has support from people locally, nationally and internationally.
The Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend Mark Bryant, who is also chairman of the Wearmouth-Jarrow Partnership, said gathering support was vital to the bid's success. He said: "The site is of universal significance - for the whole of humankind - and we are hoping it will be recognised at a World Heritage Site. Unesco, which decides which sites become World Heritage Sites, are keen to see that people value the site and are actively involved with supporting the nomination. Having the support of our influential ambassadors is a huge boost for the bid, and we hope they will help us spread the word far and wide. " He added: "We are working very hard to do a number of things. We need to convince Unesco we are taking proper care of the site and to ensure we have plans for many years hence.
"One of the things we are particularly involved in at the moment is getting local people to support the bid and making them aware of what a significant site they have in their midst. " The twin monasteries were founded in the 7th Century by Benedict Biscop. The Venerable Bede described them as "one monastery in two places" and in its day it was one of the world's greatest international cultural centres.
Wearmouth-Jarrow was exceptional because of its size, its great wealth and its extensive library - the best in the world at the time. Anyone wishing to pledge support for the site can do so by visiting wearmouth-jarrow.org.uk or signing a Book of Life at one of the venues linked to the bid.
Exeter Cathedral
Treasure trove hiding in wings of City's cathedral
29 December 2008
Western Morning News
Exeter Cathedral's roots can be traced back to Edward the Confessor. The penultimate Saxon King of England installed Leofric as the city's first bishop in 1050. While this doubtless fascinates keen historians, the forensic detail might lose the more casual historian.
But this string of facts says much about the cathedral today. The charter that records the appointment remains in the church's archive-cum-library - one of the oldest and best in the business. That it holds internationally revered "treasures" is little-known. But the collection of some of the oldest books, documents, scriptures and curios in the Westcountry is eye-popping.
It is hard to know where to start, but the cathedral's friendly team of archivists and librarians are more than willing to help. Two items stand out, though. There is the 10th century Exeter Book of Anglo Saxon Poetry, one of the building blocks of English literature. Then there is the Exon Domesday book, a survey of the South West counties that actually pre-dates William the Conqueror's broader, seminal work.
Housed at the back of the cathedral, through a formidable wooden door and up stone steps, the archive and library is the very definition of a hidden gem. The archives are filed in neatly-stacked, unassuming boxes. The books tidily kept. Given the medieval collections and countless unique documents, the prospect of diving in must be lick-lipping stuff for scholars.
But as assistant librarian Michael Howarth cheerfully notes, there is something of hiding light under a bushel here. "Our archivist likes to say it is one of the best-kept secrets in the Westcountry," he said. "Even some members of the congregation don't know about the books. Some are unique by their very definition. The Exeter Book for example. And people will come half-way round the world to see the manuscripts.
"There is a very wide range. More than just theology. There's history, medicine and science. We also have a collection on linguistics. The clergy over the centuries were very well educated and bequeathed the books to us."
It is, too, one of the oldest libraries in the country. "Even Oxford and Cambridge university libraries don't go back to 1072," Mr Howarth states, proudly.
Many of the texts and records are serious, scholastic works. Some are more fun and off-beat. That the diocese sold off stray sheep in the cathedral yard to pay for the repair of the porch is as innovative as it is charming. Some of the stories are more lively than you might imagine.
"The riddles in the Exeter Book, of which there are 90 to 100, are not children's riddles," said Mr Howarth. "It's very difficult to guess the riddles. And the poems are very suggestive. Some are seriously rude. They are very earthy even though it would have been in a monastic scriptum where most of the words would have been sacred."
Others would not look out of place on the front page of one of the more lurid tabloid newspapers today. The only surviving letter from classical composer Henry Purcell, who died in 1695, tells of how a choirboy had embezzled all his sponsorship money and turned to drink.
Many are instructive of time and place. Another document details how the cathedral donated money to people who were enslaved by the Moors during the 17th century.
Another treasure is a 65ft parchment roll known as one of the Great Rolls of Scotland. Made in 1314 by Andrew de Tange, it refers to King Edward I. There is a copy of King Henry VIII's will, as well as a bizarre list of odd human parts which was written about 800 years ago.
Away from the archive and back to the library, cherished but under-appreciated tomes include one of the first Bibles translated into a Native American language. "It is one of the few to survive," said Mr Howarth. "Around 40 were sent back to England. There's no record of it coming back, but Exeter Cathedral is one of the obvious places for it to be kept."
However, the venerated collection comes at a price. Around £1 million, to be precise. That is how much fundraisers estimate is "urgently" needed to preserve the library and archive, as well as increasing access to this trove. Money would be invested on making more of its assets - or "interpretation" of the library, as Mr Howarth describes it. "We'd like proper showcases. Maybe a whole room to itself for the Exeter Book."
It is hoped the library and archive will form the basis of future exhibitions, on themes such as how the cathedral was built and the evolution of the modern written word. The planned west wing development will turn the place into more of a museum centre. The cathedral wants it to be of interest to more than merely academics and those tracing their family trees. Funding is not only needed to shine a light on these hallowed texts, however. Choral music has been central to the cathedral from the very beginning.
As a mark of how highly it is esteemed, Exeter routinely attracts more applications for choristerships than there are places available in the choir. Its 32-strong choir - 20 boys and girls, 12 gentlemen - sings more than 300 services each year. But it does not come cheap, costing £700 a day.
Around £3 million will not only sustain the quality of the choir, but help the cathedral to develop an outreach programme to work with schools and young musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds. A further £1 million, meanwhile, would pay for a restoration programme of the 17th century organ, which is used almost daily by students. But there is more to be done. The historic houses which border the cathedral green are regarded as some of the most important buildings in the South West. The Anglican cathedral itself, described by one tourist guide as "simply one of the prettiest churches anywhere", has survived the Reformation and the Second World War. Said to be the finest remaining example of Decorated Gothic, a form of architecture that flourished in England from 1270 to 1369, it is routinely dubbed one of the wonders of the Westcountry.
In total, the cathedral needs £8 million for repairs, restoration and expansion. Since it relies on the charity of others as the mainstay of its income, it is a big ask. Especially in these straitened times. So far the cathedral's third millennium campaign has attracted £3 million. It has helped pay for improvements to the fabric of the building and the west wing.
Jill Taylor, the cathedral's funding campaign director, said the credit crunch has yet to bite. Donations have ranged from modest one-off contributions to £1 million from an anonymous donor. Family trusts and Exeter-based businesses have also given generously. She said: "I am pleased to say they are continuing to support the campaign. They recognise the value of the cathedral and its place at the heart of the city. But one can never predict the future of fund-raising, as it is difficult to predict how generous people can be."
Historians and Archaeologists fight to preserve historic Nicosia
Archaeologists petition mayor to block old city projects
By Stefanos Evripidou
30 December 2008
Cyprus Mail
A GROUP of historians and archaeologists have called on the Nicosia Mayor to scrap a series of new projects planned for the old city of Nicosia. Professors and lecturers at the University of Cyprus’ Department of History and Archaeology wrote a letter to Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou, revealing their concern about the number of building projects planned for the historical centre of the old town.
Specifically, the group of academics raised objection to the proposed building of a new cathedral by the Archbishopric. "As archaeologists and historians directly interested in the protection and preservation of the cultural heritage and historical tradition of this place, we believe such a building in the historical centre of Nicosia will have very negative consequences both to the form and life of the old town," said the letter, signed by the Department’s academic staff and student representatives.
Reasons supporting this claim included the argument that a number of listed buildings forming part of the archaeological character of the old town would have to be knocked down for the new cathedral to be built. Also, the underground parking would lead to the destruction of layers of archaeological artefacts as the location lies at the core of the mediaeval town. Much historical evidence has already been destroyed as a result of new buildings, noted the academics.
A new cathedral in the historical core of the town would undermine existing monuments and buildings of significance like St John’s Church, the old Archbishopric and the Pancyprian Gymnasium. Apart from creating more traffic problems and pollution, a new cathedral would also create an imbalance in the town planning of religious sites which was set for each district as far back as during Ottoman rule.
The Department’s staff called on Mavrou to reconsider other projects planned for the capital, including the new municipality building opposite the old marketplace; the new House of Representatives on PASYDY hill, and the revamp of Eleftheria Square using the design of Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid.
Any project has to incorporate the goals of saving, preserving, protecting and showcasing the old town’s archaeological monuments and historical look, they added.
Another group of foreign archaeologists and local personalities also sent a letter to Mavrou, objecting to the plans for the redesign of Eleftheria Square.
The group are participating in the University’s workshop on Mediaeval Famagusta in memory of British archaeologist AHS (Peter) Megaw, who headed the Department of Antiquities during British rule. They argue Hadid’s plans for Eleftheria Square has artistic merit but does not fit well next to the "innovative Renaissance walls of a great mediaeval city".
"We cannot stand idly by while the capital is in danger of irreparable mutilation," said the letter.
Noting that some of the 28 signatories have over half a century experience on mediaeval Nicosia and its Renaissance walls, the group called on Mavrou to reconsider plans for the Square "and help make Nicosia the world-class showcase of mediaeval and Renaissance art and architecture that it is capable of becoming".
By Stefanos Evripidou
30 December 2008
Cyprus Mail
A GROUP of historians and archaeologists have called on the Nicosia Mayor to scrap a series of new projects planned for the old city of Nicosia. Professors and lecturers at the University of Cyprus’ Department of History and Archaeology wrote a letter to Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou, revealing their concern about the number of building projects planned for the historical centre of the old town.
Specifically, the group of academics raised objection to the proposed building of a new cathedral by the Archbishopric. "As archaeologists and historians directly interested in the protection and preservation of the cultural heritage and historical tradition of this place, we believe such a building in the historical centre of Nicosia will have very negative consequences both to the form and life of the old town," said the letter, signed by the Department’s academic staff and student representatives.
Reasons supporting this claim included the argument that a number of listed buildings forming part of the archaeological character of the old town would have to be knocked down for the new cathedral to be built. Also, the underground parking would lead to the destruction of layers of archaeological artefacts as the location lies at the core of the mediaeval town. Much historical evidence has already been destroyed as a result of new buildings, noted the academics.
A new cathedral in the historical core of the town would undermine existing monuments and buildings of significance like St John’s Church, the old Archbishopric and the Pancyprian Gymnasium. Apart from creating more traffic problems and pollution, a new cathedral would also create an imbalance in the town planning of religious sites which was set for each district as far back as during Ottoman rule.
The Department’s staff called on Mavrou to reconsider other projects planned for the capital, including the new municipality building opposite the old marketplace; the new House of Representatives on PASYDY hill, and the revamp of Eleftheria Square using the design of Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid.
Any project has to incorporate the goals of saving, preserving, protecting and showcasing the old town’s archaeological monuments and historical look, they added.
Another group of foreign archaeologists and local personalities also sent a letter to Mavrou, objecting to the plans for the redesign of Eleftheria Square.
The group are participating in the University’s workshop on Mediaeval Famagusta in memory of British archaeologist AHS (Peter) Megaw, who headed the Department of Antiquities during British rule. They argue Hadid’s plans for Eleftheria Square has artistic merit but does not fit well next to the "innovative Renaissance walls of a great mediaeval city".
"We cannot stand idly by while the capital is in danger of irreparable mutilation," said the letter.
Noting that some of the 28 signatories have over half a century experience on mediaeval Nicosia and its Renaissance walls, the group called on Mavrou to reconsider plans for the Square "and help make Nicosia the world-class showcase of mediaeval and Renaissance art and architecture that it is capable of becoming".
Large Byzantine coin find in Bulgaria
12th Century Coins Are Biggest Numismatic Find near Sevlievo
1 January 2009
Bulgarian News Agency
Three thousand coins, minted by five Byzantine emperors through the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century, constitute the biggest numismatic find, discovered near Sevlievo during the past 30 years. BTA learnt this by Sevlievo Historical Museum Director Naiden Petrov.
The coins were found in a pottery vessel in 1993 during excavations of the medieval town of Hotalich, a monument of culture of national relevance. They were discovered at a depth of 40 cm.
According to historians, the coins are indicative of the intensive commodity exchange between Hotalich, on the one part, and Byzantium and other settlements on Bulgarian territory, on the other.
1 January 2009
Bulgarian News Agency
Three thousand coins, minted by five Byzantine emperors through the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century, constitute the biggest numismatic find, discovered near Sevlievo during the past 30 years. BTA learnt this by Sevlievo Historical Museum Director Naiden Petrov.
The coins were found in a pottery vessel in 1993 during excavations of the medieval town of Hotalich, a monument of culture of national relevance. They were discovered at a depth of 40 cm.
According to historians, the coins are indicative of the intensive commodity exchange between Hotalich, on the one part, and Byzantium and other settlements on Bulgarian territory, on the other.
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