Picture details

Last modified: 2020-12-21 09:57:56

A very old one antique crotal from Cyprus;
Weight : 86.1gr
Size : 35mm diam
origin Cyprus
The bell was found on the territory of ancient Paphos, know as Augusta Claudia Flavia Paphos, Cyprus chapital and it was cast in the first century B.C.

Antique bronze crotal from Cyprus - Pre Roman Empire period

I'm glad to share with you a wonderfull news: I won a new auction!
The matter is a new pcs in my bells collection, but a very old one antique crotal from Cyprus, cast in bronze during Pre Roman empire in the first century B.C.

Few words about those times and place:
In the Roman inland lake, which the Mediterranean had become, Cyprus had little strategic significance. In 22 B.C. after the general consolidation in the east, Cyprus exchanged its status from an [imperial]- i.e. under the direct administration of Augustus (Octavian) and under military occupation- to a [senatorial] province. Separated from Cilicia in 27 B.C., Cyprus was ruled by a pro-consul as civil governor. Its capital was still Paphos, -Augusta Claudia Flavia Paphos-, which had steadily grown in importance since the Ptolemies as a political and religious centre and, as a result of the silting-up of the harbour of Salamis, one of the major ports. Paphos, Amathus, Salamis, and Lapethos each formed and administrative region. With municipal autonomy, elected officials and a considerable degree of independence in religious and cultural matters, the island enjoyed greater freedom than under Egyptian rule. The -Koinon- of the different cities, which was still chiefly an institution for the advance of the cult of the Emperor and for the organization of games, like the Roman senate, had the right to issue bronze coinage.