The Swedish Cyprus Expedition
After visiting Cyprus twice and carrying out preliminary investigations, Einar Gjerstad, Lecturer in Classical Archeology and Ancient History at Uppsala University, proposed in 1927 that extensive archaeological research work should be started in Cyprus. On his initiative, the Swedish Cyprus Expedition was formed, consisting of the archaeologists Erik Sjöqvist and Alfred Westholm, the architect John Lindros, and Einar Gjerstad himself, as excavation leader.
The excavations began in September 1927 and continued until February 1931. The results were published in 1934 and in that same year, a number of finds from the expedition's excavations were sent to several institutions and museums in Sweden: in Malmö, Lund, Stockholm and Uppsala. The finds that came to Uppsala are from 10 different graves at Amathus, Enkomi, Lapithos and Marion, as well as from the cult sites of Ajia Irini and Kition.
Many of the objects from the collection will be displayed in the Gustavianum, when the university museum reopens after the ongoing renovation. Parts of the collection are also available to researchers and students at The historical collections at EBC, Center for Evolutionary Biology.
The Swedish Cyprus Expedition. Excavations of Grave 2 in Enkomi, 1930.
Mycenaean ‘Chariot krater’ from Grave 3 in Enkomi. Dated to the Late Helladic period (ca. 1400-1300 BC)
Ceramic jug from Grave 2 in Enkomi. ca. 1600-1450 BC
Terracotta figure from Ajia Irini. ca. 750-475 BC
Want to know more about the collection?
As a private individual, you can access the objects in our collections in various ways. Look out for our events, visit the Gustavianum's various exhibitions or search for the objects on the digital platform Alvin. If you have specific questions, you can contact our antiquarians for each collection.