Last Thursday night the Hellenic Museum hosted a special guest lecture presented by Dr Jennifer Webb on Ancient Cypriot Pottery.
The talk presented a brief illustration of Cypriot pottery from the Neolithic to the Iron Age, with a focus on the Peter Mitrakas and Mary-Ann Savas Collection, as well as items form the Benaki Collection on loan at the Hellenic Museum.
Dr Jennifer Webb is Adjunct Professor at La Trobe University and Senior Research Associate at the University of Cyprus.
She has deviated many years to archaeological research on Cyprus and has co-directed excavations on the island and published collection of Cypriot antiquities in Australia and the UK.
She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and of the Society of Antiquaries, London and in 2017 was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
On the evening, Hellenic Museum patron Mary-Ann Savas spoke of the origins of the collection and her and her husband, Peter Mitrakas’ ongoing passion of collecting antiquities.
The exhibition, “Cypriot Pottery – of the Bronze and Iron Ages” is currently showing at the Hellenic Museum.
The collection of 48 well-preserved pieces ranging from simple bowls and jugs, to large scale storage and funerary amphora, provide insights into the material, culture and lifestyle of the ancient Cypriots.
The collection, on loan from the Peter Mitrakas and Mary-Ann Savas Collection, has been divided into three separate time periods of Cypriot history including the Bronze Age, Geometric Period and Archaic Period.
The Hellenic Museum is open daily from 10am – 4pm and is located at 280 William Street, Melbourne.
