Transcript 0:01 · most of us are familiar with the 0:02 · Terracotta Army of Canan in China those 0:05 · thousands of life-sized Warriors 0:07 · standing in silent formation guarding 0:09 · the tomb of Emperor chin Shi hang for 0:12 · over two 0:13 · Millennia but few know that halfway 0:15 · across the world on a sundrenched 0:17 · Mediterranean island lies another Army 0:20 · of clay figures that Rivals its Chinese 0:22 · counterpart in both scale and historical 0:25 · significance in the heart of Cyprus in a 0:28 · small village called Agia ini known in 0:31 · Turkish as Acton is an extraordinary 0:33 · archaeological Discovery was made that 0:35 · would reshape our understanding of 0:37 · ancient Mediterranean culture this 0:40 · picturesque location in the kirania 0:41 · district nestled in moru Bay and 0:44 · currently under the de facto control of 0:46 · the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus 0:48 · is home to what has come to be known as 0:50 · the cypriate Terracotta 0:52 · Army Our Story begins in the summer of 0:55 · 1929 when the local priest of Agia irini 0:59 · Papa procopio made an unexpected visit 1:01 · to the museum in nikosia he had 1:04 · apprehended a looter in his field and 1:06 · brought with him a curious object the 1:08 · upper part of a sixth Century basy 1:10 · terracotta statue this seemingly small 1:13 · incident would lead to one of the most 1:15 · significant archaeological finds in 1:18 · Cyprus the artifact immediately caught 1:20 · the attention of the Swedish Cyprus 1:22 · Expedition led by the archaeologist inar 1:25 · gead recognizing the potential 1:28 · importance of the discovery gear ad 1:30 · swiftly requested excavation rights and 1:32 · began work in procopio's field in 1:34 · November of the same year what the 1:36 · Swedish team uncovered was beyond their 1:39 · wildest 1:40 · expectations just half a meter below the 1:42 · Sandy surface they discovered an 1:44 · astonishing site around 2,000 terracotta 1:48 · figures arranged in a semicircle 1:50 · reminiscent of a theater 1:52 · formation these figures dating from 1:55 · between 650 and 500 BC represented a 1:58 · diverse array of characters 2:00 · priests Warriors common people and 2:03 · animals the sheer variety and scale of 2:06 · the Figures were impressive with the 2:08 · largest being 2:09 · life-sized as the excavation progressed 2:12 · it became clear that the site was not 2:14 · just a repository for these figures but 2:16 · a sanctuary with a long and complex 2:21 · history the archaeologists discovered 2:24 · that the AIA arini Sanctuary had been in 2:27 · uninterrupted use from the late Bronze 2:29 · Age around 1200 BC to the end of the 2:32 · cypriate Archaic Period the earliest 2:34 · phase of the sanctuary consisted of a 2:37 · complex of rectangular houses made of 2:39 · mud bricks on solid Stone 2:41 · foundations these houses were arranged 2:43 · around a large open courtyard with 2:45 · different areas serving specific 2:48 · purposes the Western and Northern houses 2:51 · likely served as residences and sto 2:53 · rooms for the priests while those in the 2:55 · center and South were used for cult 2:57 · purposes the complex housed cult object 2:59 · object s such as offering tables large 3:02 · pitho storage jars libation vessels a 3:06 · stone cult ax and terracotta bull 3:08 · figures the nature of the offerings and 3:11 · the arrangement of the objects suggest 3:13 · that the cult was dedicated to agrarian 3:15 · deities who protected crops and 3:17 · livestock symbolizing fertility and 3:20 · abundance over time the ancient 3:22 · Sanctuary was covered and buried 3:24 · underground and a new one was erected on 3:26 · top this new Sanctuary differed from the 3:29 · previous one by being an irregularly 3:31 · shaped open tominos surrounded by a 3:34 · perbos priest's Garden or Orchard 3:37 · numerous terra cotta offerings mainly 3:39 · bull Figures were found in this new 3:41 · enclosure around an altar covered in 3:44 · layers of Ash and charred remains 3:46 · suggesting the practice of blood 3:48 · sacrifices during the cypro geometric 3 3:51 · period the sanctuary underwent another 3:54 · transformation the walls of the perbos 3:56 · were raised and a new rectangular altar 3:59 · was erected displacing the old offerings 4:01 · to a nearby deposit the votive offerings 4:04 · also evolved now introducing 4:06 · anthropomorphic figures and minotaurs 4:08 · alongside the traditional animal figures 4:11 · indicating a growing 4:12 · anthropomorphization of the venerated 4:14 · deity who also began to be seen as a 4:17 · warrior Divinity the peak of the AA 4:20 · irini Sanctuary came during the cypro 4:22 · archaic AAR period when the temos was 4:25 · expanded to accommodate more structures 4:27 · two of these in the southern part 4:29 · probably served as enclosures for sacred 4:32 · trees a feature reminiscent of Manan 4:34 · culture here figures with bull masks 4:37 · interpreted as priests were found 4:39 · providing clues about the Cults rituals 4:42 · which included music as suggested by the 4:44 · numerous figurines with tambourines and 4:46 · flutes the offerings continued to be 4:48 · mostly terracotta figures arranged in 4:50 · semicircles around the altar with the 4:52 · smallest ones placed closest to the 4:54 · Altar and the largest ones behind so 4:56 · that all were visible during ceremonies 4:59 · the deity to whom the sanctuary was 5:01 · dedicated and under what form it was 5:03 · worshiped remains unknown archaeologists 5:07 · believe that an oval stone or Beetle 5:09 · found in the most recent layers may have 5:11 · been the cult object being transferred 5:14 · from one phase of the sanctuary to 5:15 · another as it 5:19 · expanded at the beginning of the cypro 5:22 · archaic 2 period the sanctuary was 5:24 · repeatedly flooded leading to its 5:26 · eventual abandonment around 500 BC 5:30 · however there was a brief Revival of the 5:32 · cult in the first century BC although on 5:34 · a much smaller scale and with fewer 5:37 · resources the site fell into Oblivion 5:40 · until Papa procopio unknowingly 5:42 · cultivated corn over the ancient 5:44 · terracotta sculptures the lutters 5:47 · however must have known that something 5:49 · valuable was buried there their 5:51 · fortuitous Discovery thus led to the 5:53 · revelation of one of cypresses and the 5:55 · Mediterraneans most important sets of 5:58 · archaeological artifacts 6:03 · in 1931 half of the objects found were 6:06 · sent to Sweden with the permission of 6:08 · the British colonial government 6:10 · therefore many of the Terracotta figures 6:12 · discovered at AGA irini are now in the 6:14 · metal haves Mite or the Museum of 6:17 · Mediterranean and near Eastern 6:18 · Antiquities in Stockholm where they are 6:20 · displayed as a testament to the 6:22 · sanctuary's Glorious past cyprus's Rich 6:25 · cultural heritage and the work of 6:27 · Swedish 6:28 · archaeologists the other half remains in 6:30 · Cyprus housed in the museum in nikosia 6:33 · on the island of 6:34 · Cyprus this division of the finds 6:37 · reflects the complex history of Cyprus 6:39 · itself an island that has long been at 6:41 · the intersection of different cultures 6:43 · and Powers it also raises questions 6:46 · about the ownership and display of 6:47 · cultural heritage that continue to be 6:49 · debated in the archaeological Community 6:52 · the Terracotta Army of AGA arini stands 6:55 · as one of the most remarkable 6:57 · archaeological discoveries in the 6:58 · Mediterranean 7:00 · its significance lies not only in the 7:01 · sheer number and quality of the 7:03 · Terracotta figures but also in the 7:05 · insights it provides into the religious 7:07 · practices and artistic achievements of 7:09 · ancient Cyprus moreover the Agia irini 7:12 · finds showcase the skill of ancient 7:14 · cypriate artisans in creating 7:16 · large-scale terracotta sculptures this 7:19 · challenges previous assumptions about 7:21 · the capabilities of local Craftsman and 7:24 · highlights cyprus's important role in 7:26 · the artistic developments of the ancient 7:28 · Mediterranean world 7:30 · from its accidental Discovery in a 7:32 · farmer field to its current status as a 7:34 · world-renowned treasure the Terracotta 7:36 · Army of AIA arini continues to Captivate 7:39 · archaeologists historians and the public 7:42 · alike as we Marvel at these ancient 7:44 · figures we're AED by the power of 7:47 · archaeology to connect us with the past 7:49 · offering insights into the beliefs 7:51 · Artistry and daily life of ancient 7:53 · Cyprus and its place in The Wider 7:55 · Mediterranean 7:57 · world the tale of AIA 8:00 · is also a reminder of the surprises that 8:02 · may still lie beneath our feet who knows 8:05 · what other wonders might be Unearthed on 8:07 · this island of Aphrodite this Crossroads 8:09 · of 8:10 · civilizations in the end the Terra Cotta 8:12 · Army of AIA arini stands not just as a 8:15 · collection of ancient artifacts but as a 8:17 · bridge across time connecting us to the 8:20 · hopes fears and beliefs of people who 8:22 · lived thousands of years ago thank you 8:24 · for joining us on this fascinating 8:26 · Journey Through Time exploring the 8:28 · remarkable ter otta Army of AIA 8:31 · arini we hope this glimpse into ancient 8:34 · Cyprus has sparked your curiosity and 8:36 · deepened your appreciation for the 8:38 · wonders of archaeology if you've enjoyed 8:41 · this exploration of history please 8:43 · consider subscribing to our channel for 8:45 · more intriguing stories from the ancient 8:47 · world don't forget to hit the 8:49 · notification Bell to stay updated on our 8:51 · latest videos your support helps us 8:54 · continue to unearth and share these 8:56 · Hidden Treasures of human 8:58 · history until until next time keep 9:00 · wondering keep exploring and remember 9:03 · the past is always closer than we think
Wow, very cool- hadnt heard if ti before- nice find
Well, if I’d had known this was that big of deal, I can fire up the kiln and make my own and bury them in my backyard. Of course I’ll be glad to sell anyone one of them . . . for a price.
Apparently, ancient Cypriot kings were expecting a big battle with ancient Chinese rulers in the afterlife.
Even back then, the Chinese were a PITA.
Made in China?.....,..
My Terracotta planters are plotting against me. Probably because I planned to turn one into an emergency candle heater.
I've got a few of my own. Spoilin' fer a fight...