The Plenary Session of the Parliament observed a one-minute silence in memory of the archaeologist, professor and founder of the Archaeology Research Unit of the University of Cyprus, Vassos Karagiorgis.
In her pre-agenda report, Speaker of the House of Representatives Anita Demetriou said that the leading archaeologist, professor and founder of the Archaeology Research Unit of the University of Cyprus, left his indelible mark in the field of archaeology. She noted that Vasos Karagiorgis passed away on December 21, 2021, a full day and the funeral service was held, at public expense, on December 27, 2021.
Referring to the life and work of the deceased, she said that he was born in Trikomo, Famagusta and studied, with a scholarship from the Cypriot government, classical and practical archaeology in London, where he received a PhD. In 1952 he was appointed Assistant Curator of the Cyprus Museum, and from 1963 until his retirement in 1989 he was Director of the Department of Antiquities. Under his direction, the Department flourished and became very creative and he identified his name with the great excavation of Salamis, where for 22 years he excavated to bring to light one of the largest theatres in the Eastern Mediterranean, where important works of ancient Greek literature and beyond were to be brought to life. This major excavation demonstrated the Greek character of Salamis, which has since become a national symbol. Subsequently, the excavations in Salamis brought to light even more impressive antiquities, such as the royal necropolis and Homeric tombs of the 8th and 7th centuries BC of particular importance for archaeology. The name of this great archaeologist was also associated with the excavations at ancient Kition and its magnificent temples, at Pyla and the Late Bronze Age settlements, at Pentaya, Kokkinokremmos and elsewhere.
"The man with a profound knowledge of archaeology contributed to the establishment of archaeological museums in all provinces, as well as to the organisation of archaeological conferences, in the context of which eminent foreign archaeologists were given the opportunity to conduct excavations in Cyprus, promoting the country abroad and placing it at the centre of international academic discussions," he said.
He added that Vasos Karagiorgis also served as Director of the Anastasios G. Leventis", associate professor at the Cyprus Institute, as well as a member of the four-member Founding Committee of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, being one of the four transitional full members of the Academy since 2019.
He was also a prolific author, having published dozens of books and hundreds of articles on Cypriot archaeology, receiving numerous awards for this academic work. In May 2008, the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias awarded him the title of Brigadier General of the Order of Honour for his contribution to archaeology.
"A man with excellent scientific training, intellectual culture, deep knowledge of ancient sources, but also a charismatic, inventive, visionary man with great leadership abilities, he bequeaths to the Cypriot and the world academic community a huge body of work, an estate for ever. At the same time, he leaves an unfulfilled void in the academic community in Cyprus and internationally," she said.
Finally, the Speaker expressed her sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
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