Cypro-Classical Stone Fishing Net Weight

Cypro-Classical I Period, c. 475–400 BC, Republic of Cyprus

This intriguing ancient fishing net weight, crafted during the Cypro-Classical I period, provides a tangible connection to the everyday life of coastal communities in ancient Cyprus. Made from a coarse, rounded stone with a prominent central hole, it was designed to anchor fishing nets, showcasing the resourcefulness and ingenuity of ancient Cypriot craftsmanship.

The island of Cyprus, strategically located at the crossroads of the Aegean, Anatolia, the Levant, and Egypt, has long been a hub of maritime activity and trade. Its position in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea made it a vital link in ancient commercial networks, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and technology. Fishing was an essential livelihood for coastal populations, and tools like this weight were crucial for ensuring successful catches.

During the Cypro-Classical period, Cyprus was under Persian control but maintained a distinct cultural identity. Following this era, the island experienced a brief period of independence under Alexander the Great before its annexation by Ptolemaic Egypt. These historical transitions influenced the island's economic practices, artistic expressions, and daily tools like this net weight. This stone fishing net weight is a rare and evocative artifact, encapsulating the maritime traditions and resourceful lifestyle of ancient Cypriots. It serves as both a functional object of the past and a window into the interplay of culture and commerce that defined the island's history.

Excellent condition. Intact. Light mineral encrustation. Museum number: S.R: 6116/75. Size approx. 12,5cm x 10,5cm x 5,5cm.

NB! Comes with original documents, including Licence to Export Antiquities No. 007222, issued under Antiquities Law, Cap. 43, Form Antiq. 1. Republic of Cyprus, Department of Antiquities, dated and signed Director of Antiquities 29. March 1979.

Provenance: 

Cyprus Archaeological Museum, Nicosia, Cyprus.

acquired from the above, 1979

with danish private collection

References and further reading:

Pottery of Geometric, Archaic and Classical periods in Cyprus,  Anna, P. Georgiadou, Kyprios Character. History, Archaeology & Numismatics of Ancient Cyprus (kyprioscharacter.eie.gr/en/t/A0)

Pottery Types, Cypro-Geometric to Cypro-Classical, Einar Gjerstad, Opuscula Atheniensia. 7 (7): pp. 105–122, 1960.

Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus, John L. Myres, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1914.

Swedish Cyprus Expedition IV, 2. The Cypro-geometric, Cypro-archaic and Cypro-classical Periods, Einar Gjerstad, Stockholm: Swedish Cyprus Expedition, 1948.