This museum was established in 1839 by Demetrios Pierides as a protective answer to the region’s notorious tomb raiders and illegal selling of precious artefacts from the area.
The collection, expanded by Pierides’ descendents, is housed in the family mansion, built in 1825. It features artefacts from all over Cyprus, with detailed explanations in English. The museum’s six rooms are arranged chronologically and present a comprehensive history of Cyprus.
The Pierides houses neolithic exhibits like the famous ceramic howling man, dating to c 5500 BC. If water is poured into the seated figure’s mouth it will drain from his phallus. Archaeologists have debated whether the figure had a religious or a secular function, but no consensus has been reached.
The exhibits then wander through the Mycenaean and Achaean periods, the Iron Age, the Roman occupation, and Byzantine, Crusader, Lusignan, Venetian and Ottoman periods.
The collection also showcases intricate Greek and Roman glassware and offers fine examples of weaving, embroidery, woodcarvings and traditional costumes associated with Cypriot folk art.
