Pierides Archaeological Foundation Museum

Dimitrios Pierides started his conservation efforts in 1839, as an attempt to salvage artefacts from notorious tomb raiders. Most famous among them was Luigi Palma di Cesnola, Larnaka's first US consul, who spirited away a large number of artefacts, which are now in New York's Metropolitan Museum. The collection was then expanded by Pierides' descendants, resulting in the well-coordinated Pierides Archaeological Foundation Museum, which is housed in Pierides' old residence, an elegant mansion.

The Pierides Archaeological Foundation Museum competes vigorously with the state-operated Archaeological Museum and features artefacts and finds from all over Cyprus, which have detailed explanations in English. There are six rooms in the museum, each arranged chronologically, and the exhibition includes a comprehensive history of Cyprus. The first room, on your left as you enter the building, houses exhibits from the Neolithic period. Here you'll find the famous figure of the howling man sitting on a stool, dating back to 5500-5000 BC. The purpose of this statue, found in Souskiou in western Cyprus, is rather ambiguous, although it is evident that water could be poured into his head, which would then come out of his schlong. There is no evidence to suggest whether it was used for religious or secular function.

Room 4 is devoted to a fascinating collection of Roman glassware, and room 5 is given over to a display of Cypriot folk art, with weaving and embroidery, woodcarvings and traditional costumes. The Mycenaean/Achaean period, the Iron Age, the Roman occupation, through to the later Byzantine, Crusader, Lusignan, Venetian and Ottoman periods are also very well documented.