Early and Middle Bronze Age 2500 – 1600 BC

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Current: Early and Middle Bronze Age 2500 – 1600 BC

Early and Middle Bronze Age 2500 – 1600 BC

Two lugless bowls of red polished I ware and two knob-lug bowls of red polished II-III ware, Cyprus, 1940:22

The earliest pieces in the collection of the National Museum of Ireland date to the beginning of the Bronze Age. Although this period is characterised by the introduction of bronze-working technology to Cyprus, this collection is entirely ceramic. Most of the vessels shown here were probably recovered from tombs. A typical Early Bronze Age tomb consisted of a rock-cut chamber accessed by a short passage.

Red polished pottery was very popular in the Early Bronze Age. The vessels echoing the shapes of animals were probably used exclusively for ritual purposes. In the Middle Bronze Age white painted pottery became more common, and the preference was for smaller sized vessels. Small bottles and flasks were probably used to hold perfumed oils.

Throughout this period pottery was made by hand without the use of the potter’s wheel. This allowed for greater freedom of expression which is evident from the pieces on display.

Towards the end of this period, Cyprus began to trade widely with countries in the Near East. These trade links developed further in the Late Bronze Age.

Early and Middle Bronze Age 2500 – 1600 BC

Late Bronze Age 1600 to 1050 BC

Cypro Geometric Period 1050 to 750 BC

Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical Periods 1, 750 to 310 BC

National Museum
of Ireland

Early and Middle Bronze Age 2500 – 1600 BC

Late Bronze Age 1600 to 1050 BC

Cypro Geometric Period 1050 to 750 BC

Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical Periods 1, 750 to 310 BC

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