Artemis Papatheodorou

@artemis-p

Ottoman & Mediterranean history / History of archaeology Marie Sklodowska Curie Global Fellow; Research project: Modern Mediterranean Archaeological Regimes in a Global Context (MMARe) Co-editor: Bulletin of the History of Archaeology

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Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· 7d

The long 19th c. was the century of legal codification! While #Mediterranean countries promulgated antiquities laws already in the late 18th c., #France (the country that pioneered the code & lent many of its codes to other countries) adopted its first heritage law in 1887. Interesting? #MSCA #MMARE

First page of "Loi pour la conservation des monuments et objets d'art ayant un intérêt historique et artistique."
In: Bulletin Monumental, tome
53, année 1887. pp. 162-214;
doi : https://doi.org/10.3406/bulmo.1887.10676
https://www.persee.fr/doc/bulmo_0007-473x_1887_num_53_1_10676

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· 9d

Another antiquities law adopted in the summer! At the very end of July 1912, the Ottomans adopted the Regulation regarding the Preservation of Monuments. More of a response to increasing pressure on heritage, this completed their protection regime for antiquities. #MSCA #MMARe #HistoryOfArchaeology

The front page of the 'Muhafaza-ı Abidat Hakkında Nizamname'
İstanbul - Matbaa-ı Amire
1333

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· 13d

#Mediterranean antiquities continue to inspire artists! In this work by Basquiat, a Venus stands out on the left panel. Do you happen to know what '1933', a year within the #MAARe time period, represents? I have been wondering since viewing the painting yesterday... #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Jean-Michel Basquiat
UNTITLED, 1983
acrylic and oilstick on canvas
Painting
244 by 191 cm. 96 by 71 1/4 in
Photo and label info source: https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/UNTITLED/FBC1C62E6C4361F2

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· 21d

Inter alia, #MMARe studies antiquities legislation in precisely the many polities in the long 19th c. Greek world. This volume could help us better interpret archaeological developments in them. It is high time we got a book like this! #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology #Mediterranean #Greece #Cyprus

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· 23d

Looking for help! Do you know where I could find (ideally a digital) copy of Hazine-i evrak (kavanin ve nizamat), No 2, Divan-ı Hümayun, Nizamat defteri, 10? I've looked everywhere I could think of to no avail... Thank you so much! 🥸 #MSCA #MMARe #HistoryOfArchaeology #Mediterranean #Ottoman

Photo by Pars Sahin on Unsplash
https://unsplash.com/@byadoniaa?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText
https://unsplash.com/photos/grayscale-photography-of-person-covering-face-jq00t2qSnwo?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· 28d

Quiz time! 😃 In 1878, the administration of Cyprus passed to the British. Which law regulated antiquities on the island by the end of the century? Any thoughts? Please, share them in the comments! 👇️ #MSCA #MMARe #HistoryOfArchaeology #Mediterranean #Cyprus

John Codrington (1898-1991)
St. Nicholas Cathedral
Watercolour, ca. 1923
PNT_00111
From the collection of CVAR-Severis Foundation, Nicosia, Cyprus
Photo by Artemis Papatheodorou (May 2026)

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jul 14

We tend to think of 1923 as the year all things Ottoman came to an end. And yet, the 1906 Ottoman antiquities law remained in force for decades after the establishment of the Turkish Republic . Did you know that? Let me know in the comments! #MSCA #MMARe #HistoryOfArchaeology #Mediterranean

The first page of the 1906 Ottoman nizamname on antiquities.

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jul 10

A wonderful meeting today with my Ca' Foscari University supervisor, Prof. Matteo Legrenzi! We talked business (and a bit leisure): the #MMARe project progress so far, upcoming research and conferences, publication plans, and more. #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology #Mediterranean

Professor Matteo Legrenzi (left) and Dr. Artemis Papatheodorou (right) meeting at Grand Central to discuss the MMARe project on July 10, 2026.

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jul 9

Did you know that all the antiquities laws of the Cretan State were promulgated in the summer? Not that it matters... But being in July and working on their translation, this drew my attention. The #MSCA-funed #MMARe project will make these translations available to everyone! #HistoryOfArcheology

The first page of the antiquities law of the Cretan State from 1901. Source: Official Gazette of the Cretan State

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jul 7

Interested in stories of looted works of art during WWII? "L' opera da ritrovare" is an essential starting point for the case of Italy: lists of objects per collection; many photographs; and information on provenance. #MSCA #MMARe #HistoryOfArchaeology

The cover page of "L' opera da ritrovare"

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jul 2

Today, we celebrated 4th of July with a picnic @columbiauniversity.bsky.social. Happy 250th anniversary, America! #America250 Columbia University is the #MSCA-funded #MMARe project host institution for the first 2 years of research providing valuable support & resources in the #HistoryOfArchaeology

MMARe researcher, Dr Artemis Papatheodorou, with Roar-ee the Lion, the Columbia University mascot, at the 4th of July picnic on Morningside Campus, July 2, 2026
Please, do not reproduce without permission

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· May 25

The Cretan State (1898-1913), that marked the period of autonomy under the Ottomans for Crete, promulgated an antiquities law in June 1899, less than a year after its establishment. This is how important antiquities were! Stay tuned for more... #MSCA #MMARe #HistoryOfArchaeology

The first page of the Cretan antiquities law (1899).

The Historical Archive of Crete in Chania where one can find the archive of the Cretan State.
Photo by Artemis Papatheodorou (25.5.2026)

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· May 21

Did you know that the Cyprus Museum dates to the 1880s & the period of British rule on the island? It was the single most important specialized institution in the management of antiquities in Cyprus & its archive is a key source for understanding the Cypriot #HistoryOfArchaeology. #MSCA #MMARe

The facade of the Cyprus Museum today.
Photo by Artemis Papatheodorou (20.5.2026)

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· May 18

This is the archive of the Greek Archaeological Service in Athens. Impressively rich and with a polite & most helpful staff. My thanks to its Director, Ms. Athina Chatzidimitriou, & to Ms. Vasiliki Daiaki for facilitating my #MSCA #MMARe research in the #HistoryOfArchaeology.

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· May 13

At the fantastic ecole thematique "Itinerances" by Mercedes Volait & Angelos Dalachanis where I delivered a lecture on the Ottoman antiquities legislation & the place of ordinary people in it, and organized a workshop on Ottoman Greek vernacular archaeologies. #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Artemis Papatheodorou presenting in the context of the ecole thematique "Itinerances," at the French School at Athens, 13 May 2026.
https://itinerances.sciencesconf.org/
📷️ Mara Verykokou

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· May 7

Spoliation has been around for hundreds of years. The modern Mediterranean laws on antiquities sought to end it. Built largely with ancient slabs, the medieval church of Panagia Gorgoepekoos adorns Athens! Can we condemn a practice while admiring its end results? #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

The church of Panagia Gorgoepekoos, also known as the Little Cathedral, in Athens.
Photo by Artemis Papatheodorou (7 May 2026)

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Apr 16

CfP: TRAVELLERS IN OTTOMAN LANDS has a theme dedicated to "Travellers at classical and archaeological sites" and you would get to be a traveller in modern Thessaloniki between 21 and 24 April 2027! More info: networks.h-net.org/group/announ...

The White Tower, Thessaloniki.

Photo by Leandros Papakarmezis on Unsplash
https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-and-green-concrete-building-under-white-sky-during-daytime-xpf3eKyZMes?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Apr 14

I wish I could be in Athens for this talk! "Archéologues et épigraphistes au Proche-Orient : aventure et érudition (XIXe- XXe s.)" by P.-L. Gatier (#CNRS) National Library of Greece, 17 April 2026, 18:00 www.efa.gr/events/arche... Shared for reference only #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Flyer of the lecture series "(Re)searching the Orient" by the French School at Athens
@efathenes.bsky.social

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Apr 13

Grateful to the organizers, presenters & participants at #MAOW2026 for the in-depth exchanges & the opportunities to learn! I presented on the antiquities laws in three Ottoman island, Samos, Crete and Cyprus, in the long 19th century, as part of my #MSCA funded project, #MMARe. 📷️ Luis R. Alba

Dr Artemis Papatheodorou at the podium presenting on "Archaeology and Ottoman Insularities in the long nineteenth century."
Photo by Luis R. Alba

Dr Artemis Papatheodorou in exchange with discussant Dr Alex Seggerman.
Photo by Luis R. Alba

Family photo at the conclusion of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Ottomanist Workshop (MAOW 2026).
Photo by Luis R. Alba

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Apr 8

Today we mark #InternationalProvenanceResearchDay - #TagderProvenienzforschung! Thanks to funding by #MSCA, #MMARe contributes to provenance research & the #HistoryOfArchaeology also by providing a corpus of English translations of the Mediterranean archaeological laws from 1789 to 1945. Stay tuned!

A page from the Ottoman regulation on antiquities (1906) and its draft translation by Dr. Artemis Papatheodorou developed as part of her MSCA-funded research project MMARe - Modern Mediterranean Archaeological Regimes in a Global Context. By its conclusion, MMARe will have provided all the key Mediterranean laws on archaeology adopted between 1789 and 1945 in English translation.

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Apr 2

Popular twins! Yesterday NASA launched Artemis II to the Moon. The ancient Greek moon goddess Artemis had a twin brother, Apollo, a sun god. A key book through which Ottoman Turkish readers were introduced to western-style history of art was titled "Apollo." #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Salomon Reinach; translated by Vahid
Apollo: tarih-i umumî-i sınaât (Apollo: a general history of the arts)
Matbaa-ı amire, Istanbul, 1330 R (1914)
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Atatürk Library, Rare Works
For an English version: https://archive.org/details/apolloillustrate00rein/page/n7/mode/2up

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Mar 24

On #GreekIndependenceDay let's dig into Greek #HistoryOfArchaeology: In 1834, newly independent Greece adopted one of the first laws on antiquities in the world. But where has the Frankish tower of the Acropolis shown in this 1842 photo gone today? #MMARe attempts to answer this. #MSCA

Western Approach to the Acropolis, Athens; Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey; French; 1842; Not on view

Girault’s panoramic view of the famed ancient Greek Acropolis is dominated by the tall building known as the Frankish Tower, one of many Byzantine, Frankish, and Ottoman structures added to the hilltop citadel over the centuries. After Greek independence (1832), most non-Classical features were cleared away—when Girault visited, much of the site was covered in rubble—and the tower was demolished in 1875. In Girault’s mirror-image view, the tower is flanked by the Parthenon (on the left) and the Propylaea.

For this and more information, check the Metropolitan Museum of Art https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/702991

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Mar 10

New on insular archaeologies... Archaeological Lives - Colonial Intrigues and My Dismissal as Director of Antiquities A Memoir of Cyprus in the 1930s By John R. Hilton Edited by Nicholas Stanley-Price www.archaeopress.com/Archaeopress... Shared for reference only #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Cover of Archaeological Lives - Colonial Intrigues and My Dismissal as Director of Antiquities
A Memoir of Cyprus in the 1930s
By John R. Hilton
Edited by Nicholas Stanley-Price

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Feb 18

CfA: Session 2A, “Digging into the archives: new perspectives on documentary legacies in the history of archaeology,” @UISPP Int'l Congress, Poznań, Poland, 31 Aug to 4 Sep 2026. I won't make it but maybe you can... Submission deadline: 28 Feb For reference only #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Feb 12

Alessia Zambon, “Ten Feet Under”: Western Travellers and the Excavation of Early 19th-Century Athens @ The Center for the Ancient Mediterranean, Columbia U, & online, 27 Feb. 2026, 11:00 AM (ET) forms.gle/2AEXzD9yifkN... Shared for reference only #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Invitation with more information, including the abstract, for Alessia Zambon's talk.

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Feb 5

Hybrid talk! Edhem Eldem, "How Local Can You Really Go? Archaeology In The Ottoman Lands In The Long Nineteenth Century," Columbia Center for Archaeology, 13 Feb. 2026 at 4.30pm (NY time) archaeology.columbia.edu Shared for reference only; opinions not my own. #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Sketch of antiquities discovered at Ottoman Ashkelon (from the announcement website)

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jan 29

Brown Üniversitesi Profesörü Felipe Rojas’ın "Roma Döneminde Anadolu’nun Farklı Geçmişleri" adlı kitabı Türkçe olarak kitapçılarda! Felipe Rojas’s book "The Pasts of Roman Anatolia” now available in Turkish! Shared for reference only; opinions not my own. #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

The cover page of Professor Rojas's book in Turkish translation.

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jan 28

Hot off the press! “The Multiple Antiquities of Greek Modernity;” C. Avlami & M. Konaris (eds.) ... explores the multiple perceptions of Hellenic antiquity in modern Greece editions.efa.gr?kroute=publi... Shared for reference only. Opinions not my own. #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

The cover page of the book "The Multiple Antiquities of Greek Modernity"

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jan 15

Do join our MESA 2026 panel! CfA - The Politics of Antiquities Collecting: A Comparative Approach to the Sale and Export of Antiquities in the Middle East Deadline: January 30, 2026 #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology

Picture of our call for abstracts with all the details.

Artemis Papatheodorou@artemis-p· Jan 8

CfP – History of Austrian/Austro-Hungarian archaeology in the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean, mid-19th to mid-20th centuries (21-22 September 2026) Deadline: 15 February 2026 Shared for reference; opinions not my own. #MMARe #MSCA #HistoryOfArchaeology