Alessandro Palma di Cesnola

Alessandro Palma di Cesnola (* 1839, † 1914) was an American military officer (Major), diplomat and looters of Italian descent.

He was brother of the more famous antiquarian Luigi Palma di Cesnola. Between 1876 and 1879, he systematically looted Cypriot antiquities. He dug in Paphos (where he was U.S. vice- consul ) and Salamis. He led by, among others, in Ormidia and Enkomi illegal excavations. In 1878 he was arrested following a complaint by Max Ohnefalsch Judge, the Superintendent of Excavations at the direction of the British High Commissioner Sir Garnet Wolseley for breach of even after the British takeover of the island still valid Ottoman Antiquity Act and on 23 October 1878 in Nicosia to a fine sentenced after bail had been rejected.

A part of his loot was confiscated and passed into the collections of the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia. Other parts were shipped to England and got into the " Lawrence - Cesnola " collection in Holland Park in London.

Works

  • Salaminia : The history, treasures and antiquities of Salamis in the Iceland of Cyprus. London 1882; 18842
  • Oro e vetri antichi di Cipro scavati negli anni mille ottocento settantasei al 1879: Il culto di Venere Contenenze Archeologiche lette alla società filotecnica di Torino e 10 e febraio 30 mayo 1884 Turin 1884.
  • Salamina ( Cipro ): Storia, tesori e antichità di Salamina Nell'isola di Cipro. Turin; Florence; Rome 1887
  • Catalogo di manoscritti italiani esistenti nel Museo di Londra Britannico. Turin 1890
Italy Salamis, Cyprus High Commissioner (Commonwealth) Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley Integrated Authority File
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