The figure in this illustration is from the Middle Chalcolithic period (3,400-2,700 BC) and is one of the many delightful treasures on show in the Museum. The classics, not to be missed, include the extrordinary array of clay figurines from the Agia Irini sanctuary, the statue of Aphrodite frequently used in publicity about the island (and therefore vaguely familiar), a magnificent larger-than-life bronze statue of Septimius Severus, the first Roman emperor of African origin (and who died on campaign in Britain), and the group of three limestone lions and two sphinxes found in the Tamassos necropolis south of Nioosia in 1997. But there are lots of other beautiful things to see, from exquisite jewelry through to ancient forms of writing (I found the 6th century BC cypro-syllabic inscriptions particularly beautiful) and (my favourite) an 8th century BC throne made of wood and covered with ivory plaques found in the ruins of Salamis. Somebody should write a poem about the anonymous kings who once sat on that throne!