August 31 • Luigi Palma di Cesnola
Luigi Palma di Cesnola, born in 1832 near Turin, carried an extraordinary life across military service, diplomacy, archaeology, and museum leadership. After emigrating to the United States, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was later appointed United States consul to Cyprus.
While in Cyprus, Cesnola directed extensive excavations that brought thousands of ancient objects to international attention. His collection included sculpture, pottery, jewelry, inscriptions, and other works that revealed the island’s importance at the crossroads of the ancient Mediterranean world.
Much of the collection became part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Cesnola became the museum’s first director, helping guide the young institution during a formative period and expanding public access to the art and material culture of the ancient world.
