The British consul Alexander Drummond (?-1769) travelled in the Eastern Mediterranean between 1744 and 1751. In 1754 he published the letters he had sent to his brother during his travels. In the spring of 1744 he crossed Europe and, after visiting Genoa and Florence, arrived in Venice, from where he set sail in October. He arrived in Smyrna after visiting Zacynthos, Cythera, Myconos and Delos. In March 1745, Drummond was in Tripoli of Syria. He stayed in Cyprus until December 1746 and then in Alexandretta until 1750, from where he made trips to Saint Symeon, Antioch, Seleucia and the Euphrates region.

Drummond was probably a merchant and served as consul of Britain in Aleppo from 1754 to 1756. In 1751 he had undertaken similar duties in Cyprus, where he travelled about one thousand kilometres. The drawings that embellish the work of this meticulous and hard-to-please traveller are clear and diligently made, and more attractive than his writing. His recording of the Byzantine and Medieval monuments of Cyprus, in an informative rather than appreciative style, remains extremely important. Drummond tends to enter into great detail when he refers to commercial activities, law and the political situation of the island.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  The Kızılçullu aqueduct on Meles river, near Izmir.

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  Aqueduct on Meles river, near Izmir.

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  1. Temple of Janus at Smyrna. 2. Great Circus at Smyrna. 3. Gate of the Castle of Smyrna. 4. Bay of Smyrna. 5. Chimaera.

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  The Greek alphabet.

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  Aqueduct on the foot of Mount Lebanon. According to the legend it was built by Godfrey of Bouillon, leader of the First Crusade.

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  Tarantulas.

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  1. View of the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, near Aleppo, Syria. 2. Bottom view of the base of the columns together with views of the columns and the arches of the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites.

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  1. South east facade of Agios Largos or St. Hilarion. 2. South view of Bufavento castle at Kyreneia.

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  Monte Piovizano.

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  The Bridge la Santa Trinita in Florence.

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  View of Aleppo and its castle.

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  Map of the greater region of Aleppo, Syria.

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  1. Inscription in Greek from Al Bara, near Aleppo. 2. Inscription in Greek on epistyle at Al Bara, near Aleppo. 3. Inscription in Latin on epistyle at Al Bara, near Aleppo.

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  North view of Bellapais Abbey at Kyreneia.

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  1. The east side of the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, Syria. 2. The west side of the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites (Syria).

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  The Birecik Castle, upon the river Euphrates.

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  South front of the Castle of Rouwant at the highlands of Nur Mountains.

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  1. View of Cyrrhus, near Aleppo. 2. View of Hierapolis, near Aleppo.

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  1.View of the great altar at the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, Syria. 2. Funerary stele from Hierapolis, near Aleppo, Syria. 3. Fragment of relief from Hierapolis.

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  Views of two different sides of the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, near Aleppo, Syria.

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  1. View of the Palestra of Delos. 2. Portico at Delos. 3. Fragment from Delos. 4. The ancient theater of Delos. 5. View of Delos.

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  1. Voidi or Trenta Nove islet, Zakynthos. According to the legend, the Venetians executed thirty nine Zakynthian rebels on the islet, hence its name. 2. The Castle of Cythera. 3. View of the port of Myconos.

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  1. West view of Kantara castle. 2. View of the Church of Panagia Kanakaria at Lythrangomi, Cyprus.

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  Frontispiece. Allegory of author's voyage.

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  Title page.

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  Map of the harbor of Genoa.

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  1. Bay of Zante from a draught by a French map. 2. Antenors Cenotaph. 3. Κεφαλ is Κατα Ματθαιον [Christ in Majesty holding Saint Matthew's Gospel]. 4. A Daniele in Monte [The monastery of Prophet Daniel on Monte Ortone, Italy.]

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  1. View of Bagras Castle at Alexandretta (today Iskenderun). According to the legend, it was built by Gοdfrey of Bouillon, leader of the First Crusade. 2. View of the port of Alexandretta. 3. View of the bay of Tripoli, Lebanon. 4. Remains of the Cilician Gates.

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  View of the bay of Larnaca.

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  Map of Cyprus.

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  1. Corinthian columns of entrance to a catacomb at Shaykh Barakat, near Aleppo, Syria. 2. The entrance to the catacomb of a certain Roman soldier, together with funerary stele at Shaykh Barakat. 3. Stele from the Roman theater of Cyrrhus, ancient city near Aleppo. 4. Fragment of relief from Hierapolis.

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  Inscription in Greek from the catacombs of Shaykh Barakat, near Aleppo, Syria.

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  1. Monumental building. 2. View of part of the wall of the temple of Saint Peter in Antakya, Turkey. 3. Funerary stele showing a gladiator in Samandağ (anc. Seleucia Pieria). 4. View of entrance leading to catacomb at Shaykh Barakat, near Aleppo. 5. View of funerary stele at the entrance of Shaykh Barakat. 6. View of gate at Shaykh Barakat.

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  Topographical map showing the region between Aleppo and the Euphrates.

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  Inscription in Greek at the necropolis of Furkia, near Aleppo.

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  Inscriptions in Greek from catacombs near Aleppo, Syria.

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  Inscription in Greek from city in the Syrian dessert.

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  1. Funerary stele at the Church of Panagia Acheiropoietos, Lapithos, Cyprus . 2. Part of the front of the Kolossi Castle, Limassol. 3. Front view of the Church of Agios Mamas at Morfou, Cyprus.

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  Inscription in Greek at Kykkos Monastery.

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  Inscription in Latin from Ayia Napa.

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  1. Relief from entrance to a Roman Tomb, showing Apollo and Demeter, at the necropolis of Furkia. 2. Relief from entrance to a Roman Tomb, showing Hermes and Pheme, at the necropolis of Furkia. 3. Relief from entrance to a Roman Tomb, showing Ceres and Athena, at the necropolis of Furkia.4. Relief from entrance to a Roman Tomb, showing a priest, at the necropolis of Furkia. 5. Reconstructive drawing of building at Al Bara, near Aleppo. 6. Relief found at the entrance of the library of the Levant Company (or East Company) at Aleppo, Syria.

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  1. Chameleon. 2. Musical instrument. 3-4. The Arch of Septimus Severus at Latakia, Syria.