Cycladic Art

Cycladic art which flourished between 2000 and 3000 BC is characterised by its minimalist simplicity and its influence is prevalent in the architecture of some of the Cycladic islands today. Having posted on the architecture of  Santorini I thought that a post on the figurines which date 1500 years before the eruption of the volcano in Santorini and which are to be found in the permanent collection of the Cycladic Museum in Athens, would be appropriate.

The quality of the photographs I took is very poor. The exhibition rooms are very dark, the artefacts are behind glass with strong spotlights on each, and there is a lot of reflection getting in the way.

Female figurine, EC II period, Syros phase, 2800-2300 B.C.

The slight swelling of the abdomen suggests she was pregnant.

Female figurine, EC II, Syros phase, 2800 - 2300 BC

Female figurine, EC II period, Syros phase, 2800 - 2300 BC

Female Figurine: the shallow horizontal lines across the abdomen probably indicate that she had recently given birth

Female figurine.

It has been suggested that these figurines were meant to be reclining: this would explain why their arms are folded across their chests, as in death

Figure of hunter or maybe warrior

I love the simplicity, the serenity of Cycladic art. This simplicity is evident in everything that is exhibited in the museum

be it a plate, or

a bowl.

All in marble.