Beautiful Athens Archaeology Museum Cycladic Antiquities

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Photos of The Cycladic Antiquities of the Athens Archaeology Museum excavated from Archaeological sites on the Cyclades Islands Greece. Photos by Photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Athens Archaeology Museum Cycladic Antiquities & Art

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Photos of Athens Archaeology Museum Cycladic Civilisation art and antiquities..

The ancient Cycladic culture flourished in the islands of the Aegean Sea from c. 3300 to 1100 BCE.

The Athens Archaeology Museum Cycladic collections contain many Cycladic Dilld or idol figurines. Dating to approximately 2500 BCE, most of these Cycladic Doll figurines are highly stylised representations of the female human form, typically having a flat, geometric quality which gives them a striking resemblance to today’s modern art.

The majority of the figurines are female, depicted nude, and with arms folded across the stomach, typically with the right arm held below the left.

Most academics who have considered these artifacts from an anthropological or psychological viewpoint have assumed that they are representative of a Great Goddess of nature, in a tradition continuous with that of Neolithic female figures such as the Venus of Willendorf.

Although some archeologists would agree with this others have interpreted the figurines as idols of the gods, images of death, children’s dolls, and other things. One authority feels they were “more than dolls and probably less than sacrosanct idols.

Another unique object of the Cycladic Civilisation is the Cycladic terracotta ‘frying pan’ from Chalandriani, Syros. Early Cycladic period II 2800-2300 BC), These terracotta pan shaped vessels have decorative designs on the base and sides and were presumably used for cooking.

All photos can be downloaded as editorial royalty free images, for property rights to photos please contact the trustees of the Athens Archaeological Museum.