Cycladic

Cycladic refers to the Cyclades, a group of islands in the central Aegean Sea, and to the Bronze Age culture that developed there. The term is used in archaeology, art history, and general reference to the period and its material remains. The Cyclades lie southeast of the Greek mainland; notable islands include Naxos, Paros, Delos, Mykonos, and Santorini.

The Cycladic civilization flourished during the Early to Late Bronze Age, roughly 3200–1100 BCE, with recognizable phases often called Early, Middle, and Late Cycladic. Early Cycladic communities were small and maritime, while later phases show more complex burial practices and larger settlements. The most enduring legacy is Cycladic marble figurines, often female, highly stylized with geometric features and folded arms. These idols, typically around 10–50 centimeters tall, were placed in graves or shrines and are thought to have had religious or ritual functions. In addition to sculpture, the Cyclades produced pottery and metalwork, with evidence of long-distance exchange.

Archaeological evidence points to extensive trade networks linking the Cyclades with Crete, the Greek mainland, and Anatolia. The Cycladic culture declined toward the end of the Bronze Age, around 1100 BCE, amid broader Aegean upheavals, after which the islands were reoccupied in the Iron Age. Today, Cycladic art and archaeology inform understandings of early Aegean civilizations and their interactions with neighboring cultures.