Ancient Greece Art – Cycladic Sculptures in the Greek Islands
Cycladic sculptures are thousands of years old and yet look eerily modern. A face with no facial features, except the nose, is not exactly how we think of ancient Greek art. Cycladic art came to prominence during the twentieth century. Unfortunately that started a period of looting, which destroyed the possibility of putting the sculptures in any kind of location or archeological context. To this day we know very little about Cycladic art. A measure of its growing importance is the existence of the Cycladic Museum located in the heart of Athens, Greece.
The Greek islands of the Cyclades are located to the South East of Greece and to the North of Crete in the Aegean Sea. There are more than two hundred islands approximating a circle around the most significant island Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, Greek God of music and light from Greek mythology and of Artemis, the huntress. The Greek name for the Cyclades is Kyklades, an obvious reference to a circle.
During the period between 3200 and 2000 B.C. the small Cycladic islands in the Aegean became home to a flourishing culture. The most prominent craft in Cycladic culture was stone-cutting, especially marble sculpture. The abundance of high quality white marble on the islands encouraged its use for the creation of a wide range of artifacts. Among these, Cycladic Figurines are the most distinctive Cycladic creation because of the style, the great numbers in which they are found, and the significance they held for their owners. The majority of Cycladic Figurines show women, nude with the arms folded over the belly and the long feet, soles sloping downwards. We do not know whether they were meant to show mortals or deities, but probably symbolized the worship of the ‘Mother Goddess’. In this case, the figurines may have been conceived as representations of the Goddess, or companions to her. Many figurines have been discovered in relation to burials as the Cycladic civilization flourished and burials became more elaborate to reflect status.
There have been recent discoveries (in the last five years) of piles of buried and broken statues and pottery, as if the breaking of the statues was a feature of some unknown ancient ceremony. This ritualistic behavior appears to be centered on the island of Keros in the Cyclades. Also, hidden deposits of broken pottery and figurines have been found on islands around Keros, many fragments brought there from other locations. Why would the Cycladians do that? To what end? The mystery surrounding Keros, the Cycladians and their art deepens as archeologists sift through clues of human history and behavior. To this day Keros and surrounding islands are home mainly to archeologists attempting to explain one of those mysteries of human behavior and human art that drive us with a ‘need to know’. Art, in all forms, leaves behind a legacy of a civilizations history, behavior, values and intrigue. Fortunately for us it also provides beauty that only human civilizations can produce.
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Ancient Greece Art
Art Replicas
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New York City NY Greek Ceramic Coffee Cup 10-Ounce: We are happy to serve you *GREAT GIFT IDEA FOR FRIENDS, LOVED ONES, WEDDING, ETC $11.99 Price is for 1 (one) cup. Your search is over. Finally, a classy, useful gift for yourself or your loved ones! The World’s most famous paper cup, replicated in *CERAMIC* for home or restaurant use. The perfect gift for New Yorkers, Ex-New Yorkers, Trip-missers and just anyone else that likes to drink a cup of coffee! The famous New York City greek paper cup has been around since 1963. Currently, o… |
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Wedgwood Jasper Classic 7-Inch Bowl, White on Black Footed $120.00 Wedgwood Jasperware is a gift of great taste and enduring value. Centuries old design…. |
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Greek Pottery – 24W x 16H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Natural Silk Sea Sponges … |
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11.5 Orange Greek Terracota Style Plastic Planter Flower Pot Holder $3.99 11.5″ Orange Greek Terracota Style Plastic Planter Flower Pot Holder This beautiful greek terracota style planter is brand new, made of high quality plastic. This planter is suitable for use on the ground, lawn or floor, it is a perfect decorating accent for any room in your home Specifications – Dimensions: 11.5″D – Style Type: Planter – Materials: Plastic – Color: Orange – Pieces: 1 – Finish: NA… |
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11.5 Green Greek Terracota Style Plastic Planter Flower Pot Holder $3.99 11.5″ Green Greek Terracota Style Plastic Planter Flower Pot Holder This beautiful roman style planter is brand new, made of high quality plastic. This planter is suitable for use on the ground, lawn or floor, it is a perfect decorating accent for any room in your home. Specifications – Dimensions: 11.5″ D – Style Type: Planter – Materials: Plastic – Color: Green – Pieces: 1 – Finish: NA Additiona… |
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Oblong Pottery Platter $111 - Hand thrown pottery |
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South Fork Pottery with Iron Bases, Set of 3 $362 -Hand forged iron pottery – Largest pottery is 15″W |
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Build a Bumper Dog Bed L Pottery Pottery $104.99 West Paw Design(R) Build-a-Bumper Dog Bed The West Paw Design(R) Build-a-Bumper Dog Bed gives your dog the comfort it deserves with the design flexibility you deserve. 7 outside bumper (bolster) colors and 11 inner pillow colors allows for endless design possibilities that are sure to match any home décor. Each bed is constructed with a brushed twill fabric that’s both soft and durable. While the 100% recycled Intelliloft(R) polyfill filling creates a heavenly cushion that will not flatten or bunch. Build-a-Bumper Dog Bed’s feature a zippered outside cover that’s removable and is 100% machine washable for easy cleaning. Made in Montana, USA, West Paw Design(R) Build-a-Bumper Dog Bed will create a masterpiece for both you and your dog to enjoy! Features: Made in the USA Endless color options allows you to customize to match any home décor Constructed from brushed twill that’s durable yet soft Stuffed with 100% recycled Intelliloft(R) polyfill Zippered cover allows for easy removal 100% machine washable Item Specifications: Sizes and Dimensions: X-Small: (18″ L x 16″ W x 6″H) Small: (23″ L x 19″ W x 7″ H) Medium: (28″ L x 25″ W x 9″ H) Large: (37″ L x 32″ W x 9″H) X-Large: (44″ L x 37″ W x 9″ H) Color Options: Outside Bumper (Bolster): Chocolate Slate Putty Navy Laguna Jungle Pottery Inner Pillow: Seaside Stripe Slate Cobblestone Links Monaco Chocolate Laguna Jungle Navy Pottery Putty |
