The Cyclades are a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece and
a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute
the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around, the sacred island of Delos.
The Cyclades is where the native Greek breed of cat originated.
History
The significant Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Cycladic culture is best known for its
schematic, flat idols carved out of the islands' pure white marble centuries before the great
Middle Bronze Age culture arose in Crete, to the south: these figures have been looted
from burials to satisfy a thriving Cycladic antiquities market since the early 20th century.
A distinctive Neolithic culture amalgamating Anatolian and mainland Greek elements arose
in the western Aegean before 4000 BCE, based on emmer wheat and wild-type barley, sheep
and goats, pigs, and tuna that were apparently speared from small boats. Excavated sites
include Saliagos and Kephala with signs of copper-working, Each of the small Cycladic
islands could support no more than a few thousand people, though Late Cycladic boat models show
that fifty oarsmen could be assembled from the scattered communities, and when the highly
organized palace-culture of Crete arose, the islands faded into insignificance, with the
exception of Delos, which retained its archaic reputation as a sanctuary throughout antiquity
and until the emergence of Christianity. Archaeology
The first archaeological excavations of the 1880s were followed by systematic work by
the British School at Athens and by Christos Tsountas, who investigated burial sites on
several islands in 1898–1899 and coined the term "Cycladic civilization". Interest
lagged, then picked up in the mid-20th century, as collectors competed for the modern-looking
figures that seemed so similar to sculpture by Jean Arp or Constantin Brâncuși. Sites
were looted and a brisk trade in forgeries arose. The context for many of these Cycladic
figurines has been mostly destroyed and their meaning may never be completely understood.
Another intriguing and mysterious object is that of the Cycladic frying pans. More accurate
archaeology has revealed the broad outlines of a farming and seafaring culture that had
immigrated from Asia Minor c. 5000 BCE. Early Cycladic culture evolved in three phases,
between c. 3300–2000 BCE, when it was increasingly swamped in the rising influence of Minoan
Crete. The culture of mainland Greece contemporary with Cycladic culture is called Helladic culture.
In recent decades the Cyclades islands have become popular with European and other tourists,
and as a result there have been problems with erosion, pollution, and water shortages.
Geography
The Cyclades comprise about 220 islands, the major ones being Amorgós, Anáfē, Ándros,
Antíparos, Dēlos, Eschátē, Íos, Kéa, Kímōlos, Kýthnos, Mēlos, Mýkonos, Náxos,
Páros, Folégandros, Sérifos, Sífnos, Síkinos, Sýros, Tēnos, and Thēra or Santoríni.
Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited. Ermoupolis, on Syros, is the chief town and
administrative center of the former prefecture. The islands are peaks of a submerged mountainous
terrain, with the exception of two volcanic islands, Milos and Santorini. The climate
is generally dry and mild, but with the exception of Naxos the soil is not very fertile; agricultural
produce includes wine, fruit, wheat, olive oil, and tobacco. Cooler temperatures are
in higher elevations and mainly do not receive wintry weather.
The Cyclades are bounded to the south by the Sea of Crete.
Administration The Cyclades Prefecture was one of the prefectures
of Greece. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the prefecture was abolished,
and its territory was divided into nine regional units of the South Aegean region:
Andros Kea-Kythnos
Milos Mykonos
Naxos Paros
Santorini Syros
Tinos Municipalities and communities
The prefecture was subdivided into the following municipalities and communities. These have
been reorganised at the 2011 Kallikratis reform as well.
Provinces Province of Amorgos: Amorgos
Province of Andros: Andros Province of Kea: Ioulis
Province of Milos: Milos Province of Naxos: Naxos
Province of Paros: Paroikia Province of Syros: Ermoupoli
Province of Tinos: Tinos Province of Thera: Thera
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.
Sailing in the Cyclades The Cyclades, like the other Aegean island
groups, are exposed to the north/northeast, putting them in the path of the Meltemi wind
that can reach Force 7 and above. The Meltemi tends to start in late June and will come
and go until September. Cuisine
Local specialities of the Cyclades include: Brantada
Fava Santorinis Fourtalia
Kalasouna Kalogeros
Kakavia Ladopita
Louza, similar to the Cypriot lountza Mastelo
Strapatsada Lazarakia
Melopita Communications
Telephone 22810: Syros, including Kythnos, Serifos and
Syros islands 22820: Andros
22830: Tinos 22840: Paros and Sifnos islands
22850: Amorgos and Naxos islands 22860: Folegandros, Ios, Santorini and Sikinos
islands 22870: Kimolos and Milos
22880: Kea Island 22890: Mykonos
See also Nisiotika music
Santorini wine Cycladic architecture
References
J. A. MacGillivray and R. L. N. Barber, editors, The Prehistoric Cyclades 1984.
R. L. N. Barber, The Cyclades in the Bronze Age 1987.
Peter Saundry, C. Michael Hogan & Steve Baum. 2011. Sea of Crete. Encyclopedia of Earth.
Eds. M. Pidwirny & C. J. Cleveland. National Council for Science and Environment. Washington
DC. External links
Jeremy B. Rutter, "The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean": especially Lessons 2 and 4:
chronology, history, bibliography Cyclades The Official website of the Greek
National Tourism Organisation Schinoussa Island-Small Cyclades The website
of Schoinousa