Female Figurines from the Cyclades (Syros, Spedos-type, 2600-2300 BC)
Between 3200 and 2000 B.C a highly developed culture flourished on the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea. There were fortified, heavily populated settlements, prosperous through sea trade. The art of sculpting was one of the most important aspects of this early culture. The sculptures were mostly executed in beautiful white marble that was amply available on the islands. The touching, stylized female figurines appeal the most to ones with an artistic imagination. These Female Figurines are always portrayed as standing nudes, their arms crossed over their belly. Their faces are smoothed down, angular on the top and round at the bottom. Only the nose is sculpted.