Head and neck from a marble figure

2700–2300 B.C
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 151
Little is known about the role and meaning of these figures in Cycladic culture. Although they have been found almost exclusively in graves and placed on their backs, it is not clear whether they were made specifically for burials. Examples found in settlements and sanctuaries may have been held upright in social or religious activities, such as processions. As the majority of these figures are female, they are probably linked with the idea of fertility and reproduction.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Head and neck from a marble figure
  • Period: Early Cycladic II
  • Date: 2700–2300 B.C
  • Culture: Cycladic
  • Medium: Marble
  • Dimensions: H. 7.5 cm
  • Classification: Stone Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020
  • Object Number: 2021.40.11
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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