Cyclades

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For the computer network, see CYCLADES.
"Cyclodes" redirects here. For the genus of moth, see Cyclodes (moth).
Cyclades
Νομός Κυκλάδων
Former prefecture
Location of Cyclades in Greece
Location of Cyclades in Greece
Location of municipalities within Cyclades Prefecture
Location of municipalities within Cyclades Prefecture
CountryGreece
PeripherySouth Aegean
Established1833
Disestablished2010
CapitalErmoupoli
Subdivisions
List
Area
 • Total2,572 km2 (993 sq mi)
 • Rank23rd
Population
 (2005)
 • Total119,549
 • Rank29th
 • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
  • Rank34th
Postal codes
84x xx
Area codes228x0
ISO 3166 codeGR-82
Vehicle registrationΕΜ

The Cyclades (/ˈsɪklədiːz/; Greek: Κυκλάδες, Kykládes, [kikˈlaðes]) are an 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 ("cyclic", κυκλάς) the sacred island of Delos. The largest island of the Cyclades is Naxos, however the most populated is Syros.

History[edit]

Main article: History of the Cyclades
Harp player, example of Cycladic art, at the National Archeological Museum, Athens

The significant Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Cycladic culture is best known for its schematic, flat sculptures carved out of the islands' pure white marble centuries before the great Middle Bronze Age Minoan civilization 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 and wild-type barley, sheep and goats, pigs, and tuna that were apparently speared from small boats (Rutter). Excavated sites include Chalandriani, Phylakopi, Skarkos, Saliagos and Kephala (on Kea) with signs of copperworking, 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 (Rutter), 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[edit]

Ancient theatre, Delos

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, and 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 emigrated from Anatolia 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 known as the Helladic period.

In recent decades the Cyclades have become popular with European and other tourists, and as a result there have been problems with erosion, pollution, and water shortages.

Geography[edit]

The Cyclades encircle the sacred island of Delos

The Cyclades includes about 220 islands, the major ones being Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Folegandros, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Tinos, and Thira or Santoríni. There are also many minor islands including Donousa, Eschati, Gyaros, Irakleia, Koufonisia, Makronisos, Rineia, and Schoinousa. The name "Cyclades" refers to the islands forming a circle ("circular islands") around the sacred island of Delos. Most of the smaller islands are uninhabited.

Ermoupoli 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. Lower temperatures are registered in higher elevations and these areas do not usually see wintry weather.

The Cyclades are bounded to the south by the Sea of Crete.[1]

Administration[edit]

The Cyclades Prefecture (Greek: Νομός Κυκλάδων) 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:

Municipalities and communities[edit]

The prefecture was subdivided into the following municipalities and communities. These have been reorganised at the 2011 Kallikratis reform as well.

Municipality YPES code Seat (if different) Postal code Area code
Amorgos 3101 840 08 22850-2
Andros (town) 3103 845 00 22820-2
Ano Syros 3105 841 00 22810-8
Drymalia 3107 Chalkeio Naxou 843 02 22850
Ermoupoli 3109 841 00 22810-2
Exomvourgo 3108 Kampos 842 00 22850-5
Ios 3112 840 01 22860-9
Kea 3113 Ioulis 840 02 22880-2
Korthio 3115 Ormos Korthiou 845 02 22820-6
Kythnos 3117 840 06 22810-3
Milos 3118 848 00 22870-2
Mykonos 3119 846 00 22890-2
Naxos 3120 843 00 22850-2
Paros 3123 844 00 22840-2
Poseidonia 3124 841 00 22810-4
Santorini 3111 847 00 22860-2
Serifos 3125 840 02 22810-5
Sifnos 3127 840 03 22840-3
Tinos 3129 842 00 22830-2
Ydrousa 3130 Gavrio 845 01 22820-7
Community YPES code Seat (if different) Postal code Area code
Anafi 3102 840 09 22860-6
Antiparos 3104 840 07 22840-6
Donousa 3106 843 00 22850-5
Folegandros 3131 840 11 22860
Irakleia 3110 843 00 22870-7
Kimolos 3114 840 04 22870-5
Koufonisia 3116 843 00 22870-7
Oia 3121 847 02 22860-7
Panormos 3122 842 01 22830-3
Schoinousa 3128 843 00 22870-7
Sikinos 3126 840 10 22860-5

Provinces[edit]

  • 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 Thira: Thira

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

Cuisine[edit]

Local specialities of the Cyclades include:

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Saundry, Peter; Hogan, C. Michael; Baum, Steve (2011). "Sea of Crete". In Pidwirny, M.; Cleveland, C. J. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington DC: National Council for Science and Environment.

References[edit]

  • MacGillivray, J. A.; Barber, R. L. N., eds. (1984). The Prehistoric Cyclades. Edinburgh.
  • Barber, R. L. N. (1987). The Cyclades in the Bronze Age. Iowa City.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 37°00′N 25°10′E / 37.000°N 25.167°E / 37.000; 25.167

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