{"id":12711,"date":"2023-03-29T13:51:18","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T13:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/museum-of-cycladic-art-athens\/"},"modified":"2024-07-16T08:12:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T08:12:14","slug":"museum-of-cycladic-art-athens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/museum-of-cycladic-art-athens\/","title":{"rendered":"The Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Calling all art and history buffs! The Museum of Cycladic Art invites you to immerse yourself in the captivating Cycladic civilization, which prospered on the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea during the Bronze Age (3200-1100 BC). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Hot Tips \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca4 Accommodations:<\/strong> Top hotels offering great value for your money<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfdb Must-See Sites & Monuments:<\/strong> Your ultimate guide to Athens<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc76 Visiting Athens with Kids:<\/strong> Our best tips and tricks<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Introducing the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The History of the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Established in 1986, the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens is committed to studying and promoting the art of the Aegean region and the Cycladic culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This private museum is the brainchild of founders Dolly and Nikolaos Goulandris, who started collecting Cycladic art pieces back in the 1960s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed by Greek architect Ioannis Vikelas, the building is a striking example of modern Greek architecture, boasting a white marble exterior and spacious, well-lit interiors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its inception, the Cycladic Art Museum in Athens has broadened its collections and mission to encompass not only Cycladic art but also Aegean, ancient Greek, and Byzantine art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 What is Cycladic culture? \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cycladic culture refers to a civilization that thrived on the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea during the Bronze Age (3200-1100 BC). This culture is especially famous for its marble sculptures, pottery, and ritual items.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fun facts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Today, the museum is home to over 3,000 art pieces, primarily consisting of statues and pottery from the Cycladic period, as well as ancient Greek and Byzantine art objects. Each year, the museum attracts thousands of visitors from around the globe who come to marvel at these exceptional and intriguing works of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visiting the Museum of Cycladic Art<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How is the museum’s collection organized?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Athens Cycladic Art Museum presents its collections in a way that takes visitors on a chronological and thematic journey through Aegean art history. Exhibits are spread across four floors, each focusing on a specific time period or aspect of Cycladic art and Aegean culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the ground floor,<\/strong> you’ll find the museum shop and a space for temporary exhibitions, which regularly showcase displays related to the Bronze Age art and culture of the Aegean region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first floor<\/strong> is dedicated to the primary collection of Cycladic art, featuring objects from the Early Cycladic period (3200-2000 BC) through the Late Cycladic period (2000-1100 BC). Here, you’ll encounter marble statues, pottery, jewelry, and ritual items that reflect the richness and diversity of this ancient civilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second floor<\/strong> exhibits Aegean art from other parts of the Aegean Sea, including Crete and mainland Greece, alongside ancient Greek art ranging from the Archaic period (800-480 BC) to the Hellenistic period (323-31 BC). You can admire painted vases, bronze and marble sculptures, as well as everyday objects and jewelry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the third floor<\/strong> focuses on Byzantine art, with a collection of icons, manuscripts, textiles, and religious artifacts dating from the 4th to the 15th century AD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Athens Cycladic Art Museum’s collections: Statues, pottery, and jewelry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of the museum lies the Cycladic collection, which constitutes the majority of the exhibits. Marble statues, known for their streamlined, geometric forms, are among the most iconic Cycladic art pieces. They generally depict stylized human figures with oval faces and elongated, slender noses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collection also features pottery, ceramics, and jewelry, which demonstrate the skill of Cycladic craftsmen and the significance of trade in the Aegean region during that time. The pottery, often embellished with geometric patterns and depictions of animals and plants, provides insight into the daily life and religious beliefs of the Cycladic inhabitants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The most emblematic artifacts of the Athens Museum of Cycladic Art<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the museum’s most outstanding masterpieces is the renowned “Flute Player.”<\/strong> This Cycladic idol from 2700 BC portrays a seated female figure playing the flute. Her pose and facial expression showcase the Cycladic sculptors’ artistic expertise and their ability to convey the grace and subtlety of human movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “Harp Player”<\/strong> is another iconic Cycladic art statue, also dating from 2700 BC, is Depicted as a seated male figure cradling a harp, the fine detailing and harmonious proportions of this piece once again reveal the Cycladic artists’ skill and strong aesthetic sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides these two statues, the museum is home to a myriad of captivating pieces, including painted vases, bronze sculptures, and ritual objects. Each artifact provides a valuable insight into the daily life, religious beliefs, and artistic practices of the Aegean region’s Bronze Age inhabitants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Museum of Cycladic Art is centrally located in Athens’ Kolonaki district, with various convenient transport options: <\/p>\n\n\n\n