[Cycladic Figure] Ancient peoples placed figurines like this in grave sites. Their lack of eyes and mouths--as well as their folded arms-- was perhaps intended to depict death. Their gender may indicate that they represented deceased men's wives or a mother goddess.

The size and style of Cycladic figurines varies greatly. Some are among the earliest naturalistic sculptures discovered in the Mediterranean area. Others, like this example, are highly abstract.

Courtesy of the National Museum of Natural History
Marble Cycladic Figure: Minoan culture, early Bronze Age, about 2500 B.C.

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