Kykladitisses:
Untold stories of women in the Cyclades

This remarkable mural, originating from a public building used for ritual ceremonies, illustrates rites of initiation—rites that marked the transition from childhood to adulthood for boys and girls alike.

The fresco depicts three women: one wearing a necklace, a seated woman treating a wound on her leg with saffron, and a young girl with a shaved head, known as the Peplophoros (Veil Bearer). These figures are engaged in an initiation ritual, culminating in a purification ceremony centered around the young Peplophoros, symbolizing her passage into adult life.

Observe the three women…
Their garments and the vivid colors bear resemblance to Minoan frescoes from the palaces of Crete.

Did you know that…

The adyton was an innermost, sacred chamber within a sanctuary, accessible only to select individuals?
Saffron, also known as crocus, is a plant famed for its medicinal properties?
Purification tanks served as symbolic sites for cleansing and may have been used in rites of passage from one life stage to another?

This monumental sculpture from the Archaic period stands at an awe-inspiring 2.48 meters in height.

Crafted from Naxian marble, it was offered as a votive object at a sanctuary in Thera, in honor of a goddess.

Did you know that…
Oversized sculptures were symbols of power and social hierarchy?

They were often used in sanctuaries to honor deities or as funerary monuments to commemorate the deceased?

In the Cyclades, many female deities were worshipped as guardians of nature, fertility, motherhood, the home and the cities. Among these goddesses were Artemis, Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hera, along with others of foreign origin such as Cybele, Isis, and Ariadne from Asia Minor, Egypt, and Crete.

Did you know?…

During the prehistoric Cycladic Civilization, marble figurines of women with folded arms likely represented the Great Mother Goddess—a divine figure associated with nature and fertility?

Artemis and her twin brother Apollo were born on the sacred island of Delos. Their parents were Zeus and Leto.

Artemis, goddess of the hunt and wilderness, was the divine protector of young girls, women, and childbirth.

Her sacred animal was the deer.

Did you know that…
Artemis was the only deity who could protect and, paradoxically, kill wild animals?

Cycladic women held a pivotal role in the home. They took charge of both raising the children and handling all household tasks. Leaving the house was generally reserved for religious ceremonies or social gatherings.

For centuries, a woman’s marriage was arranged by her father, who provided a dowry to the groom. This tradition underscored the perception of women as property—first belonging to their fathers and later to their husbands.

While this system was meant to ensure protection and care, it also reinforced a woman’s limited autonomy.

Did you know that…
Dowries—property transferred from the bride’s family to the groom—were formalized in ancient times as legal contracts? This tradition persisted for many centuries.

There were, however, exceptions:
Some women were emancipated—independent individuals who had to work outside the home. Others held positions of lineage or inheritance, which granted them power and status equal to that of men.

There were educated women and others with financial means who supported their communities or contributed to their nation.