Vessel with Handle "Phiale"

Replica of a Cycladic vessel.

The marble vessels, known as “phialai,” are characteristic creations of the Cycladic people from the 3rd millennium BCE. Their purpose during antiquity remains mysterious. They might have served as ceremonial vessels connected to the enigmatic religion of Prehistoric Cyclades. These marble vessels were a symbol of wealth and prestige for the Cycladic people. Simple, well-crafted, and strictly geometric, the phialai were circular basins made of white marble, showcasing the delicacy and aesthetic power of Cycladic civilization.