Cyclades
The Cyclades are a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, traditionally arranged around the sacred island of Delos.
Delos: A small Greek island and major ancient sanctuary dedicated chiefly to Apollo and Artemis. Delos is the sacred center around which the Cyclades take their name and traditional arrangement.
Cycladic civilization: A Bronze Age civilization centered on the Cyclades, especially known for marble figurines and maritime trade. It names the prehistoric culture associated with the islands.
Meltemi: A strong, dry northerly summer wind that blows across the Aegean Sea. The Meltemi affects sailing, ferry schedules, and everyday conditions across the Cyclades.
Apollo: A Greek god associated with prophecy, music, healing, and the sun. Apollo's sanctuary on Delos made the island a major religious destination.
Santorini: A Greek island group shaped by a volcanic caldera and known in antiquity as Thera. Its dramatic volcanic landscape distinguishes the southern Cyclades.
Cycladic figurine: A prehistoric sculpture, usually carved from marble, produced in the Cyclades during the Bronze Age. These distinctive objects are among the best-known finds from early Cycladic communities.
Aegean island arc: A volcanic and tectonic arc extending through the southern Aegean around the Hellenic subduction zone. The southern Cyclades lie within this broader geological arc.
Delian League: An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens and founded after the Persian Wars. Its treasury was initially kept on Delos, linking the island to Athenian power.
Mykonos: A Greek island in the Cyclades, located near Delos. Mykonos is the inhabited neighbor that provides access to ancient Delos.
Akrotiri (prehistoric city): A Bronze Age settlement on Santorini preserved beneath volcanic deposits. Akrotiri reveals urban life on a Cycladic island before the major eruption of Thera.