'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

ATHENS.- The antiquities presented –ten marble figurines and five vases made of marble, steatite and clay– cover a wide chronological range, from the times of the Late Neolithic period to those of the Early Cycladic II period (c. 5300 – 2400/2300 BC). The figurines depict solely the female figure and belong to types and varieties corresponding to the styles of each period (schematic, precanonical, canonical), while the vases represent some of the most characteristic types of vessels covering the entire Early Cycladic period.

As stated by the President and CEO of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Kassandra Marinopoulou: “An exceptional and largely unknown collection of Cycladic antiquities by the American collector Leonard N. Stern, with rare and unique artefacts progressively makes its way back home. This is a historic moment for our country, for the Museum of Cycladic Art, but also for me personally, as we are participating in an unprecedented collaboration with the Greek State and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, contributing, thus, to the return of 161 Cycladic masterpieces and paving the way for the return of other antiquities in the future. We strongly believe that collaborations between museums is the only way forward.

The dissemination and promotion of Cycladic and ancient Greek culture internationally has always been the mission of the Museum of Cycladic Art. I feel very proud because this mission is now being fulfilled to the utmost, both with the present exhibition of the first 15 antiquities at the Museum of Cycladic Art and with those that will follow the same path both to Greece and the USA. The prospects for further cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports and The Met at various levels, especially through the deeper study of the Cycladic culture, scientific analyses and collaborations, will greatly contribute to the achievement of this goal”.

As stated by the Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Max Hollein: “The mission of The Met is to enable art to be enjoyed and studied. We are thrilled to celebrate this important milestone in the historic partnership with Greece that brings an important collection of Cycladic antiquities into the public sphere permanently and for the first time. This agreement builds on years of a fruitful partnership between the Greek government and The Met, and we are delighted to be able to play a role in an arrangement that will benefit visitors and scholars for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to Leonard N. Stern for dedicating funds to The Met for the study of these exceptional works and related archival material—which will allow us to thoroughly catalogue and publish the collection—and we are excited to present the entire group of 161 objects as a long-term loan in 2024. The Met extends special thanks to Greece and the Museum of Cycladic Art for our strong partnership and for authorizing this historic loan, and we look forward to continuing our ongoing conversations about future exchanges of scholarship and expertise. We all benefit from the public display of art.”

The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual scientific catalogue, which includes an introductory text on the Early Cycladic culture of the 3rd millennium BC, as well as a detailed and documented presentation of the 15 Early Cycladic antiquities, along with unique photographs of the exhibits themselves and of the Cycladic landscape.

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

Memorandum of Understanding among the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic, the Museum of Cycladic Art and The Met, about the promotion of research and study of Cycladic Culture

As part of the abovementioned agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic, the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the 2nd of November, with subject the advancement of the study and research of Early Cycladic Culture. The MOU was signed in Athens, by the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic, Ms. Lina Mendoni, the President and CEO of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Ms. Kassandra Marinopoulou and the Director of The Met, Mr. Max Hollein.

As part of the memorandum, scholarships, publications, international symposia, field word and the creation of a digital corpus of Cycladic Artifacts which are in Museums worldwide, have been agreed. The data base will belong to the Ministry, will be developed by both the Ministry and the Museum of Cycladic Art and will be linked to The Met.

 'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE EARLY CYCLADIC CULTURE
The nature and significance of the Early Cycladic culture are not easy to determine. The latter flourished in the Cyclades, in the central Aegean, during the 3rd millennium BC. The absence of written sources and the fact that a large number of these objects did not come to light through systematic excavations, leave the interpretation about their meaning and purpose open. Created by the island communities, these artefacts –especially the marble figurines– allow for a more effective consideration of the Cycladic societies.

As works of an anthropocentric culture, they mainly depict naked female figures and constitute the most characteristic creation of Early Cycladic art. Despite their abstraction and simplicity, essential characteristics have been preserved and have become the greatest source of inspiration for important Modernist artists.

 'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art.