Cyclades Timeline

Definition

The Cyclades are a group of islands in the southern Aegean situated between the Greek mainland and Turkey. The name was coined in the Archaic period as the islands form an approximate circle (kyklos) around the central and most sacred island (at that time) of Delos. The islands had a distinctive culture in the early and middle Bronze Age and regained regional importance during the Archaic and Classical periods.

More about: Cyclades

Timeline

c. 5000 BCE
The Cyclades are first inhabited by settlers from Asia Mnior.
c. 3200 BCE - 1100 BCE
The Cycladic Civilization in Greece.
3000 BCE - 2200 BCE
The first archaeological evidence of organised communities in the Cyclades.
3000 BCE - 2000 BCE
Distinctive minimalistic standing marble figurines are produced in the Cyclades.
3000 BCE - 2000 BCE
First rock-cut burial chambers at Akrotiri.
2700 BCE - 2300 BCE
The first depiction in art of the aulos musical instrument appears in Cycladic sculpture.
2200 BCE - 1700 BCE
Evidence of town planning and more sophisticated architecture in the Cylades.
2000 BCE - 1650 BCE
Akrotiri on Thera reaches its peak of prosperity and becomes a flourishing Mediterranean trading centre.
1700 BCE - 1400 BCE
The culture in the Cyclades is increasingly influenced by Minoan Crete.
1650 BCE - 1550 BCE
Eruption of Thera and consequent tidal waves, destruction of Akrotiri and other Aegean centres.
1400 BCE - 1100 BCE
Culture in the Cyclades is increasingly influenced by the Mycenaean civilization of mainland Greece.
c. 1100 BCE
Evidence of settlement destruction and abandonment across the Cyclades.
c. 700 BCE
The temple of Apollo is built on the island of Delos.
700 BCE - 600 BCE
Temples are built in honour of Apollo, Demeter and Dionysos on the island of Naxos.
c. 700 BCE
Paros begins to export its Parian marble across the Greek world and it is widely used in temples and sculpture.
631 BCE
Greek colonists from the island of Thera found the city of Cyrene in North Africa.
c. 550 BCE
The silver drachma of Delos depicts a lyre - symbolic of Apollo - on its reverse side.
c. 550 BCE
Oldest surviving sculpture of a winged Nike found on Delos.
c. 540 BCE
Athens removes and prohibits further burials on Delos to purify the sacred island.
c. 499 BCE
Naxos is attacked by Darius' Persian forces.
490 BCE
Naxos is attacked for a second time by Persian forces.
480 BCE
Cycladic states contribute to the victorious Greek forces against the Persians at the Battle of Salamis.
479 BCE
Cycladic city states contribute to the victorious Greek forces against the Persians at the battle of Plataea.
478 BCE
Many Cycladic states join the Athenian led Delian League as a defence against Persian agression.
478 BCE - 454 BCE
The treasury of the Delian League is kept on Delos until its removal to Athens.
c. 467 BCE
The island of Naxos rebels against Athenian dominance of the Delian League.
431 BCE - 404 BCE
The Cycladic city states side with Athens in the Peloponnesian war against Sparta and her allies.
417 BCE - 415 BCE
Melos, after supporting Sparta in the Peloponnesian War, is attacked by Athens.
377 BCE - 355 BCE
The Cycladic city states join Athens in the Second Athenian League against Sparta .
363 BCE
A rebellion against Athenian dominance of the Second Athenian League on Keos is quashed by Athens.
166 BCE
Rome puts Delos under the jurisdiction of Athens and makes the island a free port.
166 BCE
Rome gives dominion over the Cyclades to Athens.
88 BCE
Mithridates attacks and detroys the island of Delos.
69 BCE
Delos is sacked by pirates.
41 BCE
Rome takes control over Naxos in the Cyclades.

Cyclades

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