At the dawn of European history, in the third millennium BC, the group of small Greek islands in the southern Aegean known as the Cyclades was the home of a remarkable and distinctive culture. Among its most characteristic products were vessels and sculpted figures fashioned from the local marble, and today these Cycladic figures are admired and collected around the world. Although their original significance remains largely a mystery, the appeal of their simple forms and pure lines is immediate. In the light of current knowledge about early life in the islands, the author draws upon the impressive and remarkably comprehensive collection of Early Cycladi sculptures and other works in the British Museum, supplemented by striking examples from major American and Greek collections, to illustrate the development and increase our enjoyment of Early Cycladic art. -- from back cover.