Cycladic female figurine (canonical type, Kapsala variety)

Cycladic art attained maturity during the Early Cycladic II period, with the creation of the distinctive figurine type that was to hold sway for the next five hundred years. This type has been called "canonical" because it displays constant morphological canons and artistic conventions, such as the folded arms above the abdomen (with left over right), slightly flexed knees, backward tilt of the head and slanting feet. Researchers have distinguished five different varieties of the canonical type. The "Kapsala variety", named after the Early Cycladic cemetery on Amorgos where it was first identified, is the earliest and is dated to the early phase of the Early Cycladic II period. Figurines of this variety are small (h. 13-37 cm.) and distinguished by plasticity in the treatment of the body, ovoid head, curvaceous profiles and almost complete absence of incised details. Nonetheless, the presence of certain traits reminiscent of figures of the later "Spedos variety" (lyre-shaped head, acutely slanting feet) places this particular example in a transitional phase between the two varieties. The majority of canonical figurines are of nude female figures, which several researchers interpret as representations of fertility or chthonic deities. However, the issue of interpretation is a complex one and is linked directly with the use of the figurines: some researchers attach considerable importance to their frequent occurrence in graves and interpret them as apotropaic images, substitutes for sacrifices, companions of the dead or symbols of social status, while others maintain that they were for cultic use and consider them votive offerings depicting devotees.