Cycladic violin-shaped figurine (1)

This small, "violin-shaped" figurine - thus named because of its form resembling a violin - is made of marble and dates to the Early Cycladic I period (3200-2800BC). The figurine had been broken and repaired in antiquity. The two holes on either side of the breakage were apparently used for fastening the two parts with some kind of material (possibly yarn, a leather strap or even a lead clamp).Repairs were quite common in the Early Cycladic I period, reasonably so, since violin-shaped figurines were flat, very thin and, thus, relatively fragile.