Keros

The uninhabited Greek island of Keros (Greek Κέρος ( f sg )) is the second largest island of the Lesser Ostkykladen and the largest of the Koufonisia. The archaeological finds and the name Keros -Syros culture point to the importance of the Aegean island during the early Bronze Age.

Location

Keros is surrounded about 10 km southeast of Naxos and 11 km northwest of Amorgos by some smaller islands. Between Naxos and Keros are currently Pano Koufonisi, Kato Koufonisi and Glaronisi. Schoinoussa is located about 6.5 km to the west.

History

In order from 2700 to 2200 BC was located in the extreme west of Keros and on the small, today only about 80 meters from the neighboring island Daskalio ( Δασκαλειό ) one of the most important centers in the early period of the Bronze Age Cycladic culture, Kavos Daskaleio. The tiny rocky island Daskalio was probably connected in the early Bronze Age through a land bridge with Keros. During the Kastri culture, a change from Kavos on the island today Daskalio took place due to the more favorable for a defense situation. The complete production process of obsidian blades, marble processing and the molten copper were detected in Kavos Daskaleio. In the place were an estimated 100-200 people. It is considered certain that Kavos Daskaleio belonged to one of the specialized on maritime trade villages, because more people lived when the island was able to supply.

As Keria ( Κερία ) the island was a member of the Delian League during the Persian Wars.

In the Middle Ages the island was used as a pirate hideout. In the 19th century, was owned by the monastery of Panagia Keros Chozoviotissa ( Παναγία Χοζοβιώτισσα ) on Amorgos and served some herder families as pasture. At that time the island has been described as a rough ridge, on which there are only a few suitable for farming sites. Keros is now uninhabited and is used by farmers as seasonal pasture. On the north side at Konakia the little church stands Panagitsa ( Ξωκκλήσια Παναγίτσα ).

Archaeological finds

For the first time Keros entered the interests of archeology, as the historian Ulrich Köhler in 1884 published the discovery of two Cycladic idols in a grave with the exact location on the island. It is the harp player from Keros, one of the most beautiful and famous works of the Cycladic civilization and one of the oldest representations of a musician. The seated male figure with legs open holding a harp in his right hand. The harpist is worked 22.5 cm high and made of marble. In the same grave of Aulosspieler was found which may have been designed by the same artist and two female canonical idols. The figures are dated to the period between 2700-2300 BC. Both figures are exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, the island re-entered the interests of archeology, as in the international market for antiquities private collections and museums in Europe, the USA, Australia and Japan numerous illegal objects of Cycladic culture were offered. The under the name Treasure of Keros Keros Hoard or ( Θησαυρός της Κέρου, Keros Hoard ) known objects came from a series of illegal excavations on the west side of the island in the so-called Kavos field. To counter the scandalous effects, it was decided in 1963 under the direction of archaeologist Christos Doumas, with the participation of the former doctoral Colin Renfrew systematic archaeological exploration of Kavos. They found intentionally broken statues from the early period 2700-2300 BC by Spedostyp as well as pottery and obsidian blades. When up to one meter high statues were discovered by a British- Greek team of archaeologists, they were jumbled close together, a pile of bleached bones comparable. Originally, the idols were painted. It is believed that this is the result of a rite; so it was the earliest place of worship in the Aegean. Further excavations in the area looted (special deposit) 1966 and 1967 were able to secure an exceptionally large number of artifacts, architectural traces could not be detected. Further excavations found 1987/88 held by Colin Renfrew and Christos Doumas and 2006-2008 Renfrew could once again organize a large excavation, Kavos and on the upstream island Daskalio.

The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens 81 fragments are exhibited. Today more than 1400 known Cycladic figurines mostly come from Keros.

Conservation

Keros is part of the Natura 2000 area GR4220013 Mikres Kyklades: Irakleia, Schoinoussa, Koufonisia, Keros, Antikeri kai thal assia zoni ( Μικρές Κυκλάδες: από Κέρο μέχρι Ηράκλεια, Σχοινούσσα, Κουφονήσια, Κέρος, Αντικέρι και θαλάσσια ζώνη ).

Trivia

The idols of Keros inspired the works of Pablo Picasso and Henry Moore.