Toponyme

MELOS

Melos is the westernmost of the Cyclades. Featuring a large protected bay and rich volcanic soil, it was densely populated at all times. In the Neolithic already, Melos was one of the main sources for obsidian. This essential raw material was exported throughout the Aegean from Crete to Macedonia. During the third millennium chamber tombs carved into the rock, especially in the area of Adamas, attest a important protocycladique community.
Throughout the Bronze Age flourished site Fylakopi north of the island. Archaeological researches have uncovered four uninterrupted phases until 1100. First under Minoan influence, then the site experienced an important development in the Mycenaean era. From this period dates the construction of a fortified wall and the foundation of a megaron and sanctuary where was found the famous terracotta figurine of the "Lady of Fylakopi" .
Geometric and Archaic periods are represented on the island in a cemetery at Trypiti. Among the finds Protogeometric style vases are significant. Also, should be noted that the large number of parian vases found there had once give the name of “melian” to this archaic production. From the cemetery came also a well preserve kouros of naxian provenance.
The cemetery of Trypiti was still in use during the classical period. At this time, the heart of the city should be at a place called Treis Eklisies where English excavations probably uncovered the agora. It seems that the island had a new dynamism in the Hellenistic period. First, the famous Aphrodite of Melos probably came from the gymnasium of the city. An other public construction found is the theater dated to the 2nd century BC.
Regarding the religious life of the discovery Klima a monumental statue of Poseidon suppose the existence of a cult here. An cult is also attested at Tramythia, north of the city, was discovered a large room with a mosaic floor and altar bearing an inscription to 'Dionysos Trieterikos'.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Atkinson, T. D. 1904. Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos : conducted by the British School at Athens, London (The Society for the promotion of Hellenistic studies. Supplementary paper 4).

Georgiadis, M. 2008. The Obsidian in the Aegean beyond Melos : An Outlook from Yali, Oxford journal of archaeology, 27: 101-117.

Hatzidakis, I. 1927. Η ιστορία της νήσου Μήλου, Athens.

Karouzos, C. J. 1951. An early classical disc relief from Melos, JHS 71: 96-110.

Maggidis, C. 1998. The Aphrodite and the Poseidon of Melos. A synthesis, Acta archaeologica, 69: 175-197.

Milne, J. G. 1934. The Melos hoard of 1907, New York (Numismatic notes & monographs 62).

Pasquier, A. 1985. La Vénus de Milo et les Aphrodites du Louvre, Paris.

Pittinger, J. 1975. The mineral products of Melos in antiquity and their identification, The Annual of the British School at Athens, 70: 191-197.

Renfrew, C., N. Brodie & C. Morris. 2007. Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos 1974-77, Athens (Supplementary volume / British School at Athens 42).

Schäfer, J. 1968. Der Poseidon von Melos (Athen, NM 235), Antike Plastik 8: 55-67.

Zapheiropoulou, P. 1985. Προβλήματα της μηλιακής αγγειογραφίας, Αθήνα.

Melos, Nisos Milos, Zefyria

<h2>MELOS</h2>
Melos is the westernmost of the Cyclades. Featuring a large protected bay and rich volcanic soil, it was densely populated at all times. In the Neolithic already, Melos was one of the main sources for obsidian. This essential raw material was exported throughout the Aegean from Crete to Macedonia. During the third millennium chamber tombs carved into the rock, especially in the area of Adamas, attest a important protocycladique community. Throughout the Bronze Age flourished site Fylakopi north of the island. Archaeological researches have uncovered four uninterrupted phases until 1100. First under Minoan influence, then the site experienced an important development in the Mycenaean era. From this period dates the construction of a fortified wall and the foundation of a megaron and sanctuary where was found the famous terracotta figurine of the "Lady of Fylakopi" . Geometric and Archaic periods are represented on the island in a cemetery at Trypiti. Among the finds Protogeometric style vases are significant. Also, should be noted that the large number of parian vases found there had once give the name of “melian” to this archaic production. From the cemetery came also a well preserve kouros of naxian provenance. The cemetery of Trypiti was still in use during the classical period. At this time, the heart of the city should be at a place called Treis Eklisies where English excavations probably uncovered the agora. It seems that the island had a new dynamism in the Hellenistic period. First, the famous Aphrodite of Melos probably came from the gymnasium of the city. An other public construction found is the theater dated to the 2nd century BC. Regarding the religious life of the discovery Klima a monumental statue of Poseidon suppose the existence of a cult here. An cult is also  attested at Tramythia, north of the city, was discovered a large room with a mosaic floor and altar bearing an inscription to 'Dionysos Trieterikos'.  
<h2>BIBLIOGRAPHY</h2>
Atkinson, T. D. 1904. Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos : conducted by the British School at Athens, London (The Society for the promotion of Hellenistic studies. Supplementary paper 4).
Georgiadis, M. 2008. The Obsidian in the Aegean beyond Melos : An Outlook from Yali, Oxford journal of archaeology, 27: 101-117.
Hatzidakis, I. 1927. Η ιστορία της νήσου Μήλου, Athens.
Karouzos, C. J. 1951. An early classical disc relief from Melos, JHS 71: 96-110.
Maggidis, C. 1998. The Aphrodite and the Poseidon of Melos. A synthesis, Acta archaeologica, 69: 175-197.
Milne, J. G. 1934. The Melos hoard of 1907, New York (Numismatic notes & monographs 62).
Pasquier, A. 1985. La Vénus de Milo et les Aphrodites du Louvre, Paris.
Pittinger, J. 1975. The mineral products of Melos in antiquity and their identification, The Annual of the British School at Athens, 70: 191-197.
Renfrew, C., N. Brodie & C. Morris. 2007. Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos 1974-77, Athens (Supplementary volume / British School at Athens 42).
Schäfer, J. 1968. Der Poseidon von Melos (Athen, NM 235), Antike Plastik 8: 55-67.
Zapheiropoulou, P. 1985. Προβλήματα της μηλιακής αγγειογραφίας, Αθήνα.