Changes in cityscapes of the Late Antique Cyclades (4th – 6th c. AD)
Journal
Social Sciences & Humanities Open
ISSN
2590-2911
Date Issued
December 2026
Abstract
This paper explores aspects of urban transformation in the Cycladic islands during Late Antiquity (4th-6th c. CE), a period marked by shifting political, religious, and economic landscapes across the Eastern Mediterranean. Moving beyond outdated narratives of decline, the study highlights the continuity, adaptation, and resilience of Cycladic urban centers in response to broader imperial dynamics. Drawing on a wide spectrum of archaeological evidence, it examines how coastal cities such as Paros, Naxos, Andros, and Melos redefined their civic spaces, elite structures, and religious identities. The 4th c. CE witnessed a complex interplay between Roman traditions and emerging Christian influences, as evidenced by monumental private residences, the repurposing of civic spaces, and continued elite investment in urban life. In the 5th-6th c. CE, Christianization became a defining force in reshaping cityscapes, with churches constructed in symbolically prominent locations, often repurposing earlier temples or agorae, thus transforming the religious and social fabric of Cycladic cities. The article also highlights the Cyclades' role in Eastern Mediterranean trade networks, using ceramic assemblages from the port of Parikia to demonstrate sustained commercial exchange with Crete, Asia Minor, Cyprus, and the Levant. These findings underscore the Cyclades’ integration into broader economic systems and challenge perceptions of insular marginality. By focusing on localized processes of transformation, this study views the Late Antique Cyclades as dynamic arenas of cultural negotiation and urban innovation. It argues for a more nuanced understanding of insular urbanism, where adaptation, connectivity, and identity were continuously reshaped in response to changing imperial conditions.
Affiliation
Funding
This study is funded by the 'EXCELSIOR': ERATOSTHENES: Excellence Research Centre for Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment H2020 Widespread Teaming project (www. excelsior2020.eu). The 'EXCELSIOR' project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 857510, from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus through the Directorate General for the European Programmes, Coordination and Development and the Cyprus University of Technology.
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