I will compare these three works of art first by what they are made of and a brief history second by describing them and the style third by telling you what their purpose in their culture was for or did for that time.

The Cycladic figurines were small statutes carved from Parian marble. The size and style of Cycladic figurines varies greatly. Most Cycladic figurines are tiny, and could have been held by hand. Small amounts of 4-foot figures have been uncovered. Unlike the Aphrodite of Knidos and Yakshi that were life size.

Aphrodite of Knidos created in about 350 BC was sculpted out of marble making the light reflect and contour off the statue giving it a lifelike essence

The Yakshi (fertility figure) a 5'4" tall statue is carved out of a single piece of stone. The Yakshi was considered one of the finest examples of Indian art. The statue was a full breasted, broad hipped woman that symbolized the productive forces of nature “fertility”.

These figurines are highly abstract compared to the Aphrodite of Knidos and Yakshi. The Aphrodite of Knidos is more human like with realistic features and the Yakshi is a bit less realistic because of the exaggeration of body parts.

The Cycladic figurines where placed in gravesites by ancient peoples. Perhaps their folded arms as well as no eyes and mouth was intentional to represent death. It was believed that Cycladic figures had some religious meaning connected with life after death. Their sex may indicate that they were a symbol of deceased men's wives or a mother goddess.

The Yakshis depicted nature deities; these nature deities were absorbed into the temple of both Buddhism and Hinduism, main religions in India at that time. The Yakshi have been associated the fruitful forces of Mother Nature.

The Cycladic figurines were lavish objects they were not very common, at least in marble. The characteristics of a Cycladic figure are usually a woman with a small, flattened head and a very pointy nose that sticks out as a sharp ridge they appear to be removed from marble slabs. The small breasts seem to be resting on the folded arms. The narrow hips followed by legs that come to a point, and the feet are together pointing down. The detail of the figurines has been kept to a minimal. Occas

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