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How were Minoan, Cycladic, and Helladic cultures named?

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Map of the Aegean region highlighting principal archaeological sites associated with ancient Aegean civilizations around 1250 BCE. The map shows mainland Greece, western Anatolia, and numerous islands in the Aegean Sea, with key locations such as Mycenae, Knossos, Troy, and Athens labeled.
Aegean civilizations Principal sites associated with Aegean civilizations.

The names for the Bronze Age cultures of the Aegean region are derived from their respective geographical locations or legendary associations.12

  • Minoan: This culture, which flourished on the island of Crete, was named by the British archaeologist Arthur Evans after the legendary King Minos of Knossos. Evans chose the name because the complex ground plan of the palace he excavated at Knossos resembled the labyrinth associated with the king in Greek mythology.134
  • Cycladic: This term refers to the Bronze Age culture of the Cyclades, a group of islands in the Aegean Sea. The name Cyclades means "encircling islands," as they form a rough circle around the sacred island of Delos.15
  • Helladic: This name refers to the Bronze Age culture of the Greek mainland. It is derived from Hellas, which is the Greek name for Greece.126