CYCLADES, islands in the Greek Archipelago, around the island of Syra (Syros), the principal town of which, Hermoupolis, is the capital of a department. The islands are interesting and picturesque; their inhabitants present the best type of Greek, and many islands bear traces of the feudal rule of Venetian families. Delos (q.v.), was a great centre of ancient religious, political and commercial life, and has been thoroughly excavated by French archaeologists; Melos (q.v.), has Hellenic and Roman remains, and the prehistoric town of Phylakopi has been excavated by the British school at Athens. In the volcanic Thera (see SAN TORIN), the ancient capital has been explored by Baron Hiller von Gartringen. Naxos, largest and most fertile, contains the highest mountain (Zia, 3, 290 ft.), and exports emery, a state monopoly hypothecated to the foreign debt. Ceos (Zea) (q.v.) and Ios furnish valonia. Kimolos produces fuller's-earth. The marble of Paros has been practically abandoned ; that of Tenos is worked by a British syndicate; iron ore is exported from Seriphos, man ganese and sulphur from Melos, and pumice for cement (poz zolana) from Santorin. But the mineral wealth of the Cyclades is ill-exploited as yet. Though of rugged and barren aspect, they export wines, brandy, tobacco and hides. Cythnos, Melos and other islands possess hot medicinal springs. Tenos has a pilgrim church, modern but famous throughout Greece. Syra was formerly an important distributing centre for the whole Levant, but has been outrun by Peiraeus.