Carthaea, also known as Karthaia in Ancient Greek (Κάρθαια), stood among the four ancient Greek city-states situated on the island of Ceos, modern-day Kea or Tzia, in the Cyclades archipelago. Positioned on the southeastern coast of the island, Carthaea boasted an extensive acropolis encircled by walls stretching over 2 kilometers, with origins dating back to the 6th-4th centuries BC.
The acropolis featured two artificial terraces on its lower section, strategically designed to accommodate temples and public structures. The upper terrace housed a smaller temple believed by some scholars to have been dedicated to Athena around 500 BC. This temple’s marble architectural sculptures depicted scenes of an Amazonomachy, with remnants of these artworks preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Ioulis.
