Despotiko is an uninhabited Cycladic island whose strategic position in the Aegean made it a significant node in ancient maritime trade. Excavations have revealed a major late Archaic sanctuary, likely dedicated to Apollo, with evidence of sustained occupation from the Archaic through Roman periods and material connections spanning the Eastern Mediterranean.

During a visit to the site, I observed ongoing restoration techniques and conservation strategies. In parallel, I undertook preliminary research into Egyptian scarabs in Greek contexts, examining two examples in existing scholarship (one attributable to the Second Intermediate Period and the other bearing iconography associated with Thutmose III). This research forms the basis of a short paper currently in development, exploring Egyptian material culture and its transmission through Aegean trade networks.