Bairia, Gazi 1300-1200 BC Clay figurines of the type known as the “goddess with upraised arms” are distinguished by the conventional gesture of raising their hands and by the various religious symbols on their heads. This figure is very stylised, with a long dress represented by a cylinder. Both hands are raised in what may …

Figurine of goddess with upraised arms Read More »

Phaistos. 1300-1100 BC For the inhabitants of Minoan Crete, the bull was a symbol of strength and fertility. It is depicted in many art forms during the Bronze Age. This figurine is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of the Postpalatial period. It was probably a votive offering to a sanctuary founded on the …

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Palace of Knossos. 1375-1300 BC Linear B is a writing system representing the earliest known form of the Greek language. The script is essentially syllabic, meaning that each sign represents a syllable. The texts of the Linear B tablets were deciphered in 1953 by the architect Michael Ventris, who, together with philologist John Chadwick, proved …

Linear B page tablet Read More »

1500-1400 BC The imagery of the so-called “Ring of Minos” stands out among the scenes depicting aspects of Minoan religious ideology. This exceptional gold ring may be the largest ever found in Crete. It was discovered in 1928 in a field near the Royal Temple Tomb of Knossos, on the Gypsadhes hill. At first, many …

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Zakros, “Treasury of the Shrine”. 1500-1450 BC The largest known assemblage of elaborate Minoan stone vessels was revealed in the “Treasury of the Shrine” at the Palace of Zakros, whose contents were discovered almost intact during the excavation by Nikolaos Platon. Among the most striking finds are the stone ritual vessels, including rhyta for offerings …

Amphora of multicoloured veined limestone Read More »

Knossos, Little Palace. 1600-1450 BC A masterpiece of Minoan art, this stone vessel in the shape of a bull’s head is a fine example of both the stone-carving expertise and the ideology of the Minoans, as the bull is an emblematic religious symbol of the Minoan world. The vessel is restored. Only the left side …

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Zakros, “Treasury of the Shrine”. 1500-1450 BC This small libation vessel, a true masterpiece of Minoan art, is one of the most valuable ritual vessels of the Central Sanctuary of Zakros. The body and neck are made separately. The body of the rhyton is carved from a particularly large block of rock crystal. The vase …

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Zakros, Palace. 1600-1450 BC The exquisite stone ritual vessels found in the shrine treasuries of the palaces of Zakros and Knossos, some of them true masterpieces, attest to the luxurious ceremonies of official palace cult. A representative example is this vase from Zakros, known as the “Sanctuary Rhyton”, which bears a religious scene. The rhyton …

Green steatite rhyton with relief open-air sanctuary Read More »

Poros, Cave Tomb I. 1500-1450 BC Sealstones, usually made of precious materials with elaborate miniature decoration, often appear to have been worn on the wrist of important figures wielding administrative or religious authority in Minoan Crete. One such example is this carnelian sealstone, gold-mounted and decorated with granulation, in order to be threaded and used …

Gold-bound carnelian sealstone with religious symbols Read More »

Juktas. 1600-1450 BC Among the spectacular objects in this case is a tiny gold drop-shaped ornament. It is a pendant, as we can see from the suspension loop. Its elaborate decoration is difficult to make out from a distance. Its tiny surface is decorated with a snake, a scorpion and an insect. The scorpion and …

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