Minoan Culture
The Bronze Age Mediterranean
16th—17th century BC, Minoan culture: Crete and the southern Aegean.
Two well-known Minoan figurines of a goddess with snakes were found buried near the Central Court of the Palace of Knossos, on Crete.
This figurine is probably about thirty-six centuries old’ said Quintin. ‘From the Minoan civilisation of ancient Crete; she was discovered amongst a store of temple objects that Sir Arthur Evans found when he excavated the west side of the Palace of Minos at the turn of the twentieth century. She was probably made before 1600 BC. A goddess with snakes writhing and twisting around her arms and her body and her head!’
This other one is probably the most famous image of all from the Minoan era,’ replied Miranda. ‘She was found buried with the other figurine in a stone-lined cyst near the shrine that overlooked the west side of the Central Court. A lady holding a snake in each hand and waving them in the air.
‘Big girl, wasn’t she.'
references
Minoan Civilisation - Wikipedia
Snake goddess - Wikipedia
Minoan Snake goddess - Women in the Aegean, Christopher L C E Witcombe
Amazon
