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Among the most important exhibits of the Museum are the two famous statuettes known as the “Snake Goddesses”, iconic symbols of the Minoan civilisation and exquisite examples of Minoan miniature sculpture.
- Part of a Relief Bull Fresco
Knossos, Palace. 1650 - 1550 BC Despite its fragmentary...
- Lily Fresco
Amnisos. 1600-1500 BC The Lily Fresco forms part of a larger...
- The Blue Bird Fresco
Knossos, House of the Frescoes. 1600 - 1500 BC The Blue Bird...
- The Cup-Bearer Fresco
Knossos, Palace. 1450 - 1400 BC The Cup-bearer fresco is...
- Chest Larnax
Palaikastro. 1370-1300 BC The chest larnax with gabled lid...
- Bathtub Larnax
Alatsomouri, Pacheia Ammos. 1370-1300 BC This larnax in the...
- Timeline
Knossos, Palace. 1400 - 1350/1300 BC Evans named this young...
- Dolphin Fresco
Knossos, Palace. 1600 - 1450 BC The Dolphin Fresco is a...
- Part of a Relief Bull Fresco
Minoan Snake Goddess figurines, c. 1600 BCE, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete. Two Minoan snake goddess figurines were excavated in 1903 in the Minoan palace at Knossos in the Greek island of Crete.
###The “Temple Repositories” Evans found the sculpture of the Snake Goddess in a secondary exploration of the complex he called a “palace” at Knossos. After digging out the entire western wing, he decided to check under the paving stones.
5 lut 2024 · The faience figurines identified as the “snake goddess” were discovered in 1903 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in the so-called Temple Repositories at the palace of Knossos on the island of Crete. They are now on display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
The Temple Repositories of the palace of Knossos. Description. Painted faience figurines known as “Snake Goddesses”. The various parts were made separately in moulds and joined with wire. The female figures are interpreted as goddesses or priestesses.
One of the most intriguing archaeological finds in the remains of the Minoan palace at Knossos was the figure above which has been traditionally identified as the "Snake Goddess." Minoan culture flourished in the middle of the second millenium BCE.
The two famous figurines of the Minoan earth goddess with the snakes, possibly representing a mother goddess and a daughter, are exquisite examples of Minoan miniature sculpture. The smallest of the two shows the goddess standing, holding snakes in both of her raised hands.