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Original, the following link leads you directly to the exhibit in the Archaeological Museum
in Iráklion, Crete:
www.hellenica.de/Griechenland/Kreta/Herakleion/HerakleionMuseum006.html
www.hellenica.de/Griechenland/Kreta/Herakleion/HerakleionMuseum006.html
The Snake Goddess from the Palace of Knossos
dates from the 16th century B.C. The Mediterranean inhabitants of Crete, who were not Indo-European, became the bearers of the Cretan-Mycenaean culture, the oldest high culture in Europe (2,600 to 1,150 B.C.), which had a strong charisma. Its highlights were in the 19th/18th century and in the 16th century BCE.
Despite strong communication with the cultures of the Near East, especially Egypt, the Cretan-Mycenaean culture retained its independence.
This faience statue probably depicts a priestess with an open bodice, a stylized panther on her head and snakes in her hands.
At that time, breasts worn openly were an integral part of women's fashion.
The relationship to snakes was ambivalent in ancient early cultures. The Babylonians saw in her the embodiment of evil, the Egyptians, on the other hand, the manifestation of wisdom. In Greek antiquity, the snake was often kept as a pet to kill mice. They didn't loathe her and even let children play with her. Noble Greek women wore snakes around their necks to cool off during the hot season.
The lovers of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility, the Bakchen, wore daggers, Thyrsosticks and snakes at festivities.
Exhibit of the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, Crete.
Replica in original size, hand-painted, made of ceramic (high-strength special plaster).
This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday, January 29, 2014.