Transcript Artwork Analysis

Minoan “Snake Goddess”
The “Goddess With Snakes” created c 1600 BCE
in the Aegean region by a group of people who
lived on the island of Crete and are referred to as
the Minoans.
Three cultures thrived simultaneously in the Aegean region
between c. 3000-1100 BCE
Cycladic on smaller cluster
of islands 3000-1600
Minoan on Thera and
Crete 1900-1100
Helladic, including the
Mycenaean, on the
mainland of Greece
1500-1100.
Three Minoan Periods
The Old Period 1900 – 1700 BCE
The Second Period 1700 – 1450 BCE
(Artwork was made)
Late Period 1450 – 1100 BCE
Other Flourishing Cultures
Sumerian, Akkadian, Neo-Sumerian,
Babylonian and Assyrians were
flourishing throughout the
Mesopotamia region
Egypt was thriving through the Old
Middle and New Kingdoms
Social and Political Environment of Minoans
1900-1100 BCE
Minoans Lived on Crete largest of the Aegean Islands (150 miles
long 36 wide).
The name Minoan comes from the legend of Minos
Self-sufficient farmers and herders who produced their own
grains, olives and other fruits.
Heavily influenced by the sea that provided a link to each other
and the rest of the world
Became wealthy due to location and trade.
Egypt and Near East civilizations were important trading partners.
Using metal ores imported from Europe, Arabia and Anatolia the
Ageans became master artisans most notably utilizing bronze.
Written records exist, yet only one form of language is
translatable and gives insight into the culture.
Held Impressions of Minoans
Elegant fashionable costumes and art imply physical
gracefulness, sensitivity, sophisticated tastes, and love of
luxury
Perceived as having refined manners and worldly ways
Thought to have high intelligence and love of beauty nature
and peace
Women played an important roll in Minoan society. May have
been a matrilineal or even a matriarchal, society.
No evidence of male dominated society
or warlike tendencies common to Eastern
Mediterranean cultures
No Walled citadels, fortifications, no temples
to the gods
No large public sculptures
No clear evidence of a hierarchically
structured society ruled by kings and priest
nor boastful inscriptions telling of wars or
conquests.
Utilizing dressed stone, great architectural
complexes were constructed and were
the center of Minoan culture
“Palace” of Knossos
Layout was so strange that in later Greek
mythology it is referred to as the labyrinth
(Spawned the legend of the Minatare)
Judging from the huge storage areas and
layout the palace of Knossos may have been
used as a collection and distribution centers
for agricultural production, local leaders,
artists and artisans (leaders unknown) as well
as a general meeting location (town square).
Religion
From evidence that has been uncovered archeologists believe that this
was a polytheistic society, and early on many of their political beliefs
were enforced by whom no one is certain, but influenced by these
deities.
They could have believed in mythology based on these
gods
It is theorized that the Minoans may have worshiped a
mother Goddess that could have been represented by
the Women With Snakes.
They believed in mythological creatures, as shown
in the Palace on Knossos.
Griffins with flowers. Also other mythological beasts with
lion bodies and bird heads and the Minotaure
Archeological digs suggest that they may have believed in an afterlife.
Graves were dug into the ground within a circular enclosure. Vast
amounts of gold treasure- including death masks, jewelry, and weapons
were found within grave sights.
Influence and influencing Cultures
Influenced by the Egyptians
Aegean culture is known for the light it throws on later cultures
Influenced much of the Greek Culture.
Many of the gods and goddesses of the Aegean’s may have
influenced the Greek culture
These mythological stories most likely traveled with those who
traded along these areas of the Aegean Sea
Many Greek Myths use Crete as a focal point. They tell tales in
the Odyssey about “Crete of a Hundred cities,” which is a
reference to the “ruthless” King Minos, who would sacrifice men
and women to the Minotaur within the Labyrinth.
Artwork Analysis
Geographic Influences
Discovered in 1903 by
British Archaeologist Sir
Arthur Evans
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Found in Temple Repositories
on the site of the
"Palace" of Knossos
Found along side other
“ceremonial” objects
Geographic Influences
Sculptures of the region during this period consists
mainly of small, finely Executed works in wood, ivory,
precious metals, stone and faience. This statue is a
wonderful example of this technique
 Faïence is pottery glaze technique using ground
quartz, which can be tinted.
 Much artwork, including painting and jewelry,
appear to be for aesthetic purpose only.
Art for Arts sake
Art for Arts sake
Art for Arts sake
Geographic Influences
Materials for this sculpture were
found on the Island. Other
materials used in various artwork
such as metals were imported
(Well known for their bronze work)
Possibly influenced by nearby
Egyptian art (Snake Goddess in
Egyptian Art)
Social/Political Influences
Female figurines holding serpents were fashioned on Crete as
far back as 6000 BC
Stands out as an object central to the understanding of Minoan
culture (whether or not this is warranted is left to debate).
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In the same way that the “Venus” of Willendorf, has come to
epitomize Paleolithic sculpture, the “Snake Goddess” is regarded as
a particularly important manifestation of Minoan society.
According to some scholars, including Arthur Evans, one of the
prime pieces of evidence that women dominated Minoan culture
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Basis for the argument that Minoans lived in a matrilineal or even a
matriarchal society
Examples of Snake Goddesses
Social/Political Influences
Goddess and other art found nearby are
some of the best examples of Minoan art.
Can be interpreted as giving insight and
embodying many of the perceived, and
admired, characteristics of the Minoans
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Elegant, fashionable costumes
 Dressed in the typical Minoan clothes with a long skirt
(flounced, or with an apron)
 Tight open bodice (can be seen in many other works of
Minoan art)
 Crystallizes idea that Minoans were artistic and enjoyed
creating art simply as an object of beauty
Tight open bodice common in Minoan Fashion
Social/Political Influences - Perceived
Characteristics
Physical gracefulness
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Represented in more sinuous and
naturalistic form
Figure is both lively and dauntingly, almost
hypnotically powerful (A combination that
has led scholars to disagree whether
statues such as this represent deities or
their human attendants.)
Social/Political Influences - Perceived
Characteristics - Physical Gracefulness
Social/Political Influences - Perceived
Characteristics - Physical Gracefulness
Social/Political Influences - Perceived
Characteristics - Physical Gracefulness
Social/Political Influences - Perceived
Characteristics - Physical Gracefulness
Social/Political Influences - Perceived
Characteristics - Sensitive yet forthright
personalities
A bear breasted women
is somewhat obvious
and forthright yet
sensitive in the
possibility that the
object represents
fertility and protection
Sophisticated tastes and love of luxury
Sophisticated tastes and love of luxury
Sophisticated tastes and love
of luxury
Sophisticated tastes and love of luxury
Clothing reflects the Minoan
preference for bright colors,
patterns and fancy edgings.
Refined Manners and Worldly Ways
Nothing threatening or
demanding reflected in
artwork
Seemingly high intelligence and innocence
Understanding of the world
and ecology
Master craftsman especially
with metals and faience
Artwork/architecture
suggests that they are unlike
other warlike and male
dominated societies.
Apparent love of beauty, nature, and peace.
Represented in sinuous naturalistic
form
Well ornamented
One figurine is decorated with a
saffron-flower pattern
No evidence of domination or war
or desire to conquer
Bare breasted, arms extended with
snakes perhaps a symbol of
protection
A leopard or a cat rests on the head
perhaps a symbol of protection.
Religious/Mythological Influences
Debate as to what this object symbolized or
represented
There is little archaeological evidence to support the
existence in the Minoan religion of a snake deity.
(Although could have Egyptian or Mesopotamia
influence)
Among the many examples of cult objects such as
the double-axe, the sacral knot, the sacral horns,
sacred pillars, sacred trees, birds (doves), and beasts
(bulls, lions, goats) seen painted in frescoes or on
pottery, sculpted in reliefs, and engraved in seals, the
snake appears only rarely.
Religious/Mythological Influences
Religious/Mythological Influences
Religious/Mythological Influences
Could have several symbolic meanings
Minoan religion, constructed by some
historians, reflects prehistoric religion
centered on a dominant goddess of fertility
May have represented maternity as well as
fertility including agricultural re-growth and
rebirth.
Goddess of Fertility
In the Sumerian and the Old-Babylonian literary
tradition the snake was a wise creature and an expert
for miraculous herbs of the eternal youth and
immortality.
A similar idea is contained in the Cretan myth about
Glaukos, where the snake knows the herb of rebirth
and resurrection
Invoked to ensure abundant crops, or the plentiful
production of lambs and kids among the herds of
sheep and goat.
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the planting of crops and tending of animals were principally
male activities, the "Snake Goddess" may have served
primarily the male population.
A sort of domestic goddess or
goddess of the house
A kind of guardian angel–in many regions of the
world, including Greece, the household snake was
worshipped and fed as a domestic guardian angel.
In the Egyptian mythology the snake was a
personification of the goddess Kebechet, symbolized
the purification by water in the funeral cult, so the
snake became a protector of the pharaohs in their
death.
A leopard or a cat rests on the head perhaps a
symbol of protection.
Found alongside other artifacts put
together by Evens as a shrine
The faïence objects included fragments of three figurines,
as well as votive robes and girdles, cups and vases, shells
in the round, quantities of beads, a variety of plaques for
inlay, and two small reliefs’, one of a cow suckling a calf
and another of a wild goat (or agrimi) suckling a kid
Evidence suggests there was some level
of religious significance
Due to the lack of decipherable written history we
can only speculate, based on surrounding cultures
influence combined with interpretation of the artifacts
found at Knossos and surrounding Aegean areas, as
to what the figure may have represented. However,
we can be sure that in some way Minoan
religious/mythological, social/political, and geographic
influences are reflected in the art piece. Hopefully
historians will be able to unravel the unreadable
forms of writing of the time and gain greater insight
into this very interesting culture.