Snake Goddess [or attendant], front view.
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Title |
Snake Goddess [or attendant], front view. |
|
Date |
1600 BCE? |
|
Cultural Context |
Minoan
Aegean
Cretan
Greek
Ancient Greek
European
Western European |
|
Style/Period |
Minoan
Greek (ancient)
Prehistoric
Bronze Age |
|
Subject |
Sculpture
Figurines
Myths
Legends
Women
Goddesses
Supernatural beings
Fictitious characters
Clothing & dress
Headgear
Breasts
Animals
Snakes
Reptiles
Lifting & carrying |
|
Description |
"In contrast to Mesopotamia and Egypt, no temples or monumental statues of gods, kings, or monsters have been found in Minoan Crete. Large wooden images may once have existed, but what remains of Minoan sculpture in the round is small in scale, such as the faience (glazed earthenware) statuette known as the Snake Goddess, from the palace at Knossos. It is one of several similar figurines that some scholars believe may represent mortal attendants rather than a deity, although the prominently exposed breasts suggest that these figurines stand in the long line of prehistoric fertility images usually considered divinities. (The woman depicted in the Knossos statuette not only holds snakes in her hands but also supports a leopardlike feline peacefully on her head. This implied power over the animal world also seems appropriate for a deity.) The frontality of the figure is reminiscent of Egyptian and Near Eastern statuary, but the costume, with its open bodice and flounced skirt, is distinctly Minoan. If the statuette represents a goddess, as seems likely, then it is yet another example of how human beings fashion their gods in their own image." (Excerpt, p.95) |
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Material |
Faience (composite material) |
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Measurements |
Approx. 1' 1 1/2" high |
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Technique |
Sculpting |
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Work Type |
Sculpture
Statues
Figurines
Faience (ancient objects) |
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Repository |
Archaeological Museum (Herakleion, Crete, Greece) |
|
Source |
Kleiner, Fred S., and Christin J. Mamiya. Gardner's Art Through the Ages. 12th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005. (fig.4-14, p.95) |
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Rights |
Photo credit/reproduced in Kleiner courtesy: Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis. |
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Digital Publisher |
University of Louisville Department of Fine Arts/Allen R. Hite Art Institute Visual Resources Center |
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Format |
image/jpeg |
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Digital File Name |
VRC 833-21.jpg |
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Rating |
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