• Figure of goddess with upraised arms



Figure of goddess with upraised arms
Figure of goddess with upraised arms

Figure of goddess with upraised arms

Π11045
Clay
Mended from many pieces with extensive restoration.
Height: 53 cm.
Karphi
Settlement
Late Bronze Age. Postpalatial period, Late Minoan IIIC period.:
1200 - 1070 BC:
Gallery:
XI
Case:
117
Exhibition thematic unit:
Late Bronze Age - Postpalatial period (1300-1100 BC). Settlements. Sanctuaries. Tombs
Communal shrines
Description
Female figurine of the "goddess with upraised arms", found in the main communal shrine of the settlement at Karphi. This is one of the two such figurines from Karphi that do not bear any of the usual religious symbols associated with goddesses. The head of the figurine is open at the top, revealing the hollow interior, as is also the case with figurine Π9308 from Gazi. Like the other figurines from Karphi, it preserves traces of white bands running around the torso, the arms and the face. These are thought to represent cloth ribbons adorning the figurines. Figurines of this type are formed of separate wheelmade parts attached to each other with wet clay. The details of the head were also modelled separately and attached before the figures were fired. The fact that some of the figurines, like this one, have heads shaped like open vessels is due to the influence of the human figurines of the Late Minoan IIIC period.
Bibliography:
Marinatos, S. "Αι Μινωικαί Θεαί του Γάζι." Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς 1937, 278-291. Seiradaki, M. "Pottery from Karphi." Annual of the British School at Athens 55 (1960): 1-37. Rethemiotakis, G. Ανθρωπομορφική Πηλοπλαστική στην Κρήτη από τη Νεοανακτορική έως την Υπομινωική Περίοδο. Βιβλιοθήκη της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας no. 174. Athens, 1998, 84, 129-133, 157, pls 50, 51.
Author:
E. S.


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