Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Seals : Sealstone with priestly figure bearing a Syrian-type axe [Σ-Κ85]

Sealstone with priestly figure bearing a Syrian-type axe

Σ-Κ85

Stone (Haematite)

Intact

Length 2.5 cm. Width 1.4 cm.

Vatheia Pediada

Late Bronze Age. Neopalatial period, Late Minoan ΙB period.:

1500-1450 BC:

Gallery:

VIII

Case:

Exhibition thematic unit:

Late Bronze Age - Neopalatial period (1700-1450 BC). Minoan religion. Palace cult

Cult scenes

Description

Amygdaloid sealstone with a male priestly figure walking to the right. He is wearing a long, floor-length robe with diagonal bands and holding an axe with a crescent-shaped blade, considered to be of Syrian origin. The long robe, mainly worn by priests and high-ranking officials, is also of Eastern inspiration. Although the man is turning his head backwards, he is probably walking alone, indicating his special status. He may even be the ruler himself, displaying his power by adopting imported elements and models of hegemonic behaviour from the East. The turn of the head and the relaxed way of carrying the axe are often used by Minoan seal-carvers to moderate the processional severity of such scenes. From a technical point of view, the seal is an exceptional example of Minoan seal-carving, displaying an impressively naturalistic rendition of the human figure.

Bibliography:

Xanthoudides, S."Προϊστορικαί σφραγίδες του Μουσείου Ηρακλείου". Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς (1907): 173 no. 85, pl. 7. Evans, A.J. The Palace of Minos: A Comparative Account of the Successive Stages of the Early Cretan Civilization as Illustrated by the Discoveries at Knossos. Vol. IV, London, 1935, 413-9, fig. 343a. Demargne, P. "Un pr?tre oriental sur une gemme cr?toise du MRI". Bulletin de Correspondance Hell?nique 70 (1946): 149. Platon, N. and I. Pini. Corpus der minoischen und mykenischen Siegel, II.3. Iraklion, Arch?ologisches Museum. Iraklion Arch?ologisches Museum. Die Siegel der Neupalastzeit. Berlin, 1984, 198. Marinatos, Ν. Minoan Kingship and the Solar Goddess. Illinois, 2010, 19-21. Davis, Ε. "Art and Politics in the Aegean: The Missing Ruler". In P. Rehak (ed.), The Role of the Ruler in the Prehistoric Aegean. Proceedings of a Panel Discussion Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, New Orleans, Louisiana, 28 December 1992, Aegaeum 11, Li?ge, 1995, 15, pl. VIe. Koehl, R.B. "The Nature of Minoan Kingship", ibid., 29, pl. XIId. Boulotis, Ch. "From Mythical Minos to the Search for Cretan Kingship". In M. Andreadaki-Vlazaki, G. Rethemiotakis and N. Dimopoulou-Rethemiotaki (eds), From the Land of the Labyrinth: Minoan Crete, 3000–1100 B.C., New York, 2008, Vol. 2 (Essays), 50-51.

Author:

S. M.

Photographs' metadata