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Rock-crystal rosette

Υ103 + Υ104
Stone (Rock crystal)
Mended
Disc diameter: 10.8 cm. Length of one "petal": 3.32 cm. Width of same: 0.83-1.3 cm.
Knossos
Palace
Middle-Late Bronze Age. Neopalatial period, Middle Minoan ΙΙΙΒ - Late Minoan ΙA period.:
1650 - 1550 BC:
Gallery:
VIII
Case:
83
Exhibition thematic unit:
Late Bronze Age - Neopalatial period (1700-1450 BC). Minoan religion. Palace cult
Palace of Knossos. The Temple Repositories
Description
Curved crystal disc found together with 21 petal-shaped crystal objects. The disc was backed with silver foil. The “petals” have shallow grooves, while two preserve the silver foil on the back. With them were found pieces of gold foil preserving the shape of the petals, indicating that the crystal petals were covered with gold leaf. The disc and petals were found in the West Crypt of the Temple Repositories of the Central Palace Sanctuary of Knossos and probably formed a single object. The prevailing interpretation is that the disc represented not a flower but the solar disc, as it was found together with other astral items in the Central Sanctuary of the palace. The sun is believed to have played an important part in Minoan religion. One may imagine that exposing the disc of crystal, gold and silver to strong sunlight would have produced a dazzlingly spectacular result, perhaps as part of a palatial ceremony.
Bibliography:
Evans, A. "The Palace of Knossos: Provisional Report for the Year 1903." Annual of the British School at Athens vol. IX (1902-1903): 1-153, fig. 24. Goodison, L. Death, Women and the Sun. Symbolism of Regeneration in Early Aegean Religion. London, 1989. Panagiotaki, M. The Central Palace Sanctuary at Knossos. British School at Athens Supplementary Volume no. 31. London, 1999, 123-125, 174, fig. 29, pl. 22.
Author:
E. S.


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