Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Gold/silver objects : Gold amulet with snake, scorpion and insect [Χ-Α1250]

Gold amulet with snake, scorpion and insect

Χ-Α1250

Metal (Gold)

Intact

Length: 1.3 cm. Maximum diameter: 5 cm.

Juktas

Peak Sanctuary

Middle -Late Bronze Age. Neopalatial period, Middle Minoan ΙΙΙΒ - Late Minoan I period.:

1650 - 1450 BC:

Gallery:

VII

Case:

Exhibition thematic unit:

Late Bronze Age - Neopalatial period (1700-1450 BC). Minoan religion - Domestic and open-air cult

Open-air Sanctuaries. The Peak Sanctuaries

Description

Drop-shaped pendant with suspension loop. Its tiny surface is decorated with a snake, a scorpion and an unidentified insect. The scorpion and the insect are repouss? while the snake is formed of fine wire filigree. All three were attached to the body of the pendant. This was an apotropaic amulet, meaning that its owner wore it to avert the negative consequences of a venomous bite or sting. The use of amulets was associated with the magico-religious beliefs of the Minoans, which are often compared to those of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The drop pendant is the valuable offering of a wealthy worshipper to the Juktas sanctuary, the largest and richest peak sanctuary of Minoan Crete, which was directly linked to Knossos.

Bibliography:

Karetsou, Α. "Το Ιερό Κορυφής Γιούχτα." Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας (1977): 419-420, pl. 222δ. Karetsou, A. M. Andreadaki-Vlazaki and N. Papadakis (eds). Κρήτη - Αίγυπτος. Πολιτισμικοί Δεσμοί Τριών Χιλιετιών. Κατάλογος Έκθεσης στο Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ηρακλείου, 21 Νοεμβρίου 1999 - 21 Σεπτεμβρίου 2000. Heraklion, 2000, 188, no. 178. Karetsou, A. "The Gold Amulet from Juktas". In G. Baldacci and I. Caloi (eds), Rhadamanthys. Studi di archeologia minoica in honore di Filippo Carinci per il suo 70o compleanno, BAR Int. Series 2884, Oxford, 1918, 211-222.

Author:

E. S.

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