Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Clay objects : Clay bull figurine [Π1112]

Clay bull figurine

Π1112

Clay

Restored on centre of body and parts of legs and head.

Height: 26 cm.Length: 34 cm.Width: 10 cm.

Patsos

Agios Antonios rock shelter

Late Minoan IIIC - Protogeometric period:

1200-970 BC:

Gallery:

XVII

Case:

176

Exhibition thematic unit:

Geometric - Archaic - Classical period (10th - 4th c. BC). The Sanctuaries. From Minoan cult to the amalgamation of religious beliefs

Sacred Caves

Description

Votive bull figurine from the cave of Hermes Kranaios. It is particularly carefully made, paying close attention to the animal’s anatomy. The details are rendered in relief and picked out in reddish-brown paint which vividly outlines the body, head and neck. The painted lines covering the animal imitate the bull’s musculature in an abstract style. A large number of clay and bronze votive offerings from many different periods were found in the sanctuary. This example is one of the best-quality figurines of the Postpalatial period.

Bibliography:

Platon N., Créte, Archaeologia Mundi, Genéve 1966, fig. 70. Kourou N. - Karetsou A. (eds), “Το Ιερό του Ερμού Κραναίου στην Πατσό Αμαρίου”, in Rocchetti L. (ed.), Sybrita la valle di Amari fra bronzo e ferro, Roma, 1994, 87, fig. 7. Stampolidis Chr. – Berggruen O. (eds), Divine Dialogues. Picasso and Antiquity. Line and Clay, Athens, 2019, 320.

Author:

S. P.

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