The divine figure linked with snakes, commonly referred to as The Snake Goddess.
One of the most well-known female deities and faience statuettes in Minoan civilization is a juicy, godly figure with bare chests and serpents in both hands (Patron).
While the exact depiction of the Snake Goddess remains uncertain, it is widely believed that she is a significant female deity in Minoan society. By examining the significance of symbolism, the role of women in Minoan civilization, and the function of the Snake Goddess within Minoan culture.
It becomes evident that The Snake Goddess holds a significant role in Minoan art, religion, and society (Witcombe). This discovery was made in 1903 by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans.
At The Temple Repositories, there is a small faience statuette known as The Snake Goddess. It dates back to approximately 1600 BCE according to Evans (495). Although little is currently known about this particular representation, there is evidence suggesting that The Snake Goddess symbolizes fertility.
The Snake Goddess conveys the concepts of sanctity, life, and death (Flamee). Her physical representation at the Herakleion Museum in Crete measures 13 inches in height, showcasing her association with fertility.
The Snake Goddess is portrayed in a statue with a serpent in each hand, wearing a hat topped with a sitting cat, and with her bare chests uncovered. This depiction is seen as a symbol of fertility, particularly related to the growth of crops (Witcombe).
The cat, sitting on the chapeau, symbolizes sexuality and fertility. This indicates that she is not only a fertility deity but also a mother deity (Joe). In Minoan religion, serpents often represent protection of the home and life. “To my own understanding in Herzegovina and the Serbian lands.”
It was not uncommon for serpents east of the Adriatic to seek human hospitality, being fed with milk and treated as domestic pets.
Evans (509) states that the family serpent, also known as the “domachilsa” or “housemother,” is associated with healing. Thus, the Snake Goddess symbolizes a maternal figure providing protection and guidance.
Contrarily, serpents possess the power to swiftly terminate a human life through their venom, thus associating them with death.
The Snake Goddess is often regarded as a deity of illness, according to Joe. She adorns a girdle with a bodice that features a knot known as the sacral knot, beneath her exposed breasts, as named by the founder of The Snake Goddesses.
According to Sir Arthur Evans, the sacral knot holds significance in Minoan civilization as it symbolizes the sacredness towards important worlds and objects (Evans 506). Additionally, The Snake Goddess embodies various symbols such as fertility and sanctity.
The Minoan civilization is deeply influenced by their beliefs in both life and death. The presence and significance of The Snake Goddess in their society reflects the strong connection between faith and actions. The symbolism used in Minoan art plays a vital role in defining the importance of The Snake Goddess in their religious practices and societal norms.
In contrast to the prevailing belief that men held a higher status than women in society, the Minoan civilization defied this idea by venerating goddesses rather than gods.
One notable goddess in Minoan religion is considered to be among the main deities honored: the Snake Goddess. Nevertheless, there is still uncertainty surrounding the exact role of the Snake Goddess in Minoan civilization.
Despite the reference to these figures as “Snake smoothies,” many archaeologists, such as Sir Arthur Evans, strongly believe that they were female figures worshipped in Minoan faith. According to Evans, the context in which these figures were discovered indicates they had a spiritual significance and were central to a shrine (Evans 507).
In Minoan civilization, women held a significant role, possessing the same rights and responsibilities as men or even more. According to Witcombe (10), female figures appear more frequently than males in Minoan archaeological findings. These women also functioned as priestesses and had authority in making official decisions within their community.
According to Witcombe (10), women in Minoan civilization were in charge of creating commune maps, a role that was not commonly assigned to men. Despite efforts to place them in authoritative positions, men were rarely seen in positions of power (Witcombe 10).
It is believed that the reason why women played a significant role in Minoan civilization was because they worshiped goddesses in their religion and were greatly influenced by them. The Snake Goddess, along with the Huntress and the Mountain Mother, was an important figure worshipped in Crete at that time.
The main focus was on The Snake Goddess, who embodied a formidable and influential female deity. She served as a symbol and inspiration for women, resulting in a significant impact on them.
Women transcended their role as mere community members and gained a place in society, thus transforming it into a world where women held significant power. This shift changed the dynamics from being controlled by men to being influenced and governed by women. Evidence from ancient frescoes and other forms of Minoan artwork reinforces the notion that women held a more important role than men.
According to Witcombe (10), there were more word pictures of adult females than men. The Snake Goddess had a significant impact on women in Crete and played an important role in Minoan civilization, as evident in the analysis of women’s key roles. Just like the figurine of The Snake Goddess, not much information is known about Minoan civilization and culture.
Due to the lack of sufficient archaeological evidence that remains today, the understanding of Minoan civilization is incomplete. However, an important method of determining Minoan history is through the physical remains and appearance of the Minoans.
Frequently, the Snake Goddess is considered to have similar characteristics to the Minoans, such as in Minoan civilization and religion. Sir Arthur Evans suggested that the Minoans worshipped a powerful female deity, perhaps someone as prominent as the Snake Goddess.
Evans provinces. “The significant spiritual meaning of it can hardly be doubted” (Evans 517). It is believed that followers of the Snake Goddess were greatly impacted by her and practiced the skill of serpent charming.
According to Evans (507), there is no significant difference for the followers or devotees of the worshiped Goddess regarding the snake-charming practice, as it would have been a part of their religious duties.
The Minoan civilization featured ancient graphics such as frescoes, statues, and paintings. Goddesses were prominently depicted and held a central role in the artistic representation. Furthermore, the presence of goddesses in visual art was a recurring theme.
The Snake Goddess demonstrates significant resemblances to the Minoans as it is anticipated that she wore lavish clothing and accessories similar to what the Minoan civilization would have worn. Evans affirms this notion.
“Late Minoan manners can be characterized by two features. The first feature is the absence of the shimmy, which is a garment with its upper boundary line visible below the cervix. The second feature is the V-shaped arrangement of the flounces” (Evans 503). It is also believed that the Minoans had a strong reverence for nature.
Harvests and animate beings make a considerable sum of sense because the Snake Goddess symbolizes birthrate. Linking the Snake Goddess to Minoan civilization suggests that adult females in Minoan civilisation were greatly impacted by this female figure and based many life determinations around The Snake Goddess including their beliefs.
The Snake Goddess is important in Minoan society due to her functions in the community and her visual aspects. There has been controversy surrounding the true meaning and portrayal of The Snake Goddess since the figurine was discovered on the Island of Crete (Witcombe 1).
By not recognizing the true significance of The Snake Goddess, readers have the opportunity to create their own interpretations and opinions; however, all these various ideas revolve around one central concept: that The Snake Goddess was a prominent goddess in Minoan civilization, similar to Sir Arthur Evans.
The essay views The Snake Goddess as a significant female deity in Minoan civilization, analyzing key aspects such as symbolism and the role of women in Minoan society and culture.
It is evident that The Snake Goddesses fulfill a significant role in Minoan art, religion, and society.
