Snake Goddess figurines

E337579

Snake Goddess figurines are famous Minoan statuettes depicting bare-breasted female deities holding snakes, often interpreted as symbols of fertility, protection, or religious power in Bronze Age Crete.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Snake Goddess figurines canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Minoan figurine type
archaeological artifact type
associatedWith Bronze Age Crete
linked to: Minoan civilization
category prehistoric Aegean art
chronology circa 1700–1450 BCE
culture Minoan civilization
currentLocation Heraklion Archaeological Museum
various archaeological museums
depicts bare-breasted woman
female deity
discoveredBy Arthur Evans (key Knossos examples)
linked to: Arthur Evans
foundAt Knossos
Minoan palaces
linked to: Minoan civilization
foundInContext cult rooms
domestic shrines
hasNotableExample First Snake Goddess from Knossos
Second Snake Goddess from Knossos
holds snakes
iconographicFeature apron
cat or panther on headdress in some examples
exposed breasts
flounced skirt
high headdress
raised arms
snakes coiled around arms
influenced modern neopagan iconography
modern reconstructions of Minoan religion
material clay
faience
ivory
period Late Minoan
Middle Minoan
linked to: Neopalatial period
region Aegean
linked to: Aegean Sea
relatedTo Minoan household cult objects
linked to: Minoan religion

Minoan peak sanctuary figurines
religiousAssociation Minoan religion
religiousRole fertility symbol
household cult image
protective deity
stylisticFeature detailed textile patterns on skirts
emphasis on narrow waist
polychrome glazing on faience examples
subjectOf interpretations as Great Mother goddess
scholarly debate on Minoan goddesses
symbolism chthonic powers
domestic protection
female power
renewal

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Minoan civilization hasIconicArtifact Snake Goddess figurines