Minoan religion

Minoan religion was a religion of the Bronze Age Minoan civilization. A type of polytheism in a larger group of religions of the Ancient Near East, and a prehistoric religion, an interpretation of possible cult practice and mythology is based on evidence recovered archaeologically.

Postulated Minoan sacred symbols include the bull and its horns of consecration, the labrys (double-headed axe), and the serpent.

The Minoans seem to have worshiped primarily goddesses, which has been described as a "matriarchal religion". However, as the Minoan script is still a mystery we have no translated Minoan religious documents to work with. Professor Nanno Marinatos states that "The hierarchy and relationship of gods within the pantheon is difficult to decode from the images alone." We can assume from the prevalence of female images in ritual contexts that the Minoans worshipped one or more Goddesses. We also know that animals played an important role in their rituals, particularly snakes and bulls. However, any attempt at this point to make definite statements about their mythology or spiritual practices is inferential at best. Although some of these depictions of women are speculated to be images of worshipers and priestesses officiating at religious ceremonies, as opposed to the deity herself, there seem to be several goddesses, including a Mother Goddess of fertility, a Mistress of the Animals, a protectress of cities, the household, the harvest, and the underworld. They are often represented by serpents, birds, poppies, and a somewhat vague shape of an animal upon the head.

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