Sacred Objects In Minoan Civilization

Religion was very important in the Minoan civilization. There were countless activities and artistic products that revolved around a religious cult. There were many objects that were sacred to the Minoans especially natural objects, animals, and weapons (Glotz, Gustave). One object that was sacred to the Minoans was unhewn blocks of stone, especially ones from mountaintops, they were believed to be inhabited by spirits (Glotz). Another sacred object was the double axe. In the earliest time stone axes were supposed to imitate thunderbolts that had fallen from the heavens (Glotz). As a weapon the double axe lends the human arm a superhuman force to master and destroy life, as a sacrificial object, it is brought into communion with men (Glotz). The significance of the double axe was to sacrifice bulls ("About Crete - The Minoans - Minoan Places of Worship and Religion”). The bull was the most common animal that the Minoans worshipped. The bull was a powerful and almost divine creature that is full of male potent energy (Glotz). The sacred horn of the bull
While excavating Knossos, Evans found fragments of female statues holding snakes ("Snake Goddess"). Up to today there is still confusion on whether the images of the Minoan goddess represent a single goddess or multiple goddesses with different functions ("Snake Goddess"). The goddess is naked from her neck down to the waist and past the waist, she wears a flounced skirt (Glotz). The goddess is above all the protector of fertility; the goddess spreads happiness around the world because she is the one who gives life to her children and feeds them with her breast (Glotz). There were several goddesses portrayed and one of them is the goddess of the rock (Glotz). The whole earth was subject to her; her sanctuaries included mountaintops, caves and rocks (Glotz). It is very interesting how the Minoan religion was focused on goddesses, and how well respected they