DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.809#0277
25°
MARINE ASPECT OF MINOAN GODDESS
Signet-
ring
from
Harbour
Town of
Knossos.
to be a dog's head and the other in a fish's tail, the Goddess is depicted as
arriving at what seems to be a port on a rocky shore, where stands a build-
ing in which we must recognize one of her sanctuaries. She has dis-
mounted from her throne, which is overshadowed by her sacred tree, and
is in the act of disembarking.1
A very interesting pendant to this has now been supplied by another
gold signet-ring recently found near Candia2 and apparently derived from the
harbour town of Knossos (Fig. 147, b). Here the tree and the Goddess
before it, in short skirts—an archaic characteristic—appear in the field
Fig. 147. a, Gold Signet-ring from Mochlos showing Advent of Goddess and
Sacred Tree at a Sanctuary on the Coast, b, Gold Signet-ring from near Candia
(1927), showing Vessel about to depart, Goddess, Tree, and Pillar of Shrine (£).
above, as if in mid air. At the prow of the vessel is what from its conical
outline below must be interpreted as another female figure, probably
a reduplication of the Goddess. The vessel in this case is clearly leaving
port: the steersman holds the stern paddle and four oarsmen in front of him
are pulling their oars which, however, are not shown. Beneath are indicated
sea waves and a school of three dolphins, about to follow the vessel. On
the shore, in front of a column indicative of the presence of a sanctuary,
are two standing figures, male and female, the male personage apparently
saluting the departing Goddess, who may be returning with her sacred tree
to another holy spot. Here the two figures and the sanctuary behind
present an obvious analogy to the scene on the Tiryns signet (Fig. 142).
The marine aspect of the Goddess survives in her later forms as
Diktynna or Britomartis, equated with Artemis Delphinia.3 It suggests
the ' flaming' object in the field may be an
' 8-shaped Minoan shield ', but it seems to me
to present a closer resemblance to the shrubs
springingfrornrocks,seenonsimilarsignet-rings.
1 For the Sacred Tree in association with
the Minoan Goddess see A. E., Myc. Tree and
Pillar Cult, p. 4 seqq. and p. 28 seqq., &c.
2 Acquired by an archaeological traveller in
1927.
3 See below, § 67.
MARINE ASPECT OF MINOAN GODDESS
Signet-
ring
from
Harbour
Town of
Knossos.
to be a dog's head and the other in a fish's tail, the Goddess is depicted as
arriving at what seems to be a port on a rocky shore, where stands a build-
ing in which we must recognize one of her sanctuaries. She has dis-
mounted from her throne, which is overshadowed by her sacred tree, and
is in the act of disembarking.1
A very interesting pendant to this has now been supplied by another
gold signet-ring recently found near Candia2 and apparently derived from the
harbour town of Knossos (Fig. 147, b). Here the tree and the Goddess
before it, in short skirts—an archaic characteristic—appear in the field
Fig. 147. a, Gold Signet-ring from Mochlos showing Advent of Goddess and
Sacred Tree at a Sanctuary on the Coast, b, Gold Signet-ring from near Candia
(1927), showing Vessel about to depart, Goddess, Tree, and Pillar of Shrine (£).
above, as if in mid air. At the prow of the vessel is what from its conical
outline below must be interpreted as another female figure, probably
a reduplication of the Goddess. The vessel in this case is clearly leaving
port: the steersman holds the stern paddle and four oarsmen in front of him
are pulling their oars which, however, are not shown. Beneath are indicated
sea waves and a school of three dolphins, about to follow the vessel. On
the shore, in front of a column indicative of the presence of a sanctuary,
are two standing figures, male and female, the male personage apparently
saluting the departing Goddess, who may be returning with her sacred tree
to another holy spot. Here the two figures and the sanctuary behind
present an obvious analogy to the scene on the Tiryns signet (Fig. 142).
The marine aspect of the Goddess survives in her later forms as
Diktynna or Britomartis, equated with Artemis Delphinia.3 It suggests
the ' flaming' object in the field may be an
' 8-shaped Minoan shield ', but it seems to me
to present a closer resemblance to the shrubs
springingfrornrocks,seenonsimilarsignet-rings.
1 For the Sacred Tree in association with
the Minoan Goddess see A. E., Myc. Tree and
Pillar Cult, p. 4 seqq. and p. 28 seqq., &c.
2 Acquired by an archaeological traveller in
1927.
3 See below, § 67.