The Role of Women in Minoan Crete
Explain the role of women in Minoan Crete.
Women in Minoan society had a key role within religion; this is supported by many pieces of archaeological evidence from sites on the island. Evidence also suggests that women were involved in parts of the economy, as well as having roles within several other parts of Minoan life.
Minoan women were a central part of religion on Crete; evidence suggests that they were priestesses, having significant responsibilities within rituals and ceremonies. La Parisienne, a fresco found in Knossos, shows a possible priestess, the religious dress she wears and the sacral knot worn on the base of her neck, give her this identity. The sacral knot was a piece of patterned cloth with a fringe at each end that was knotted and worn in women’s hair. Cameron believes that the knot represented a man’s possession of a woman, however it is more likely the sacral knot symbolized the bond between the wearer and a deity. For this reason, La Parisienne is likely to be one of the celebrants in a sacred rite. This role as a priestess is supported by the images found in the Agia Triada sarcophagus, which depicts priestesses and their purposes within the religious ritual of a funeral. The women in the relief are identified by their pale skin, whereas the men are shown to be darker skinned. Within the funeral precession, a priestess in shown to be blessing a sacrificial bull, another prepares vessels on an altar, while a third and fourth priestess make offerings of liquid, presumed to be bull’s blood. The images on the sarcophagus include significant religious symbolism, such as the double axe and the horns of consecration. Furthermore, it has been suggested by archaeologists, such as Castleden, that evidence of the role of Minoan women in religion can be found within the predominant positions women were given within religious ceremonies. This notion is supported by the Grandstand fresco found a Knossos. The fresco shows a ceremony, potentially
Women in Minoan society had a key role within religion; this is supported by many pieces of archaeological evidence from sites on the island. Evidence also suggests that women were involved in parts of the economy, as well as having roles within several other parts of Minoan life.
Minoan women were a central part of religion on Crete; evidence suggests that they were priestesses, having significant responsibilities within rituals and ceremonies. La Parisienne, a fresco found in Knossos, shows a possible priestess, the religious dress she wears and the sacral knot worn on the base of her neck, give her this identity. The sacral knot was a piece of patterned cloth with a fringe at each end that was knotted and worn in women’s hair. Cameron believes that the knot represented a man’s possession of a woman, however it is more likely the sacral knot symbolized the bond between the wearer and a deity. For this reason, La Parisienne is likely to be one of the celebrants in a sacred rite. This role as a priestess is supported by the images found in the Agia Triada sarcophagus, which depicts priestesses and their purposes within the religious ritual of a funeral. The women in the relief are identified by their pale skin, whereas the men are shown to be darker skinned. Within the funeral precession, a priestess in shown to be blessing a sacrificial bull, another prepares vessels on an altar, while a third and fourth priestess make offerings of liquid, presumed to be bull’s blood. The images on the sarcophagus include significant religious symbolism, such as the double axe and the horns of consecration. Furthermore, it has been suggested by archaeologists, such as Castleden, that evidence of the role of Minoan women in religion can be found within the predominant positions women were given within religious ceremonies. This notion is supported by the Grandstand fresco found a Knossos. The fresco shows a ceremony, potentially