Minoan Deities
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Minoan Deities
Would it be acceptable for a modern Hellenist to add the Minoan Snake Goddess, or any other Minoan Deities, to their worship of the Greek Gods?
AgathonZante- God Member
- Posts : 289
Join date : 2014-02-17
Age : 39
Re: Minoan Deities
Would it be acceptable for a modern Hellenist to add the Minoan Snake Goddess, or any other Minoan Deities, to their worship of the Greek Gods?
Forgive me, but I have to step in here as a scholar and academic and debunk some fallacies here.
The 'Minoan snake goddess' is a hypothetical title given to a figurine found in a Cretan excavation. There is actually no particular evidence to indicate that it even represents a deity at all (although plenty of new-agers and occultists would like to believe it does). It could just as easily represent a woman performing a serpent-handling religious practice among the Eteocretan people (which is more probable), or perhaps even something else of which we haven't any knowledge at all, due to our almost total lack of certain knowledge about this culture.
Culturally and religiously, we really know virtually nothing at all whatsoever about the 'Minoans' with any certainty; almost all sociocultural descriptions of these people are based on marginally-evidenced conjectures.
We do not know of any 'Minoan deities', so whether or not one should venerate them is sort of a moot point. They may not have even had a systematic religion at all for all we know.
We're pretty sure we know the word 'total' or 'sum' in their language (although that is even debatable), we know they were good fishermen, good fresco artists, and good architects. We have a pretty good idea of what kind of clothing they probably wore, and what items they traded. We think they probably did some dance, ceremony or athletic event involving jumping over live bulls (although the actuality of this, as well as any meaning behind it, is total guesswork). Beyond that, these people are a complete mystery to us.
I have to be plainly honest, whoever told you about 'Minoan deities' either made it up him/herself, or got it from somebody who did.
Re: Minoan Deities
I come here precisely to gain your scholarly opinion, friend. Thanks.
AgathonZante- God Member
- Posts : 289
Join date : 2014-02-17
Age : 39
Re: Minoan Deities
You're very welcome.
If you're fond of Eteocretan artistry, however, there is certainly no reason you could not display it in your home.
If you're fond of Eteocretan artistry, however, there is certainly no reason you could not display it in your home.
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