019 Minoan Worshipper

The makers of this fascinating sculpture are known as the Minoans. The Minoans lived on the Greek island of Crete during the Bronze Age, between around 3000 and 1100 BCE. Their civilisation was discovered and named by Arthur Evans, an archaeologist working on Crete at the beginning of the twentieth century. There is still a great deal of information about Minoan Crete that is not yet understood. For instance, we don’t know what they called themselves, although we know that they were not Greek, and although written text exists their language remains unknown.

Minoan culture was characterised by the dominance of large, complex buildings that Evans called ‘palaces’. They probably acted as administrative, agricultural and religious centres. Palaces have been excavated at a number of major sites on Crete, and others may exist that are yet to be found. This figure was made as an offering for a Minoan religious sanctuary. It is cast in solid bronze and shows a praying man wearing the Minoan costume of kilt, wide belt, codpiece and boots. His hair is bound and hangs down his back. He is unusually stocky compared to other Minoan figures, perhaps suggesting that he is middle-aged. Male and female praying figures are often found as dedications in Minoan sanctuaries. They are generally made of terracotta—bronze figures like this are more unusual because bronze was so expensive.

Evans excavated at Knossos, which was famous as the home of the Minotaur in Greek myth. The Minotaur is a ferocious creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man. In the story he is trapped in a labyrinth on Crete by King Minos. Evans named the Minoans after this famous Cretan king.