Minoan Religion : New Material and Interpretations

This volume is a collection of 13 specialist articles that advance understanding of Minoan religion by examining rituals, deities, symbols, and their social and political contexts across Neopalatial Crete and related regions using diverse modern approaches.

This volume sheds new light on the religion of Minoan Crete through the presentation of thirteen articles by specialists in this field. The contributions provide important new information on ritual places and archaeological contexts, votive offerings and iconographic depictions of rituals and deities, as well as reconstructions of religious ceremonies, the meaning of symbols, and reflections of the spirituality of Minoan religion. Additionally, contributions deal with the nature of the deities, the debate on monotheism versus polytheism, and the interrelation of religion and political power. Although the focus of the book is on Neopalatial Crete, the collection also includes material from other periods and Aegean regions under Minoan influence. Through a dialogue with past interpretations and by using manifold methods and approaches, it reflects the progress made in the field of Minoan religion.