Peak sanctuaries
Encyclopedia
Minoan
Peak sanctuaries are widespread throughout the island of Crete
(Greece
). Most scholars agree that peak sanctuaries were used for religious rites. In all peak sanctuaries, human and animal clay figurines have been found. Clay body parts, also called votive body parts, are also found in most peak sanctuaries. These open-air sanctuaries are found high in the mountains of Crete.
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
Peak sanctuaries are widespread throughout the island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
(Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
). Most scholars agree that peak sanctuaries were used for religious rites. In all peak sanctuaries, human and animal clay figurines have been found. Clay body parts, also called votive body parts, are also found in most peak sanctuaries. These open-air sanctuaries are found high in the mountains of Crete.
Eastern and east-central peak sanctuaries
Most peak sanctuaries are found in east and east-central Crete.- PetsofasPetsofasPetsofas is the archaeological site of a Minoan peak sanctuary in eastern Crete.-Archaeology:Among the ubiquitous human and animal figurines found in peak sanctuaries, Petsofas uniquely has clay figurines of weasels and tortoises. Some Petsophas cylinder seals bear a male figure resembling...
is the only Minoan site with clay weasel and tortoise figurines - TraostalosTraostalosTraostalos is the archaeological site of a Minoan peak sanctuary in eastern Crete.-Archaeology:Traostalos was first excavated in 1963-1964 under Kostis Davaras. Davaras returned in 1978 to continue that work...
- Kalamafki (also Kalamaki)
- Ziros Korphi tou Mare
- Xykephalo
- ViglaViglaVigla may refer to:Locations in Greece* The highest peak of Mount Kerkis on the island of Samos* Vigla, Arta, a village in the Arta Prefecture* Vigla , a ski resort near Florina...
(also Viglos) - Zou Prinias
- Plagia
- Etiani Kephala
- ModiMinoan ModiModi is the archaeological site of a Minoan peak sanctuary in eastern Crete.-References:Jones, Donald W. 1999 Peak Sanctuaries and Sacred Caves in Minoan Crete ISBN 91-7081-153-9...
- Thylakas
- MazaMazaMaza can refer to:Places:*Maza, North Dakota, a city in Towner County*Maza, Crete, a village on the Greek island of CretePeople:*Luis Maza , Venezuelan baseball player*Manuel Vicente Maza, Argentine politician...
- Karphi
Central Crete peak sanctuaries
- Iouktas is probably the earliest of the peak sanctuaries
- Tylissos (also Pyrgos Tylissos, not the same site as Pyrgos)
- Gonies Philioremos
Western Crete peak sanctuaries
- VrysinasVrysinasVrysinas is the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan peak sanctuary.-Archaeology:Vrysinas has yielded a single Linear A inscription on the fragment of a stone table. Miniature vases were also found at Vrysinas...
Nowicki believes Vrysinas is associated with a palace at Rethymnon - Spili Vorizi
- AtsipadesAtsipadesAtsipades is a modern village and an archaeological site of a Minoan peak sanctuary in western Crete.-Geography:Atsipades is about 20km south of the modern town of Rethymnon...
in the Korakias mountains was fully excavated in the 1980s. Its many hundred clay figurines and other ceramics have been analysed in detail and will be presented in a forthcoming publication.
Other peak sanctuaries
This section is for peak sanctuaries mentioned in passing in articles where more research is needed before categorizing them.- Ambelos
- Mount IdaMount IdaIn Greek mythology, two sacred mountains are called Mount Ida, the "Mountain of the Goddess": Mount Ida in Crete; and Mount Ida in the ancient Troad region of western Anatolia which was also known as the Phrygian Ida in classical antiquity and is the mountain that is mentioned in the Iliad of...
- Korakomouri
- Mare