DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16205#0059
CULT OBJECTS
IN the course of excavating the West Ridge Road (see Plan) another paved road was discovered
running east towards the summit of the hill. This proved to be a much-worn way, 1.50 metres
wide, terminated at a distance of about 12 metres by a flight of three steps giving access to
a small enclosure 3 by 4 metres in area, and surrounded by rudely constructed walls, 50 cm.
thick and from 50 to 60 cm. high. The labor of excavating the closely packed earth of this enclosure
was increased by the presence of a wild carob tree, which had so twisted its roots in all directions as to
prevent the usual denudation of Cretan hill-tops and thus to preserve the contents of this unpreten-
tious room. By slow and careful digging, the roots and earth were loosened, and gradually, in the
northeast corner of the room, was revealed a group of objects of extraordinary interest. The cen-
tral position was held by a low, plastered, earthen table with three legs (PI. XI 7) and around it stood
three terra-cotta cultus vases (PI. XI, 11, 12, 13) and part of a fourth, while on the table was the base
of a fifth vase. Further excavation brought to light a female figure of coarse terra-cotta twined with
snakes (PI. XI 1), two heads of the same type (PI. XI, 2, 5), three arms and hands (PI. XI, 6, 10),
parts of bases of other figures, four small terra-cotta doves (PI. XI, 3, 4), two snakes' heads (PI. XI 9),
and a fragment of a clay pithos decorated with a double-axe (PI. XI 8). The well-worn, special approach
to the enclosure and the unique character of its contents, paralleled, up to that time, only in some
respects by finds from a cemetery near Prinia, attested the singular importance of this discovery, and
further study of details, such as the "horns of consecration," the snakes and the doves, and the at-
titude of the figure led to the conclusion that these objects had a religious significance, and that at
Gournia had been discovered the first example of a domestic shrine sacred to the goddess, who, from
first to last, appears to be the chief divinity of the Minoans. This conclusion has been confirmed by
the subsequent discovery of a similar shrine at Knossos, and by evidence from Phaestos, Aghia Triadha,
and other sites, and link by link has been forged a chain of monumental evidence for the prehistoric
religion of Crete. Contemporary literary evidence is still lacking, although it may be hidden in the
yet undeciphered Cretan script.
By comparison with the L. M. Ill Shrine at Knossos (Evans, B. S. A., VIII, 1901-2, pp. 95-105,
Figs. 55-57), a partial reconstruction of the L. M. I shrine at Gournia is possible. When the interior
was first cleared, the southern side presented a puzzling problem of three walls (see Plan). The south-
ernmost wall has since resolved itself into that of a house to the south; the middle one is the bound-
ary wall of the shrine, and, in the light of the Knossos shrine, it seems probable that the northern-
most wall (shaded) may be an inner construction, the plaster face of which has been worn away. The
slight jog or recess would perhaps correspond with the "somewhat raised dais "of the shrine at Knossos.
There was no sign left of any pavement. Of the position of the altar-table and the cultus vases there
can be no doubt, as they were standing upright on the floor when found, but the position of the figures
and doves must remain a matter of conjecture, although there is good ground for the proposal to place
them on the raised base to correspond with the position of the goddess in the Knossos shrine. The
walls of the shrine standing fairly even to a height of 50 to 60 cm., give no clue to their original height
nor to the problem of roofing. It is, however, by no means impossible that they never were higher
than at present, and that within their protection flourished a sacred tree of the Minoan cult; but our
present evidence is insufficient to solve this problem or to prove conclusively a tripartite division of
the shrine such as existed at Knossos.
It has been assumed that the Gournia shrine belongs to the 1st Late Minoan Period, because no
evidence is forthcoming that this part of the hill was reoccupied after the destruction of the town.
We must admit, however, the inherent weakness of negative evidence, for the shrine yielded no pottery
or other finds that could easily be dated.
47
IN the course of excavating the West Ridge Road (see Plan) another paved road was discovered
running east towards the summit of the hill. This proved to be a much-worn way, 1.50 metres
wide, terminated at a distance of about 12 metres by a flight of three steps giving access to
a small enclosure 3 by 4 metres in area, and surrounded by rudely constructed walls, 50 cm.
thick and from 50 to 60 cm. high. The labor of excavating the closely packed earth of this enclosure
was increased by the presence of a wild carob tree, which had so twisted its roots in all directions as to
prevent the usual denudation of Cretan hill-tops and thus to preserve the contents of this unpreten-
tious room. By slow and careful digging, the roots and earth were loosened, and gradually, in the
northeast corner of the room, was revealed a group of objects of extraordinary interest. The cen-
tral position was held by a low, plastered, earthen table with three legs (PI. XI 7) and around it stood
three terra-cotta cultus vases (PI. XI, 11, 12, 13) and part of a fourth, while on the table was the base
of a fifth vase. Further excavation brought to light a female figure of coarse terra-cotta twined with
snakes (PI. XI 1), two heads of the same type (PI. XI, 2, 5), three arms and hands (PI. XI, 6, 10),
parts of bases of other figures, four small terra-cotta doves (PI. XI, 3, 4), two snakes' heads (PI. XI 9),
and a fragment of a clay pithos decorated with a double-axe (PI. XI 8). The well-worn, special approach
to the enclosure and the unique character of its contents, paralleled, up to that time, only in some
respects by finds from a cemetery near Prinia, attested the singular importance of this discovery, and
further study of details, such as the "horns of consecration," the snakes and the doves, and the at-
titude of the figure led to the conclusion that these objects had a religious significance, and that at
Gournia had been discovered the first example of a domestic shrine sacred to the goddess, who, from
first to last, appears to be the chief divinity of the Minoans. This conclusion has been confirmed by
the subsequent discovery of a similar shrine at Knossos, and by evidence from Phaestos, Aghia Triadha,
and other sites, and link by link has been forged a chain of monumental evidence for the prehistoric
religion of Crete. Contemporary literary evidence is still lacking, although it may be hidden in the
yet undeciphered Cretan script.
By comparison with the L. M. Ill Shrine at Knossos (Evans, B. S. A., VIII, 1901-2, pp. 95-105,
Figs. 55-57), a partial reconstruction of the L. M. I shrine at Gournia is possible. When the interior
was first cleared, the southern side presented a puzzling problem of three walls (see Plan). The south-
ernmost wall has since resolved itself into that of a house to the south; the middle one is the bound-
ary wall of the shrine, and, in the light of the Knossos shrine, it seems probable that the northern-
most wall (shaded) may be an inner construction, the plaster face of which has been worn away. The
slight jog or recess would perhaps correspond with the "somewhat raised dais "of the shrine at Knossos.
There was no sign left of any pavement. Of the position of the altar-table and the cultus vases there
can be no doubt, as they were standing upright on the floor when found, but the position of the figures
and doves must remain a matter of conjecture, although there is good ground for the proposal to place
them on the raised base to correspond with the position of the goddess in the Knossos shrine. The
walls of the shrine standing fairly even to a height of 50 to 60 cm., give no clue to their original height
nor to the problem of roofing. It is, however, by no means impossible that they never were higher
than at present, and that within their protection flourished a sacred tree of the Minoan cult; but our
present evidence is insufficient to solve this problem or to prove conclusively a tripartite division of
the shrine such as existed at Knossos.
It has been assumed that the Gournia shrine belongs to the 1st Late Minoan Period, because no
evidence is forthcoming that this part of the hill was reoccupied after the destruction of the town.
We must admit, however, the inherent weakness of negative evidence, for the shrine yielded no pottery
or other finds that could easily be dated.
47