Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

What is this ancient Greek artifact?

http://www.archaeology.org/online/reviews/minoans/...

I know it is some kind of bull or something, but what is its significance? Where did it come from? Age?

4 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    it is the bull symbol from minoan crete. its significance is not clear, but most likely it has to do with fertility and reproduction.

    Source(s): degree in anthropology
  • 1 decade ago

    Yes it is a Minoan artifact, if it is indeed the one from the Museum of Herakleion, Crete. That one comes from Knossos. But there are more found and they are dated (for Crete) in the Neopalatial period, ca. 1700-1400 BCE. They have also been found at Mycenean sites, which might complicate the facility of the argument that such an artifact is "Greek" or not... In any case, such objects are interpreted as rhyta (plural of rhyton, ancient Greek), that is vessels for ritual libations. In general, one can very well support the suggestion that they are indeed linked to the bull-cult, which was considered of primal importance (also) in Minoan religion (for this was the case for most Bronze Age societies).

  • 1 decade ago

    That comes from the Minoan civilization, a civililization in the island of Crete during the time 2700 B.C to 1500 B.C.

    The figure is a bull, but it's to symbolize the "Bull-Leaping Fresco", a popular sport in that time/area.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Its not Greek - its Minoan; a vestige from the bull worshiping king Minos of the island of Crete.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.