Our Goddess has one snake in each of her hands. We worship her with devotion each day.
One little owl sits on her crown. Life and death, she commands the two.
Note: In Sir Arthur Evans’ controversial rendition of the Minoan Snake Goddess, he placed a cat atop her crown that he found in one of his excavations. In a lot of Cretan renditions, there’s a little owl instead. Some scholars have posited that this Goddess is the precursor to the Greek goddess of wisdom & warfare (Athena); therefore, the owl addition makes more sense (they are a primary symbol of hers after all).
To me, there really is no greater creative endeavor than breathing new life into masterpieces of the ancient world. Not too long ago, I came across a talented digital artist who depicts characters from the Ancient Mediterranean in a way that makes my jaw drop every time. Amongst Ancient Greek gods and heroes, I was most taken by Brittany’s (also known as artistfuly) Minoan-inspired pieces, especially as a Cretan Greek person. It’s amazing how she brings people from frescoes or figurines of antiquity to life!
I have permission to share some of her art on here, but to experience the full scope of her striking artwork, please visit (and follow) her Instagram page and consider supporting her on Ko-fi ❤️. And this should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: Don’t repost these works without credit under any circumstances!
There are about a dozen Minoan-inspired pieces so far, but here are a few of my absolute favorites (which were so difficult to pick because they’re clearly all stunning):
This snake-wielding Minoan Goddess (also potentially known as Atana Potnia) is quite the mystery in some ways but distinct in others. Going off of what we do know and her depiction, I’ve compiled a list of ways to honor this deity of Minoan civilization who is considered a precursor to the Ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, Athena. Go here to find out more about her.
two snake goddess statues
a bird-eating snake
1. Become an advocate of snake conservation.
The snake association of this goddess is evident, with her holding snakes in her hands and all. Here is a renowned serpentine cause: www.savethesnakes.org
a sketch of a Minoan snake device
2. Adopt snakes.
Especially in ancient times, snakes symbolized fertility and rebirth. Bonus points if you’re scared of snakes and still decide to adopt them.
an old artist rendering of Palace of Knossos at its peak
3. Go to the Palace of Knossos, learn more about it, or take a virtual tour.
Snake Goddess and Priestess figurines of varying sizes were found at Knossos in Crete during Arthur Evans’ excavations. I have posted several 3D renditions of the palace here.
various Minoan Goddess artifacts
4. Learn more about your maternal ancestry.
Also referred to as the Mother Goddess, learning more about your mother’s side and paying tribute to those who came before you is a wonderful way to connect with Atana Potnia’s energy.
a sketch of the famous Snake Goddess figurine with the head missing
5. Draw a portrait of her.
Creating art to honor a deity has been a prime devotional act since antiquity. The Minoans were particularly known for their frescoes and use of vibrant color.
6. Identify core childhood wounds and take the steps necessary to nurture yourself.
As a Mother Goddess, Atana Potnia is a nurturing figure by default. In healing ourselves, we in turn heal our ancestors and those we are surrounded by alike.
7. Volunteer at a Women’s Shelter
Female deities seemed to be of central focus for the Minoans. Also, priestesses led ceremonies. That alone tells us how much the Minoans revered the divine feminine. As such, helping women and femmes who have endured domestic violence or other forms of abuse is a good way to honor the divine feminine and thus The Snake Goddess.
8. Wear or make jewelry with snakes implemented into it.
This is a great snake-inspired act to replace adopting a snake if that isn’t feasible. You can find some more information about Minoan jewelry here.
9. Support women/femme-run causes or businesses.
I more or less touched on this in devotional act number 7.
an altar I set up for The Goddess
10. Set up an altar for her.
Sculptures of the Minoan Snake goddess can easily be found on Etsy, which is a solid place to start. I got mine from a gift shop by Knossos. Beyond the snake imagery, implementing owl imagery would work too! In the reconstruction of her sculpture, a cat was added atop of her head. However, cats didn’t seem to be an important symbol to the Minoans. Many speculate that it was in fact an owl (there’s an owl in the replica I have, which you can see in the photo above).
Minoan Magissa 