Polytheism

10 Devotional Acts for the Minoan Snake Goddess

/ Rei Arkangelakis / 7 Comments

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
two snake goddess statues
a bird-eating snake
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
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 artist rendering of Palace of Knossos at its peak
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
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
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.

Snake earrings by Etsy seller The Moon and The Sea
Snake earrings by Etsy seller The Moon and The Sea

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
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).

The Minoan Mother Goddess

/ Rei Arkangelakis / 22 Comments

Multifaceted Goddess or Many Deities?

According to numerous scholars, the primary deity in the Minoan religion was a multifaceted mother goddess who was solar in nature. Usually, “she” was depicted alongside animals (both mythical and native to the land), a male consort, and/or priestesses. While there is no true consensus, she is considered one deity with various aspects, including a mountain, dove, poppy, snake, and fertility goddess. This presumed multidimensional goddess would eventually become the Artemis, Athena, Ariadne, Medusa, etc. of the Ancient Greek pantheon. At the same time, there’s a good chance that their religion was polytheistic, and these were all separate gods with their own unique attributes.

Snake Goddess from the Palace of Knossos – Wikimedia User Photo by Chris73

The Maternal Snake Goddess (or Priestess)

What typically comes to mind for the Minoan Mother Goddess is the Snake Goddess figurine that was restored by British archeologist Arthur Evans along with Danish artist Halvor Baggeartist. The main problematic elements are that her head and part of her arm were missing and it’s not 100% certain that she was a true goddess. In general, it’s been difficult to distinguish between deity, priestess, ruler, etc. in Minoan art. However, the symbolism behind The Snake Goddess in particular is creation, fertility, welfare of the household, and wisdom. And if we were to take a retrospective approach from an Ancient Greek perspective to this particular deity depiction, we can see some of those traits in goddesses like Athena, goddess of wisdom and protectress of cities. In fact, “Atana Potnia” (thought to be Mistress Athena) is one of the Minoan Mother Goddess’ many names (that could be the names of other goddesses if the religion is in fact polytheistic).

Illustration of “Faience figure from Knossos – A votary of the Snake Goddess” in The Outline of History written by H.G. Wells and illustrated by J. F. Horrabin

A Breakdown of Key Mother Goddess Traits

Domains: renewal, household welfare, wisdom, renewal, fertility, sexuality, creation
Other Names: Diktynna, Great Mother Goddess, Great Goddess, Atano Djuwaja, Atana Potinija, Atana Potnia, Mater Theia
Deity Type: cthonic, creatress, household
Symbols: sun, various animals (especially snakes). A cat is depicted atop the Snake Goddess figurine’s crown, but that is a controversial addition to this day. In fact, a replica that I bought from the Knossos gift shop has an owl on top.
Precursor to: Artemis Eileithyia (Greek goddess of childbirth) and Athena Parthenos (Greek virgin warrior goddess)
Goddess Equivalent: Neith (Egyptian goddess of creation, war, and weaving)
Other Associations: Ariadne (goddess of labyrinths and Cretan Princess), Medusa (one of the three Gorgons in Greek mythology)

Sources

Art History Resources: Snake Goddess
Pantheon (Encyclopedia Mythica: Minoan Snake Goddess