Loving these insights into the Minoan culture, Eleanor!
Speaking of which, I’ve been reading Eleanor’s Ancient Cretan mystery novel In the Shadow of the Bull, and the details are incredible. What an immersive experience it has been! As I get towards the end, I’m already excited about (and honestly can’t wait for) book 2. I’ll definitely post a book review in the future. 😀
This article is very detailed and full of stunning photos. I highly recommend reading it and following Len’s blog! 🙂
Based off numerous frescoes and statues of the Minoan goddess and priestesses, I created my own Minoan-inspired rendition of a Minoan Goddess or Priestess.
A long flounced skirt with a waist-slimming belt, and an open-breasted jacket… These are just some aspects of Minoan fashion. Go here to find out more about what the Minoan people wore, how they styled their hair, etc.
The Goddess by The Dolphin fresco! This is a photo I took back in 2011 when I was in Knossos. The fresco’s color scheme is what inspired the colors I used for her outfit.
In this version, she has a labrys in hand and is surrounded by blue butterflies. The wings or butterflies aren’t shown in the Minoan’s depictions, but I added them due to her association with animals (including birds and butterflies). Also, another word for the labrys is butterfly axe.
Minoan Magissa 