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A Visual Glossary of Greek Pottery
Alabastron (pl. alabastra) - a small jar for storing perfumes, named after the material (alabaster) the first examples were made from. They were often carried by a string looped around the neck of the vessel. Amphora (pl. amphorae...
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Minoan Rock-Crystal Bowl
A Minoan rock-crystal bowl in the form of a duck, 16th century BCE. The vessel was found at Mycenae but has been attributed to the earlier Minoan civilization based on Crete. The vessel was probably used to store cosmetic creams. (National...
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Minoan Bull Leaping
A fresco showing bull leaping, Minoan Knossos (Final Palatial period 1450-1400 BCE), Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete.
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Minoan Lady, Fresco, Akrotiri
A fresco from the House of the Ladies in Akrotiri on the Aegean island of Thera (Santorini), c. 17th century BCE. The several women depicted on the walls of the room wear typical Minoan dress. Above the women is a representation of a starry...
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Minoan Gold Ring
An engraved gold ring from the Minoan civilization on Crete, 15-14th century BCE. The ring probably originates from Knossos and depicts the epiphany of a goddess: seated in a shrine, floating in the air and standing in a boat. The hoop is...
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Minoan 'Master of the Animals' Pendant
A solid gold pendant from the Minoan civilization depicting a deity holding two birds, possibly geese (18-17th century BC). Provenance: Aegina (British Museum, London)
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Minoan Bull-Leaper
An ivory figurine representating a bull-leaper from a three dimensional composition (with two other figures and a bull) depicting this Minoan sporting or religious activity. Hair would have been added using bronze wire and clothes in gold...
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Minoan Bronze Shield
Bronze shield, Crete, Geometric period, 8th-7th century BCE. Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete. The bronze tympanon/shield found in the Idaean Cave is a votive offering from around the 8th century BCE. It is decorated with...
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Minoan Decorated Jug Found in Egypt
One of the world's most famous works of Minoan pottery, this vessel shows five mollusks called nautili floating above the seafloor. The sinuous undulating lines of the water plans and nautili tentacles clearly demonstrate the Minoans' love...
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Minoan Vase in Marine Style
New-Palace period (1500-1450 BCE) Cretan Clay askos with 'Marine Style' decoration, (Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete)