Power Ranges: Identity and Terrain in Minoan Crete

During the Aegean Bronze Age, the island of Crete was home to Minoan civilisation (3100-1300 BCE). The Cretan landscape is characterised by prominent mountain ranges. During the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000 BCE) cult sites began to proliferate on mountain peaks in response to climatic changes. Peak sa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the study of religion, nature and culture
Authors: Tully, Caroline Jane (Author) ; Crooks, Sam (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Equinox Publ. 2019
In: Journal for the study of religion, nature and culture
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Crete / Minoan culture / Minoan religion / Mountains / Sanctuary / Mountain cult
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
BD Ancient European religions
TB Antiquity
Further subjects:B Mountains
B Elites
B Minoan Crete
B Ideology
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:During the Aegean Bronze Age, the island of Crete was home to Minoan civilisation (3100-1300 BCE). The Cretan landscape is characterised by prominent mountain ranges. During the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000 BCE) cult sites began to proliferate on mountain peaks in response to climatic changes. Peak sanctuaries were locations of popular religious expression focussed on human, animal, and environmental health and fertility. In the Neopalatial period (1750-1490 BCE) peak sanctuary cults were appropriated by palatial elites and the Minoan cosmological framework, oriented toward mountains, was institutionalised. Analysis of the Minoan landscape, palatial art, architecture, and ritual performance demonstrates a close association between elite figures and real and symbolic mountains. The metaphysical terrain of Crete was politicised as mountain symbolism was used to naturalise Neopalatial elite status and identity. The mountain form signified and symbolised power relations functioning as an instrument of elite ideology.
ISSN:1749-4915
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of religion, nature and culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1558/jsrnc.36629