Minoan Religion
(Text by Duane R. Hurst © 2013)
God/Goddess and Brief Description:
| Ariadne |
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goddess of labyrinths;
daughter of king Minos
and queen Pasiphaë; wife of
Dionysus Meaning: most holy |
| Dionysus |
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god of grape harvest; husband of Ariadne; worshipped by Alexander, Athens and Sparta. |
| Helios |
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Sun god and husband of Pasiphaë; worshipped by Alexander, Athens and Sparta. |
| Knossos Bull |
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bull-leaping, a religious ritual |
| Labrys |
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symbol for female divinities Meaning: doubleheaded axe |
| Minos |
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son of Zeus; husband of Pasiphaë and father of Ariadne |
| Minotaur |
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half-bull, half-man monster in the labyrinth of king Minos |
| Pasiphaë |
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daughter of Helios;
wife of king Minos and mother of
Ariadne Meaning: most holy |
| Potnia Theron |
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goddess of animals Meaning: mistress of the animals |
| Rhea |
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mother Earth goddess; similar to Cybele of Lydia. |
| Snake Goddess |
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great goddess |
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© Page Publisher: Duane R. Hurst
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