Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Peak sanctuaries

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Minoan peak sanctuaries are widespread throughout the island of Crete (Greece). Most scholars agree that peak sanctuaries were used for religious rites. In all peak sanctuaries, human and animal clay figurines have been found. Clay body parts, also called votive body parts, are also found in most peak sanctuaries. These open-air sanctuaries are found high in the mountains of Crete.

Contents

Eastern and east-central peak sanctuaries

Most peak sanctuaries are found in east and east-central Crete.

  • Petsofas is the only Minoan site with clay weasel and tortoise figurines
  • Traostalos
  • Kalamafki (also Kalamaki)
  • Ziros Korphi tou Mare
  • Xykephalo
  • Vigla (also Viglos)
  • Zou Prinias
  • Plagia
  • Etiani Kephala
  • Modi
  • Thylakas
  • Maza
  • Karfi
  • Central Crete peak sanctuaries

  • Iouktas is probably the earliest of the peak sanctuaries.
  • Tylissos (also Pyrgos Tylissos, not the same site as Pyrgos)
  • Gonies Philioremos
  • Western Crete peak sanctuaries

  • Vrysinas
  • Spili Vorizi
  • Atsipades in the Korakias mountains was fully excavated in the 1980s. Its many hundred clay figurines and other ceramics have been analysed in detail and will be presented in a forthcoming publication.
  • Other peak sanctuaries

    This section is for peak sanctuaries mentioned in passing in articles where more research is needed before categorizing them.

  • Ambelos
  • Mount Ida
  • Korakomouri
  • Mare
  • References

    Peak sanctuaries Wikipedia