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Terracottas in News

The “Lady of Zominthos”

Jaimee Uhlenbrock

Abstract

Several news outlets for October 2020 have reported the discovery of a Middle Minoan terracotta figurine dubbed “The Lady of Zominthos.”

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1During the 2020 season of excavation at the mountain-top palace complex of Zominthos on Mount Psiloritis in central Crete, several terracotta figurines of particular interest were found. They were brought to light among other finds from Room 65 in a group of buildings called the “Northern Complex” that belonged to the New Palace Period. However, the figurines and associated finds were found under an altar in a level belonging to a previous phase of the palace that dated to the Protopalatial period, around 1900 B.C.E.

2The figurines, called idols in the many news reports, are hand modeled and in technique and style are characteristic of other Middle Minoan figurines from Cretan peak sanctuaries. At least one bull figurine was among the finds from beneath the altar (Fig. 1), but there also is at least one standing female (Fig. 2). Believed to be significant for Zominthos, this female figurine has been dubbed by the excavators “The Lady of Zominthos,” a name that has been taken up by many news media outlets. The location of the later altar directly over the figurines is strongly suggestive of cult continuity.

Fig. 1 – A bull figurine

Fig. 1 – A bull figurine

© Greece's Ministry of Culture and Sports

Fig. 2 – Fragmentary figurine of the Protopalatial period named the “Lady of Zominthos”

Fig. 2 – Fragmentary figurine of the Protopalatial period named the “Lady of Zominthos”

© Greece's Ministry of Culture and Sports

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List of illustrations

Title Fig. 1 – A bull figurine
Credits © Greece's Ministry of Culture and Sports
URL http://journals.openedition.org/acost/docannexe/image/2833/img-1.jpg
File image/jpeg, 27k
Title Fig. 2 – Fragmentary figurine of the Protopalatial period named the “Lady of Zominthos”
Credits © Greece's Ministry of Culture and Sports
URL http://journals.openedition.org/acost/docannexe/image/2833/img-2.jpg
File image/jpeg, 31k
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References

Electronic reference

Jaimee Uhlenbrock, The “Lady of Zominthos”Les Carnets de l’ACoSt [Online], 21 | 2020, Online since 15 December 2020, connection on 19 March 2025. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/acost/2833; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/acost.2833

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About the author

Jaimee Uhlenbrock

State University of New York, New Paltz
uhlenbrj@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu

By this author

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Copyright

CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

The text only may be used under licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. All other elements (illustrations, imported files) are “All rights reserved”, unless otherwise stated.

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