The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, July 2011; 24(7): 968–972

The woman in Minoic Crete

IOANNIS EMM GRAMMATIKAKIS

3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School University of Athens, ‘‘Attikon’’ Hospital, Athens, Greece
(Received 24 September 2010; accepted 27 September 2010)
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen on 10/28/14

Abstract
Introduction. Minoan Civilization (3000–1150 BC) was the first European civilization on the GREEK island of Crete.
Fabulous architectonical constructions like great palaces, wonderful frescoes, and pottery as well as jewellery characterize
this amazing civilization. According to all existing descriptions from ancient Greek historians and philosophers like Plato,
Thucydides, Strabon but also from all the archaeological findings men and women lived freely and peacefully participating
equal in all daily activities, sports, and games. The women were predominating. Minoan women enjoyed a higher social
status than other women in later civilizations.
Methods. Investigation of all the existing data concerning the Minoan culture. Archaeological databases, as well as data
from the National University of Athens and other Greek historical institutions were collected and analyzed in order to
present the Minoan culture.
Conclusion. The Minoic civilization represents a paradigm of a well being society in which the woman played a dominant
role. She was the ‘mother’ but also the ‘active woman’, who participated in all city activities. Four thousand years later a
prototype of a society in which the role of the mother was recognized in an admirably way remains a magnificent paradigm.
Keywords: Minoan civilization, Minoic Crete
For personal use only.

Introduction
Historical aspects
Crete is located in the center of the eastern Mediterranean
at the crossroads of three continents, Africa, Asia, and
Europe. Crete is thought to have been inhabited from the
sixth millennium BC. The excellent climate of Crete with
its short, mild winters and its dry, warm summers, along
with the fertility of the Cretan plains produces sufficient
food supplies to support an affluent local population, and
for exports.
The term Minoan refers to the unique civilization that
developed on the island of Crete from 3000 BC to 1400
BC. This society is named after the mythical Greek ruler of
the island, King Minos. The Minoan civilization is
characterized by the fabulous architectonical constructions
like great palaces, wonderful frescoes, and pottery as well
as jewellery. Rich cities such as Knossos, Festos, Malia,
and Zakros developed significant trade and naval force for
many centuries dominating in all the Mediterranean area.
Commercial contacts with ancient Egypt, Santorini, and
other Mediterranean cities made Minoans a powerful
nation credited as the first European civilization.
According to all existing descriptions from ancient
historians, but also from all the archaeological finds, men
and women lived freely and peacefully participating equal
in all daily activities, sports, and games. The archaeologist
Sir Arthur Evans, who excavated the place of Knossos,
divided the Minoan civilization into three eras on the basis
of the stylistic changes of the pottery. His comparative
chronology included an Early (3000–2100 BC), a Middle
(2100–1500 BC), and a Late Minoan period (1500–1100
BC). Since this chronology posed several problems in
studying the culture, the Greek Professor N. Platon has
developed a chronology based on the palaces’ destruction
and reconstruction. He divided Minoan Crete into
Prepalatial (2600–1900 BC), Protopalatial (1900–1700
BC), Neopalatial (1700–1400 BC), and Postpalatial
(1400–1150 BC) [1–12].
Prepalatial Minoan Crete (2600–1900 BC)
Major settlements at Myrtos and Mochlos characterize this
Neolithic period of Crete. Egypt, Asia Minor, and Syria
were areas with whom the Minoans traded for copper, tin,
ivory, and gold.
Protopalatial Minoan Crete (1900–1700 BC)
The commercial development and the well living condi-
tions made the island of Crete a famous and reliable
destination to work leading to a large migration wave from
the rest of Greece as well as from other nations.
Distinctions between the classes forged a social hierarchy
and divided the people into nobles, peasants, and perhaps
workers. The Minoans began building palaces around
1900 BC which were cultural, religious, administrative,
and commercial centers for their increasingly expanding

Correspondence: Ioannis Grammatikakis MD, MSc, PhD, 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Athens, ‘‘Attikon’’
Hospital, Rimini 1, 12464 Chaidari Athens, Greece. E-mail: gramjh@yahoo.gr
ISSN 1476-7058 print/ISSN 1476-4954 online Ó 2011 Informa UK, Ltd.
DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2010.531328

society. Magnificent, huge and luxury buildings with light
wells, massive columns, storage places, impressive stairs,
technological complex water, and drainage systems were
some of the architectonical wonders of the Minoans.
Palaces provided places for gathering and celebrations,
while at the same time they offered storage for the crops,
and workshops for famous and fine artists [1–12]. None of
the Minoan palaces unearthed to date was surrounded by
defensive walls, a testament to the Minoan supremacy at
sea, called ‘Pax Minoica’. The palaces were destroyed
around 1750 BC, probably by the eruption of the Santorini
vulcan. On the contrary, other archaeologists believe that
outside invaders in addition to the earthquake destruction
and the tsunami wave after the Vulcan eruption destroyed
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen on 10/28/14
the civilization at the end of this period.
Neopalatial Minoan Crete (1700–1400 BC)
The powerful Minoans survived the enormous destruction
and rebuilt their palaces in a more extravagant manner.
Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and Zakros were built, whereas
many smaller palaces and villas appeared in the surround-
ing area.
Archaeologists believe that invasion of outside forces, or
a new colossal eruption of the Thera volcano could be the
causes. The famous Greek archaeologist Professor Mar-
inatos was the first to suggest in 1939 that the eruption of
Thera, along with the associated effects, was the cause for
the catastrophe. The theory argues that the earthquakes
For personal use only.
destroyed the palaces, tsunamis disappeared everything on
the island and the volcanic ash of Thera covered the whole
island destroying crops and suffocating animals. According
to geologists, Thera eruption was of a colossal scale, and
the effects described by Marinatos could have taken place.
The biggest blow to this theory came in 1987 from studies
conducted at the Greenland ice cap. Scientists dated frozen
ash from the Thera eruption and concluded that it
occurred in 1645 BC, some 150 years before the final
destruction of the Minoan palaces. Crete never recovered
its former prestige [1–12].
The progressive Minoan Society
In the Minoan society women were predominating.
Minoan women enjoyed a higher social status than other
women in later civilizations. Women were allowed to go to
sporting events and there were more goddesses than there
were gods. Motherhood and fertility are being respected
and worshiped recognizing the ‘life giving’ substance of the
women [13–15].
It is amazing still for today the ‘modern’ dress code of
the Minoan women. Fine designed clothes combined with
expensive jewellery reflect a high and powerful place for the
woman in the Minoic Crete. Minoan women wore skirts
that flared out from the waist in a bell shape, with many
extravagant decorations attached to the cloth. Later
designs were made from strips of fabric, sewn in ways that
created rows of ruffles from waist to ankle. Women also
wore close-fitting blouses that were cut low in the front to
expose the breasts. A tiny waist was prized, and both men
and women wore tight belts made of metal, which held
their waists in. Some historians believe that these belts
must have been worn since early childhood, forcing the
waist to stop growing. In mostly all the found sculptures
and frescoes of the palaces the women are presented with
large free breasts, large hips and tiny waist, very similar to
Woman in Minoic Crete 969
the female mode that came into fashion during the late
18th century (Figure 1).
Furthermore, women laced themselves into tight corsets
to make their waists small and wore hoops under their
skirts to increase the size of their bottom half. Some experts
believe that Minoan women must have also had some sort
of framework under their skirts to support the bell shape.
In fact, so close were Minoan fashions to popular French
fashions of the 1800s that one of the women in an ancient
Minoan fresco was named ‘La Parisienne’ by Sir Arthur
Evans who discovered her [16,17] (Figure 2).
The women participated in all activities of the city like
sport, celebrations, games whereas she fulfilled all their
mother duties in a magnificent way. They are presented in
the palace frescos with colored lipstick, make up, long
dresses with expensive and fine jewels from gold, bronze,
silver precious, and semi precious stones like amethyst,
hematite, etc. Some frescoes, however, suggest that the
breasts were in fact veiled with a transparent bolero top.
The Minoan woman wears also tall shoes and plays with
other women games like ‘zatrkion’, a game very similar to
chess. The ‘zatrichion-zatrkion’ chess board, is a fresco
from the Palace of Knossos, from the 16th century BC. In
the Neopalatial period fabulous miniature work was done
not only in faience, but also in rock crystal, ivory, and other
precious materials. The gaming board from the Palace of
Knossos, constructed from ivory, rock crystal, blue glass
paste, and gold and silver leaf represents one of the most
magnificent art of this period. It is accompanied by four
ivory gaming pieces, with which, perhaps, the players tried
to capture the four ‘towers’. This was undoubtedly a royal
game (Figure 2)
An other famous fresco is called ‘Ladies in Blue’, a fresco
with a blue background – ca. 15th century BC. This fresco is
restored in many places on the basis of other frescoes, but it
is still an important example of the art of the period. The
graceful posture of the arms is only found in the art of the
Renaissance. The ‘Ladies in Blue’ was discovered in the east
wing of the Palace of Knossos. It is surprising how ‘modern’
the Minoan women lived, especially if we imagine that
during the next centuries, even of the modern history,
women were not allowed to participate in a lot of daily
activities staying for a long time in their homes.
Furthermore extravagant fine gold creations like pen-
dants, rings, earrings point the idiomorphous Minoic
civilization. One of the most known gold pendant was
found in Malia, one of the biggest palaces of the island
during the Minoic period. The bees and honey drop in the
middle symbolize fertility (Figure 2).
Last but not least, according to the Minoan law, women
retained full control of their popery. They even had the
right to divorce at pleasure. In the city of Gortyna, the
famous law code impresses still today for the progressive
ideas [18–21]. For the first time, we encounter a race of
hat-conscious women. Two entirely different styles are
portrayed on the terracottas. One, the shape of an inverted
pot, and the second, a simple beret. Minoan women had an
unprecedented love of color and display in their fabrics.
Most designs were geometric, but we also have examples of
decorative themes drawn from nature, using flowers, fish
and birds in brilliant colors [22–26].
The ‘labor Goddess’ Eileithyia
In such a society, where the motherhood and fertility are
being worshipped the Cretan goddess of childbirth,
Eileithyia, believed to hinder or facilitate the labor process
 970 I. E. Grammatikakis
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen on 10/28/14
For personal use only.

Figure 1. A: Fresco from the Palace of Knossos, the famous ‘bull leapers’ fresco from the East wing of the palace, dated around 15th century
BC. The different phases of the sport are shown. The bull leapers are both men and women (white figure). B: Reconstruction of women’s
rooms. C: Reconstruction of the 22,000 qm2 Palace of Knossos, 1700 BC. D: Gold ring presenting female and nature figures, symbols of
fertility and motherhood from the Neopalatial Minoan Crete (Archeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete).

according to her disposition. The ancients derive her name
from the greek verb ‘Zluyo’  (I came) or from the ancient
greek word ‘€laot’ (the person who knows how to treat the
labor pains). For the first time, Eileithyia is mentioned in
the Minoic Crete. In later times, Eileithyia tended to be
identified with Hera or Artemis, goddesses who were also
associated with marriage and childbirth [22–26].
She is mentioned in several Linear B tablets from
ancient Crete. The next earliest evidence for her cult is at
Amnisus, in Crete, where excavations indicate that she was
worshipped continuously from Neolithic to Roman times.
Another interesting find is hat from the late Minoan
period. A plastic vase in the form of a woman in childbirth
from the city of Gournia, probably offering to Eileithyia
(rhyton vase of a seated naked goddess with exaggerated
genitals sits with hands on breasts, while a procession of
people approaches her from either side, today in Archae-
ological Museum of Heraklion). Similar figurines of
pregnant women were found in the southern part of Crete.
In addition, in the area of Tsoutsouros an inscription
identifies the worship of the goddess (‘Elouthia
charisterion’ ¼ a gift to Eileithyia). In Homer’s writings
she appears, sometimes in the plural, as a personification of
birth pangs and is described as the daughter of Hera, the
consort of Zeus [22–26].
Motherhood and fertility. The ‘Snake Goddess’
The mystery of life, the fertility, the childbirth, the genesis
and death of humans and nature inspirited the Minoans
who developed a religion based on feminine goddesses. It
is amazing that all the found worship idols are of ‘human
dimensions’. Minoans presented the gods very similar to
them. They have never been presented as something which
could cause awe, like statues or worship constructions in
huge dimensions (Figure 3).
The famous feminine ‘Snake Goddess’ represents the
mother-matter-matrix-like energy pointing the mystery of
childbirth and life. Many idols of feminine figures,
pregnant women, frescos presenting fertility, symbols of
the nature and life represent growth, movement, gestation,
and regeneration. Fertility is an eulogy. The feminine
goddess reminds us of the sacredness and uniqueness of
our daily experience amongst human beings, animals,
natural world, with its rhythms, birth, life cycles and
transitions, death, emotions, creativity, and unknown
mystery. She points us the genesis and death not only of
humans but also of the cosmos. Symbols and images
cluster around the parthenogenetic (self-regenerating)
Goddess and her basic functions as Giver of Life, Wielder
of Death, and, not less importantly, as regeneratrix, and
 Woman in Minoic Crete 971
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen on 10/28/14
For personal use only.

Figure 2. A: Reconstruction of ladies playing room. B: Fresco from Knossos ‘The ladies in blue’. C: Minoan Ladies Jewellery Box, 1700–
1450 BC. D: Gold pendant from palace of Malia ca. 1800–1700 BC. E: A priestess of the deity from a fresco at the Palace of Knossos, dated
15th century BC. View the original fresco at Heraklion Museum. F: ‘Zatrikion’, a ladies game.

Figure 3. A: Pregnant woman, Ierapetra ca. 1800 BC. B: Goddess with Poppy-headed Pins (‘Meconium Goddess’) Terra-cotta 1350 BC. C:
Snake Goddess, 1600 BC Gold and ivory. D: Clay Seistrum 2100–2000 BC
 972 I. E. Grammatikakis
around the Earth Mother, the Fertility Goddess young and
old, rising and dying with plant life (Figure 3).
The symbol and spirit of the Minoan Snake Goddess
took in the Greek mythology many different features. The
snake had a protective and beneficial role on the shield of
Athena, it represented the chthonic power connected with
the Goddess of Earth, it was the attribute of Asklepios,
probably due to its knowledge about the herb of rebirth,
resurrection and eternal youth and generally it was the
symbol of superhuman power of the god [27–30].
Conclusions
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen on 10/28/14
Women held a unique position in Minoan society, never
equaled in the other major ancient western civilizations.
The importance of the Mother goddess is seen by the
number of figurines in which she is depicted. The
astonishing representations are those of women spectators,
such as in the fresco ‘The Sacred Grove and Dance’. Men
are seen crowded together with indistinguishable features,
while the women occupy the best seats and are clearly
drawn. As Plato writes ‘in Minoan Crete the important part
played by women is discernible in every sphere’.
She was the ‘mother’ but also the ‘active woman’, who
participated in all city activities. Motherhood, fertility, and
childbirth represented an eulogy for the humans. The time
of delivery, the childbirth complications still from this
period caused the human need to refer the help of a god,
which even today is to find also in many societies.
For personal use only.
Thousand of years later, in our epochs, fertility and
eutocia remain an important problem which in some cases
is still unexplained. Today, the stressed way of life, the
social structure and working duties of the women rather
discourages than provides the childbirth and motherhood.
Four thousand years ago, a prototype of a society in which
the role of the mother was recognized in an admirably way
remains a magnificent paradigm.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts
of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the
content and writing of the paper.
References
1. Diodorus. Bibliotheca Historica, 5–64. Athens: Georgiadis; 2003.
2. Diodorus. Bibliotheca Historica, 5, 65, 74, 75, 77. Athens:
Georgiadis; 2003
3. Strabon. Geography I, IV. Athens: Kaktos; 1993.
4. Isokrates, Panathinaikos. Athens: Kaktos; 1993.
5. Plutarch, Lycourg, 4–7. Athens: Kaktos; 1992.
6. Plutarch, Solon, 12–20. Athens: Zitros; 2006.
7. Strabon, Geography I, IV, C 481–483, 17–20. Athens:
Kaktos; 1994.
8. Aristoteles, Politics B, 1271, 10. Athens: Livanis, 2006.
9. Thucydides A, 3–9. Athens: Epikairotita; 2002.
10. Homer, Iliad B. 645–652. Athens: Kaktos; 1992.
11. Homer, Odyssey T178–T183. Athens: Katarti; 2008.
12. Plutarch, Theseus 16–19. Athens: Zitros; 2008.
13. Cantavella E. Women in ancient Greece. Athens: Papadimas;
1998.
14. Beck CW. Minoans and Mycenaean’s. Athens: Kathimerini;
2000.
15. Mandalaki S. Dance in Minoic Crete. Athens: Archeology;
2004.
16. Panagiotakis G. Woman of Crete through the ages. Heraklion;
Panagiotakis; 2004.
17. Four Paul. Life in Minoan times. Athens: Papadimas; 1997.
18. Peatfield A, Asher SA, Cyprian B, Alan P, James W, Elizabeth F.
Aegean cultures. In: Fagan BM, editor. The Oxford companion
to archaeology. New York: Oxford University Press; 1996.
19. Evans A. The Palace of Minos: a comparative account of the
successive stages of the Early Cretan civilization as illustrated
by the discoveries at Knossos; 1964. pp 1921–1935, New
York: Biblo and Tannen.
20. Pendlebury JDS. Archaeology of Crete. 1963, New York:
Biblo and Tannen.
21. Hood S. The Minoans. London; 1971.
22. Willetts RF. The Civilization of Ancient Crete. New York:
Barnes & Noble Books; 1976, 1995.
23. Simpson RH. Mycenaean Greece. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes
Press; 1982.
24. Goodison L, Morris C. Beyond the Great Mother: The
Sacred World of the Minoans, Ancient Goddesses: The
Myths and the Evidence. London: British Museum Press;
1998. pp 113–117.
25. Chaniotis A. Das antike Kreta. München: Verlag C.H. Beck;
2004.
26. Siebenmorgen H. Im Labyrinth des Minos. Kreta- die erste
europäische Hochkultur. München: Biering & Brinkmann;
2000.
27. Thierfelder H. Die Minoer. Ein Handelsvolk? In: Mün-
stersche Beiträge zur Antiken Handelsgeschichte (MBAH) 2.
1983.
28. Marija G. The Language of the Goddess. New York: Thames
and Hudson; 1989. pp 282.
29. Horwitz SL. Knossos. Sir Arthur Evans auf den Spuren des
Königs Minos. Bergisch-Gladbach: Lübbe Verlag; 1983.
30. Mac Gillivray JA. Minotaur. Sir Arthur Evans and the
archaeology of the Minoan Myth. New York: Hill & Wang;
2000.