Gold pendant from the Aigina treasure
Minoan, about 1850-1550 BC
From Aigina, off the south-east coast of Greece, Aegean Sea
A male figure stands among lotus flowers, his arms outstretched
to grasp a goose by the neck with each hand. The animals allow us
to identify him as a god. This pose, known as that of the 'Master
(or Mistress) of the Animals', is intended to show that the deity
subdues the wild animals, and therefore has control over nature. It
is more common with a female central figure.
The strange ridged elements with bud-like ends curving up from
behind the god are stylised bull's horns. Bulls are common in
Minoan religious iconography, and this symbol also confirms the
divinity of the male figure.
Though distinctively Minoan, there is Egyptian influence in this
piece. Lotus flowers are common in Egyptian art, and the figure
stands on something resembling the stylised papyrus boats known
from later Egyptian representations.
Technically the pendant is quite simple. It is made of sheet
gold, the decoration worked in relief, and the whole backed with a
plain sheet of gold. A pendant showing two dogs, technically and
stylistically similar to this pendant, has been found at Tell
el-Dab'a (ancient Avaris) on the Nile Delta. It must have been
imported from Crete towards the end of the eighteenth century BC.
This suggests a possible date for the Aigina treasure pendant, and
underlines the fact that there were contacts between Crete and
Egypt at this time.
R. Higgins, The Aegina Treasure: an archae (London, 1979)
R. Higgins, 'The Aigina treasure reconsidered', Annual of the British School-1, 52 (1957), pp. 42-57