Peak sanctuaries

Minoan peak sanctuaries are widespread throughout the island of Crete (Greece). Most scholars agree that peak sanctuaries were used for religious rites high in the mountains of Crete. Human and animal figurines, as well as signs of religious architecture, have been found at most peak sanctuaries. Additionally, votive clay body parts are found at many of these sites. Many of the sanctuaries fell out of use during the Late Bronze Age, when Mycenaeans from the Greek mainland became the dominant culture on the island.

Petsofas peak sanctuary overlooks the Minoan town of Palaikastro

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

Atsipades Korakias seen from southwest.The sanctuary is on the more distant part of the outcrop. The Ayios Vasilios Plain is visible in the background.

• 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.

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

See also

• High place

References

• Chryssoulaki, Stella (2004-01-26). The Traostalos peak sanctuary: Aspects of spatial organisation (PDF) (Report). Belgium: University of Liège. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 19 January 2006.

• Jones, Donald W. (1999). Peak Sanctuaries and Sacred Caves in Minoan Crete. ISBN 91-7081-153-9.

• Kyriakidis, Evangelos (2005). Ritual in the Aegean: The Minoan peak sanctuaries. London, UK: Duckworth.