Goddess of snakes. 30 x 20 x 6 cm.

In Crete, some female representations known as “the Goddesses of the Serpents” have been preserved, which probably represent the Great Lady in one of her specific invocations. It should be remembered that the Minoan religion had no anthropomorphic deities, except for the Great Mother Goddess, goddess of fertility, also known as the Lady or Great Lady of the Labyrinth or of the Serpents, also symbols of the fertile forces of the earth. These highly realistic and well-preserved statuettes measure about 30 cm in height, are made of painted earthenware (ivory and gold have also been found) and date from the Middle Minoan III period (around 1600 BC) or Neo-Palacial period, when a great advance in sculpture was made, using ivory, bronze and terracotta.