Minoan snake goddess figurines

The Goddess of Ophion symbolizes the goddess of fertility who is identified with the Mother Goddess. The snakes writhing in the air as she holds them in her outstretched arms and the small feline on her head hint at the goddesss dominion over the wild

The snake goddess is the name given to the type of statuette found in excavations at Minoan archaeological sites that shows a female outerchest holding snakes. The statuettes date back to the 16th century BC. We have little information on the interpretation of the statuettes. Evans connects the snake goddess with the Egyptian goddess Wadjet. It is a forerunner of the Cretan Rhea and shows great similarity with the Phrygian Cybele and the Ephesian Artemis.