gems, glyptic, engraved gems, agate, cameo, intaglio, Greece

The present thesis is a study of Minoan glyptic with the focus on the typology of seals in different periods, the deposits in which the most important seal groups have been found their iconography and their religious significance. The present study examines the following topics: The use of seals and sealings and the importance of the sealing systems in Minoan Crete. The background of seal production before the emergence of the Minoan period from the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. The development of seal iconography in the Prepalatial, Protopalatial and Neopalatial glyptic from Minoan Crete with emphasis on the variety of materials and the development of seal-engraving techniques. The appearance and subsequent development of the metal signet ring types in the Neopalatial period with reference to their main iconographical aspects. The existence of several deposits with sealings from Minoan Crete, their chronological sequence and iconography. The importance of Minoan sealing deposits which allows conclusions to be drawn about Minoan religion. The examination and reevaluation of the Minoan ritual action as represented in glyptic iconography and the establishing of an adequate methodology for reading religious images in glyptic. The examination of the human and divine figures in Minoan ritual iconography and the configuration and interpretation of different types of ritual action in glyptic. The typology of the Late Minoan glyptic iconography according to its most important and representative religious and decorative elements is also tabulated and catalogued.