Malia Bees - Minoan Period - Crete, Ancient Greece - Pendant - 925 Sterling Silver

Item Specifics

Condition: New, Handmade in Greece
Material: Sterling Silver 925
Width: 4.5 cm
Height: 4.8 cm
Weight: 11 g (+/- 0.5 g)

This is a Handmade silver pendant inspired by the Ancient Minoan Greek Malia bees pendant. The Bees pendant is one of the most famous exhibits in the Herakleion Museum, in the island of Crete in Greece. It has been found in the Old Palace cemetery at Chrysolakkos, outside the palace of Malia, the third largest Minoan palace. The pendant dates back to the Bronze Age, to the Protopalatial Period (1800 - 1700 BC) and it's an amazing, very detailed representation of two bees carrying a drop of honey to their honeycomb. This jewelry piece is an evidence of the artist's mastery in the process of faience or granulation, the technique of soldering tiny pieces of metal, on the surface of the cast jewel. Bees have a symbolic and important connotation in many cultures worldwide. Bees were very important in the Minoan, matriarchal civilization. It is believed that the Great Mother of Mother Goddess was related to bees, while honey was used in rituals. As a symbol of the Mother Goddess, bees represent the mutual support and fertility. Later on, Greek Goddess priestesses were called melissae (bees) and bees were associated with Demeter and Artemis. The original ancient pendant is exhibited in the Heraklion Museum in Crete, Greece. The pendant is crafted with extra care in 925 Sterling Silver. It 's Handmade in Greece, width is 4.5 cm, height is 4.8 cm and weighs approximately 11 g

This pendant is without the chain