27-32

Articles

• Banos, George

During the excavation of a shrine at Anemospilia on Crete in 1979, an important, richly decoratedvase was discovered, like that appearing on the sarcophagus ofAghia Triada to be used for the collectionof the blood of the sacrificed bull. The vase was dated to the Middle Minoan period (around 1700 B.C.)The central motif of the decoration of the vase is a plastic bull painted off-white, with a pattern of redround spots scattered over its body. The whole decoration was considered by the excavators and otherinvestigators, as a "speaking symbol" of a bull sacrifice. In this article we suggest that the pattern ofround spots could be considered as a map of the Taurus constellation, the oldest one known in theAegean; moreover, that the whole decoration refers to the Spring, when the vernal equinox was locatedin Taurus in Minoan times. We also suggest that the beginning of the year would be fixed followingthis equinox.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

Minoan pottery, Decoration, Symbolism, Taurus constellation, Minoan calendar