Atsipades

Atsipades (Greek: Ατσιπάδες) is an archaeological site of a Minoan peak sanctuary in western Crete.

Atsipades (Greek: Ατσιπάδες,) is an archaeological site of a Minoan peak sanctuary in western Crete, located on the top of the mountain.

The location of the sanctuary, and more specifically the view, play a significant role in the experience of those who made the journey to the top.

The rock clefts that are below the drop from the upper terrace play a significant role in the sanctuary, more specifically the votive offerings and rituals that occurred.

[3] Although the site is described as a Minoan peak sanctuary, final Neolithic pottery was found in cracks in the rock on the lowermost of the two terraces.

[6] The ritualistic experience of climbing up the mountain holding a votive or pebble played a major role in the religious aspect of the peak sanctuary.

A more exclusive sanctuary that was primarily used by elites would have votives made of a higher quality clay, often with painted embellishments to display wealth.

The clay figurines, which included animals, anthropomorphic forms and votive limbs, corroborates the idea that this sanctuary's purpose was healing.

[8] At other Minoan peak sanctuaries, votive limbs and human figures are used by similar healing cults.

Settlements found by an archaeological field survey in the nearby Ayios Vasilios Valley suggest that this peak sanctuary served a rural community of farmsteads and hamlets.

The use of pebbles shows that this was a rural nature cult,[4] as the offerings the people gave to the gods reflected their needs and status.

It would appear that the worshippers at Astipades were from the local area, as regional materials and style preferences differ at other sanctuaries.

The fact that the votives offered were of animals and humans shows the peasant class' focus on daily and personal concerns.

[9] The peasants' ritualistic practice of depositing pebbles and votives served the purpose of increasing the fertility both of the earth (for agriculture) and the domesticated animals.

The clay figurines, which include animals, anthropomorphic forms, and votive limbs, corroborates the idea that this sanctuary's purpose was healing.

The excavators found jugs, cups, bridge-spouted jars, and vessels which showed that libations occurred on the upper terrace.