greek-museums: Archaeological Museum of Thebes Offering gifts to the goddess Main element of the M
Archaeological Museum of Thebes
Offering gifts to the goddess
Main element of the Mycenaean religious ritual was the procession of female worshippers towards the shrine, the temple, or the altar of the seated, sometimes enthroned goddess.The depiction of processions on murals, and gold seal-rings was particularly frequent.
The preserved part of a large mural composition from the palace of Thebes (14th/13th century BC) shows a procession of female adorants in traditional Minoan dress. They advance majestically holding their offerings: lilies, wild roses, a casket with jewellery, a necklace, and a luxury vase perhaps filled with aromatic oil. They move in two opposite directions, perhaps towards a central female deity who receives their offerings.
I think I have finally solved the flounced skirt mystery. In my opinion it’s a large rectangle piece of textile, straight from the loom, perhaps decorated at the top and bottom border with added woven bands. The textile is draped around the hips, then tied with the top toppling down. Multiple layers can be worn, toppling down and giving the look of the flounced skirt. Similarly the vest, could be a tunic, again rectangle pieces of textile can be used, with decorative woven bands binding them together at the seams.
I think that’s probably about right, though I think it’s either narrow pieces of woven fabric in different patterns (like 8 inches wide?) sewn on a larger rectangular piece in separate flounces (though not gathered ruffles?) OR, it’s strips like 16 inches wide folded over with the next layer of flouces sewn on the bottom edge along the fold of the lower one (with another sewn on to that, &c).
I do think it’s a rectangle that is tied on at the hips and allowed to fall open a little as it naturally wants to form a bit of a cone at the hips. Some of the Theran murals show the cord used to tie the skirt on quite clearly. The wraparound skirt looks to be over an ankle-length tunic that’s open to about the waist. Or it could be a separate underskirt with a wrap-around blouse; there’s one on another mural that looks rather sheer and has sort of bat-wing sleeves.
