Cahiers du Centre d’Études Chypriotes 45, 2015
POTNIA FIGURES AND CULTS
IN EARLY IRON AGE AEGEAN AND CYPRUS *
Nota KOUROU
The sudden emergence of a distinctive Bronze Age Aegean type of female figurine with upraised arms in 11th century BC Cyprus is a significant social and religious episode, which is usually linked with population movements ensuing the end of the Minoan-Mycenaean world. 1 The contemporaneous appearance of the same type of LBA2 figurine at some EIA sanctuaries in Eastern Greece implies further population movements inside the Aegean and a more widespread trend for these highly symbolic figures and cults to which little attention has been given so far. The sudden emergence of these figures and cults in Cyprus and Eastern Aegean at the same time marks a historical event of major social and religious significance for the EIA. This paper concentrates on these EIA
* Jacqueline Karageorghis has always been studying Cypriot religion by meticulously
concentrating on terracotta figurines and female representations. Thus we hope that she might
possibly enjoy a small article on some cults and images of Potnia, the Aegean version of the Cypriot Great Goddess in the EIA, and it is with much affection that we dedicate it to her. For photographic material used in this article I would like to thank Bodil Bundgaard-Rassmussen, John Lund and Stine Schierup (Copenhagen, National Museum), Kiki Kalliga (Thebes Museum), Maria
Hidiroglou (Athens, National Archaeological Museum), Maria Viglaki-Sofianou (Samos Museum),
Despo Pilidis (Departement of Antiquities, Cyprus)
