Xeste 3
Xeste 3 is also known as " The Mistress of the Animals " or Saffron-gathering".Known as ‘The Mistress of the Animals’ or ‘Saffron-gathering’
Xeste 3 was located in the extreme south of the excavated town, Xeste 3 is the second largest building excavated at the site of Akrotiri,
The east wall is entirely occupied by what appears to be an ashlar wall with an elaborately decorated, closed door at its center, directly above which is a pair of “horns of consecration” dripping with a red substance which is likely to represent blood; the “wall”, “door”, and “horns of consecration” may all together constitute a large altar toward which the attention of all the girls on the north wall is directed.
At the level of the upper storey, young women on the north and east walls gather crocuses in a rocky landscape and bring them from both sides to a central “goddess” seated on a platform supported by altars on the north wall. Immediately flanking the “goddess” to left and right and in postures of worship/adoration are a monkey and a griffin respectively. On the north wall at the ground floor level, three more girls appear as follows: at the left, a girl walking right and holding out a necklace in one hand; in the centre, a seated girl facing right and clutching her forehead in pain because she has hurt her foot, which is bleeding; and at the right, a girl walking left but facing right toward the door or altar on the east wall.
The door is decorated with spirals on the frame and red lilies on its main surface. From the tips of the horns drip drops of blood. The dripping blood probably alludes to a sacrifice but, if so, the victim is not depicted.
Xeste 3 was located in the extreme south of the excavated town, Xeste 3 is the second largest building excavated at the site of Akrotiri,
The east wall is entirely occupied by what appears to be an ashlar wall with an elaborately decorated, closed door at its center, directly above which is a pair of “horns of consecration” dripping with a red substance which is likely to represent blood; the “wall”, “door”, and “horns of consecration” may all together constitute a large altar toward which the attention of all the girls on the north wall is directed.
At the level of the upper storey, young women on the north and east walls gather crocuses in a rocky landscape and bring them from both sides to a central “goddess” seated on a platform supported by altars on the north wall. Immediately flanking the “goddess” to left and right and in postures of worship/adoration are a monkey and a griffin respectively. On the north wall at the ground floor level, three more girls appear as follows: at the left, a girl walking right and holding out a necklace in one hand; in the centre, a seated girl facing right and clutching her forehead in pain because she has hurt her foot, which is bleeding; and at the right, a girl walking left but facing right toward the door or altar on the east wall.
The door is decorated with spirals on the frame and red lilies on its main surface. From the tips of the horns drip drops of blood. The dripping blood probably alludes to a sacrifice but, if so, the victim is not depicted.