Chapter Twenty Two - The Magic and the Mundane: The Function of “Talismanic-Class” Stones in Minoan Crete

Summary

The so-called Talismanic class is a distinctive group of Minoan incised beads that were manufactured during the Neopalatial period on Crete. Although their form matches that of seal stones, there has been a certain reluctance to believe that they were actually used sphragistically. For most types of incised beads from the Near East and Aegean we have impressions on clay that confirm their use in stamping and securing. However, for the numerous Talismanic-class stones we have few impressions preserved. Their style is also strikingly abstract in appearance in a time and place where artistic styles tended toward naturalism. Therefore, it has been proposed that Talismanic stones were magical amulets or imitation seals. Beyond basic facts about their materials, typology, and techniques, very little has been proposed recently in terms of their socio-historical context. However, by tying together evidence from the manufacturing process, the contexts in which they were produced, and the uses of seals in the ancient world, we can compare what we know of Talismanic-class stones to the wider cultural context of the Mediterranean Bronze Age. As a result, we can start to see a clearer picture of how the Talismanic-class stones were used and by whom.