Bruce Rimell Artist & Independent Researcher Web: www.biroz.net/research.htm Email: brucerimell@googlemail.com “The Minoan Epiphany: A Bronze Age Visionary Culture – Archaeological Evidence for Ecstatic Ritual and Altered States of Consciousness in Cretan Prehistory” Bruce Rimell Rimell, Bruce (2020), The Minoan Epiphany: A Bronze Age Visionary Culture – Archaeological Evidence for Ecstatic Ritual and Altered States of Consciousness in Cretan Prehistory, Leeds-Bradford, UK: Xibalba Books (Electronic Publication), PDF available at url: http://www.biroz.net/xibalbabooks/research-minoan-epiphany.htm, dated August 2020 The art and iconography of the Minoan civilisation of Bronze Age Crete is rightly described as having a refreshing vitality with a fortunate combination of stylisation and spontaneity in which the artist is able to transform conventional imagery into a personal expression. The dynamism, torsion and naturalism evident in Minoan art stands in stark contrast to the hieratic rigidity of other ancient civilisations, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the iconography of the Minoan Epiphany, a set of mainly glyptic (rings, seals, and seal impression) images which appear to depict religious celebrants experiencing direct and seemingly ecstatic encounters with deities. This collection of essays explores this central aspect of Minoan religion, taking a strongly archaeological focus to allow the artefacts to speak for themselves, and moving from traditional ‘representational’ interpretations into ‘embodied’ perspectives in which the ecstatic capabilities of the human body throw new light on Aegean Bronze Age ritual practices. Such ideas challenge rather passive assumptions modern Western observers hold about the nature of religious feelings and experiences, in particular the depictions of altered states of consciousness in ancient art, and the visionary potential of dance gestures. Speculative asides on the potential for a Minoan origin for Classical Greek humanism, and hints in the imagery on ancient Cretan conceptions of the cosmos, are set against sound archaeological theories to explain this lively and dynamic corpus of images. Beautifully illustrated with images and sketches of the relevant artefacts, this wide- ranging volume will stimulate audiences with archaeological, prehistorical and spiritual interests, as well as historians of religion and art. ‘The Minoan Epiphany’ also represents an influential antecedent to the Visionary Humanist philosophy which forms the majority of Bruce’s current independent research interests. © Copyright 2020 Texts, artworks & artefact sketches: Bruce Rimell & Xibalba Books. This PDF Electronic Publication of “The Minoan Epiphany: A Bronze Age Visionary Culture” is made available for non-profit, educational purposes only and may not be re-sold, made into physical formats such as books, added to any subscription service, or uploaded to any other website, without the author’s specific written permission. This PDF Electronic Publication is made available only through the author’s website at www.biroz.net and via his Academia.edu portal. A version is also visible via Google Books. Bruce Rimell asserts his rights under UK and International Law to be recognised as the author of this work. © Copyright 2020 Artefact images, photographs & archaeological illustrations: See ‘About this Electronic Publication’ section. Artefact images, photographs & archaeological illustrations are copyrighted to the respective institutions detailed in the ‘About this Electronic Publication’ section on page 6 of this Electronic Publication, and are reproduced here under a Fair Usage Policy, which is also detailed in the ‘About this Electronic Publication’ section.