From Catch to Canvas: An Analysis of the Archaeofaunal Record of Minoan Sites and Symbolic Marine Iconography

The Southern Aegean generally features oligotrophic waters punctuated by highly productivemicro-environments such as ravine estuaries and coastal lagoons. These ecological conditions support the multi-species environments that define the coastal fisheries of Akrotiri, Palaikastro, Mochlos, Pseira, and Kommos. The study analyzes of ichthyofaunal assemblages to identify the types of fish Minoan people caught, processed, and consumed at each site and to compare the assemblages across sites in order to distinguish any patterns that may indicate preference or unique circumstances. This analysis also compares these assemblages with modern Greek commercial fishing statistics to explore the long-term continuities and inconsistencies in fishing practices. The results demonstrate a strong preference for inshore fishing, as assemblages consist largely of small, demersal species, particularly the Sparidae and Centracanthidae families. Fishers occasionally targeted larger, pelagic species offshore, although they did so far less frequently. Minoan iconography reveals a distinct fascination with the marine environment and the animals that inhabited it. Despite the frequent depiction of sea creatures in Minoan art, the species people consumed rarely overlap with those represented iconographically. Instead, the Minoans appear to focus on the dolphin, a sea creature absent from the faunal assemblages, as their ‘key species’. Other fish appear only rarely or in vague forms within the iconographic record. These discrepancies suggest that the Minoans emphasized symbolic and visually striking marine animals, as opposed to those that formed their diet. The widespread occurrence of similar taxa across settlements suggests that multiple social strata commonly consumed fish rather than restricted by status, although certain contexts point to feasting events. Comparisons between ichthyofaunal data and marine iconography further demonstrate limited overlap in species representation. Everyday diets relied on small, reliable coastal fish, while Minoan visual culture highlighted pelagic species that symbolized the open ocean and the Minoan sea-faring identity. This divergence underscores the economic and cultural importance of the sea in Minoan society beyond subsistence.