The Labrys: the Minoan Double Axe

The labrys, the Minoan double axe, was a sacred symbol found throughout Knossos, carved on walls and offered in shrines. Plan tickets and tours through My Greece Tours.

The double axe is one of the defining symbols of the Palace of Knossos. The sections below cover what the labrys is, its religious meaning, the Hall of the Double Axes, its link to the word labyrinth and where to see it.

What is the labrys, the Minoan double axe?

The labrys is the double-headed axe, a sacred symbol of the Minoans found throughout Knossos.

The labrys is the double axe. Two blades face out. A single haft joins them. The symbol holds power.

Symmetry defines its form. The two heads mirror each. The shape balances perfectly. The image strikes the eye.

Religion claimed it, not war. The axe marked the sacred. The shrines displayed it. The rites used it.

Knossos shows it everywhere. Walls bear its mark. Pillars carry it. Votives copy it.

The labrys is the double-headed axe, one of the most important and recurring sacred symbols of the Minoan civilisation, found throughout the palace of Knossos. It consists of an axe with two symmetrical blades facing in opposite directions from a central shaft, a distinctive and balanced form that appears again and again in Minoan art, architecture and ritual objects.

Crucially, the labrys was not primarily a practical weapon or tool but a religious emblem, charged with sacred meaning. It appears carved into the stone walls and pillars of the palace, painted in frescoes, and was made as votive offerings in precious metals such as gold and bronze, dedicated at shrines and sacred caves. Its constant presence at Knossos marks it as a central symbol of Minoan religion, alongside the sacred bull. Our guide to Minoan religion covers the wider faith, and the next section covers its meaning.

What did the double axe mean in Minoan religion?

The double axe was a powerful sacred symbol in Minoan religion, likely associated with the central goddess and with ritual, possibly sacrifice.

The double axe marked the sacred. It signalled the divine. It graced the shrines. It blessed the rites.

The goddess likely owned it. The symbol attends female figures. The link suggests her power. The emblem honours her.

Ritual claimed the axe. Ceremonies used it. Sacrifice likely followed. The meaning ran deep.

Certainty escapes us. No text explains it. The symbol speaks alone. The interpretation varies.

The double axe held deep religious significance for the Minoans, though, as with much of their religion, its precise meaning is uncertain because no texts explain it. It is widely thought to have been closely associated with the central Minoan goddess, sometimes appearing alongside female religious figures, and to have symbolised the divine, sacred power and religious authority.

The labrys also had a role in ritual. Some scholars connect it with sacrifice, probably of bulls given the importance of the bull in Minoan religion, while others see it more broadly as a focus of worship and a sign of the sacred. Votive double axes offered at shrines and caves show that it was an object of devotion in its own right. Whatever its exact significance, the labrys was clearly one of the most potent religious symbols of the Minoan world, woven into the fabric of Knossos. Our guide to the mysteries of the Palace of Knossos explores such symbols, and the next section covers the Hall of the Double Axes.

What is the Hall of the Double Axes at Knossos?

The Hall of the Double Axes is a grand room in the royal apartments of Knossos, named after the double-axe symbols, the labrys, marked on its stone walls.

The hall took its name from the axe. Labrys marks score its walls. The symbol named the room. The link endures.

The royal apartments hold it. The east wing contains it. The king’s quarters claim it. The grandeur impresses.

Masons carved the symbol. The double axe cut the stone. The walls bear the mark. The sacred sign remains.

The room reveals the palace. Religion met daily life. The symbol shaped the architecture. The faith ran through it.

The Hall of the Double Axes is one of the grandest rooms in the royal apartments of Knossos, located in the east wing among the king’s quarters reached by the grand staircase. It takes its name from the numerous double-axe symbols, the labrys, that masons carved into its stone walls and pillars, a clear sign of the importance of the emblem and its presence in the heart of the palace.

The hall was a fine, spacious room, fitted with the light-wells, columns and porticoes typical of high-status Minoan architecture, and its name reflects how thoroughly the sacred double axe was woven into the building itself. The presence of these religious marks in a grand domestic and ceremonial space illustrates how closely Minoan religion was bound up with the life of the palace and its rulers. The hall is one of the notable spaces visitors pass through in the royal apartments. Our guide to the queen’s megaron covers the neighbouring royal quarters, and the next section covers the link to the labyrinth.

Is the labrys linked to the word labyrinth?

Yes, the word labyrinth may be linked to the labrys, the double axe.

The labrys may name the labyrinth. The double axe gave the word. The place of the axe, it means. The link intrigues.

Knossos teemed with the symbol. The labrys marked its walls. The palace was the axe’s house. The name followed.

The theory connects myth and symbol. The maze meets the emblem. The legend gains a root. The idea persists.

Certainty is lacking. The etymology is debated. The link stays a theory. The fascination endures.

One of the most intriguing ideas about the labrys is its possible connection to the very word labyrinth. A long-standing and widely cited theory proposes that labyrinth originally meant something like the place or house of the double axe, deriving from labrys, given how thoroughly the double-axe symbol marked the palace of Knossos, on its walls, pillars and ritual objects.

This theory, if correct, would directly link the sacred Minoan double axe to the legendary labyrinth of the Minotaur, and to Knossos itself, since the maze-like palace, so full of the labrys symbol, could have become known as the place of the double axe. While the etymology is debated and not certain, it is a compelling connection that ties together the sacred symbol, the great palace and one of the most famous myths of the ancient world. It adds yet another layer of meaning to the labrys. Our guide to the Minotaur and the labyrinth covers the legend, and the next section covers where to see the labrys.

Where can you see the labrys at Knossos?

You can see the labrys carved into the walls of the palace at Knossos, especially in the Hall of the Double Axes, while votive double axes in gold and bronze are displayed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

The site shows the carved axes. Walls bear the symbol. The Hall of the Double Axes leads. The marks endure.

Masons cut it into stone. The labrys scores the walls. The pillars carry it. The visitor spots it.

The museum holds the votives. Gold axes gleam there. Bronze ones stand beside. The offerings survive.

The symbol fills the palace. Frescoes show it. Objects copy it. The labrys is everywhere.

At the Knossos site, you can see the labrys symbol carved into the stone walls and pillars of the palace, most notably in the Hall of the Double Axes, which takes its name from these marks, but also elsewhere among the ruins. Spotting the double-axe symbol as you explore is a way of connecting directly with Minoan religion and the sacred meaning the builders wove into the palace.

The finest physical examples of the labrys, the votive double axes made as offerings in gold, bronze and other materials and dedicated at shrines and sacred caves, are displayed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, where the greatest Minoan finds are kept. Seeing both the symbol carved into the palace and the precious votive axes in the museum gives a full sense of how central the labrys was to the Minoan world. Our guide to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum covers the collection. Plan your visit and tours through our Palace of Knossos guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the labrys double axe?

The labrys is the double-headed axe, one of the most important sacred symbols of the Minoan civilisation, found throughout the palace of Knossos. It consists of an axe with two symmetrical blades facing in opposite directions from a central shaft. Crucially, it was not primarily a weapon or tool but a religious emblem, charged with sacred meaning. It appears carved into the stone walls and pillars of the palace, painted in frescoes, and was made as votive offerings in gold and bronze dedicated at shrines and sacred caves. Widely thought to be associated with the central Minoan goddess and with ritual, the labrys was a central symbol of Minoan religion, alongside the sacred bull, and its constant presence marks the deep religiosity of Knossos.

What did the double axe symbolise to the Minoans?

The double axe, or labrys, was a powerful sacred symbol in Minoan religion, though its precise meaning is uncertain because no Minoan texts explain it. It is widely thought to have been closely associated with the central Minoan goddess, sometimes appearing alongside female religious figures, and to have symbolised the divine, sacred power and religious authority. It also played a role in ritual, with some scholars connecting it to sacrifice, probably of bulls given their importance in Minoan religion. Votive double axes offered at shrines and caves show it was an object of devotion in its own right. Whatever its exact significance, the labrys was one of the most potent religious symbols of the Minoan world.

Is the word labyrinth related to the labrys?

Yes, the word labyrinth may be related to the labrys, the double axe, according to a long-standing and widely cited theory. This theory proposes that labyrinth originally meant something like the place or house of the double axe, deriving from labrys, given how thoroughly the double-axe symbol marked the palace of Knossos on its walls, pillars and ritual objects. If correct, it directly links the sacred Minoan double axe to the legendary labyrinth of the Minotaur and to Knossos itself, since the maze-like palace, so full of the labrys, could have become known as the place of the double axe. The etymology is debated and not certain, but it is a compelling connection between the symbol, the palace and the famous myth.