Archaeologists Find 450 Mouse Remains in Crete Sanctuary
They are linked to the cult of the 'Mouse' Apollo of Ostanki, as at least 450 mice were found in the sanctuary of Apollo in the ancient city of Gortyn on Crete, reported by the Italian Archaeological School in Athens.
Consensus
- Archaeologists discovered the remains of more than 450 mice in a sanctuary dedicated to Apollo in ancient Gortyn on the island of Crete.
- The discovery was made during excavations at the site of the ancient city of Gortyn.
- The mice remains were found alongside ceramics and ritual objects, indicating religious significance.
- The find is linked to the cult of Apollo Smintheus, also known as 'Mouse Apollo'.
- The cult of Apollo Smintheus is associated with both protection from and infliction of plagues and disasters.
- The site dates to the Hellenistic period, approximately 2,700 years old.
- This is the first material evidence of the ritual veneration of mice on Crete.
Points of divergence
- The cult of Apollo Smintheus was believed to have originated on Crete according to myth, after mice destroyed the Cretan colonists' leather armor, fulfilling an ancient prophecy. — vm
- Prior to this discovery, archaeological evidence of the cult of Apollo Smintheus had only been found in Troy (northwestern part of modern-day Turkey). — vm
- The discovery changes understanding of religious life in ancient Gortyn. — vm
- The remains were discovered during excavations in 2025, and researchers are still studying the ritual complex. — tg_echoonline_news
Coverage (2 sources)
- Archaeologists found a tomb of 450 mice in Greece and proposed a version about a rodent cult — Вечерняя Москва
- On Crete, remains of 450 mice were found. They are linked to the cult of the 'Mouse' Apollo — ЭХО / Новости
Key entities
- Crimea
- Merop Apona
- Apollo
- Gortyne
- Apollo Smyrneia
- Greece
- Athens
- Apollo Ostanki
- Italian Archaeological School