• Shinar Jewels Knossos Labyrinth Square Earrings in 18ct gold plated stainless steel, featuring geometric labyrinth motifs inspired by Minoan Crete.
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GREECE IN ANTIQUITY

Knossos Labyrinth Square Earrings

Knossos Labyrinth Square Earrings

£48.00 GBP
£48.00 GBP
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An ancient path through Knossos, redrawn in gold.

Inspired by the geometric labyrinths found on ancient coinage from Knossos, these golden earrings were created for the Ashmolean Museum's Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality exhibition.

DETAILS

HISTORICAL INSPIRATION

The Knossos Labyrinth Square Earrings take inspiration from the labyrinth imagery found on ancient coinage produced at Knossos on Crete. The city used the labyrinth repeatedly as a distinctive visual emblem, but its form was not always the same. Numerous Knossian coins preserve highly geometric designs built from straight lines and right-angled turns, creating the characteristic square labyrinth reproduced in these earrings. The repeated pathway draws the eye from the outer edge towards the centre, turning a simple geometric structure into one of the most instantly recognisable motifs associated with ancient Knossos. Created for the Ashmolean Museum's Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality exhibition, Shinar transforms this ancient numismatic design into a textured golden medallion designed to be worn today.

MATERIAL

18ct gold plated stainless steel

PENDANT SIZE

18mm

CARE

To keep your jewellery looking its best, gently wipe with a soft cloth after wear and store separately when not in use.

Avoid abrasive cleaners, polishing compounds and anything that may scratch or unnecessarily wear the plated surface.

DELIVERY & RETURNS

Your Shinar jewellery will arrive carefully packaged and ready to give — or to keep.

UK and international delivery options, costs and estimated delivery times are shown at checkout.

Eligible unworn jewellery may be returned in accordance with our Returns Policy.

OUR GUARANTEE

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THE STORY

The Square Labyrinth of Knossos

For centuries, the ancient city of Knossos placed one extraordinary image upon its coins:

the labyrinth.

Some surviving examples are formed from sweeping circular pathways. Others are strikingly geometric — constructed entirely from straight lines and repeated right-angled turns.

The square labyrinth became one of the most memorable forms.

Set within the small surface of an ancient coin, its pathway folds repeatedly inward, creating a design that appears simple at first glance yet becomes increasingly intricate the longer it is studied.

These surviving coins give us a remarkable connection to how the people of ancient Knossos represented their city more than two thousand years ago.

The Knossos Labyrinth Square Earrings preserve that geometry in gold.

Each medallion retains the irregular character of ancient coinage while the raised square pathway remains sharply defined at its centre.

Created for the Ashmolean Museum's Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality exhibition, the earrings transform an ancient design once struck into silver into something that can once again be carried and worn.

An ancient path through Knossos, redrawn in gold.

WEAR THE PAST.
The Square Labyrinth of Knossos
ARCHIVE NOTE
SILVER STATER OF KNOSSOS
Crete · c. 350–325 BC · Silver
Square labyrinth with ΚΝΩΣΙΩΝ, arrowhead and thunderbolt
Münzkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin · Public Domain
DESIGNED FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

MADE FOR THE AGES

THE SHINAR STANDARD

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DURABLE STAINLESS STEEL

Made from hard-wearing stainless steel, chosen for strength and durability.

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18CT GOLD PLATED

Finished in our rich 18ct gold for the warmth and character of fine gold jewellery.

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WATERPROOF

Designed to go wherever you do — waterproof for everyday wear, from the shower to the pool and sea.

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SHINAR GUARANTEE

Designed for lasting wear and supported by the Shinar Jewels guarantee.

ANCIENT INSPIRATION · MODERN MATERIALS · MADE FOR THE AGES