Who are these women?
There is still one important question left: who are these women? The fragments are perhaps linked to comparable fragments found on the other side of the palace, which were probably part of a processional scene. The high quality of the painting and materials would also support this hypothesis. A processional theme was also a widespread phenomenon in Minoan and Mycenaean palaces.
Although a processional theme for the fresco is possible, this still leaves us with several options regarding the identity of the women. Are they deities, priestesses, or court women? All of these possibilities have been suggested, but without the original context it is hard to tell.
The dresses of the women are similar to the court dresses from other scenes, but little has survived of the original dresses on the fresco. Besides,the dresses of Minoan goddesses and priestesses are not that different.
Since deities, priestesses and court women are all likely to take part in a processional scene, there is no clear answer for us today, so we have to use our imagination. Perhaps they were high-ranking women walking in a procession to present offerings, such as their jewelry, to a deity. Or, if we look at the positions of their arms and hands, they could have been dancers within a procession.
In a way, these ladies in blue will always remain a mystery. But we still can learn a lot about the process of making and restoring a fresco, the Minoan palatial world, and the continuity with the Mycenaean palaces by starting with just one beautiful tiny fresco fragment from Knossos.