The sacred pair of horns or consecration horns were the main religious emblem of Minoan civilization and were a cult object. The horns presumably represented bucrania, that is the heads of sacrificial bulls which were hung from sacred trees and on the walls of shrines. The bull cult is known from Neolithic sanctuaries in Asia Minor. Consecration horns often adorned shrine pedestals and certain works of art depict human figures praying in front of sacred horns. There are many models of sacred horns made of clay, limestone plaster and stone adorning secular buildings too. A large pair of horns was recovered near the south propylene entrance of Knossos, and another one in the palatial complex of Archanes. Cultic horns were found in the Nirou Megaron on a stepped base on the south side of the court.