CLST 101 primary sources

Storage jar from Mykonos

storage jar from mykonos, one of the earliest depictions of the Trojan war. It is important for understanding Homeric culture because it aligns with the brief mention of the Trojan horse in book 4 of the Odyssey.

Plan of the Palace at Knossos

Blue print of a place that would be long to king Minos The Knossos Palace is renowned for its multistory layout, vibrant frescoes, advanced plumbing system, and the innovative use of light wells for natural lighting. Important for Bronze age understanding because of all the use of bull iconography made from bronze. 

Megaron, Mycenae, 13th c. BCE

The Mycenaean megaron originated and evolved from the megaroid, or large hall-centered rectangular building, of mainland Greece dating back to the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. Furthermore, it served as the architectural precursor to the Greek temples of the Archaic and Classical periods. Important for Homeric culture because of feast scenes.

citadel of mycenae

The Citadel of Mycenae is a Bronze Age fortified acropolis-city located in the northeastern Peloponnese in modern day Greece. It was a major center of Mycenaean civilization, which flourished from approximately 1600 to 1100 BCE. The Citadel is perhaps best known for its association with king Agamemnon, the legendary monarch of Mycenae who led the Greek forces in the Trojan War.

Grave circle A

The structure known as the Grave Circle A forms part of an extensive cemetery of the Middle Helladic and the early Late Helladic period, which extended on the western side of the citadel. It was used exclusively for royal burials during the sixteenth century BCE. It contained six shaft graves (I-VI), five of which were excavated by H. Schliemann in 1875 CE and one by P. Stamatakis in the following year. occupied by inhumations of members of a family, furnished with particularly luxurious grave goods.

Mask of Agamemmnon

The "Mask of Agamemnon" represents the wealth, power, and funerary practices of the Mycenaean civilization during the Bronze Age, despite the mask itself predating the legendary king it's named after. It served as a funerary mask placed over the face of a high-status deceased individual to signify their importance and to aid them in the afterlife. The mask's intricate craftsmanship highlights the advanced metalworking skills of the time, and its discovery helped create publicity for the site of Mycenae.  

dagger blades grave circle a

• Significance:

  • Status Symbol: The opulence of the daggers reflected the immense wealth and high status of the elite individuals buried with them. 

  • Artistic Achievement: They showcase the advanced metalworking and artistic skills of the Mycenaean civilization. 

  • Cultural Insight: The designs, such as the hunting scenes and the presence of bull motifs, provide insights into Mycenaean values, their connection to Minoan culture, and their religious practices. 

  • Grave Goods: They were intended to equip the rulers for the afterlife. 

palace, pylos

Best preserved mycenean places, architecturally sophisticated with porch, vestibule and Central hall. Described in the Illiad and Odyssey, destroyed during the Dorian Invasion. Palace of Nestor.

Linear B

syllable script used for writing Mycenaean Greek, the earliest for of the Greek language. Predates the Greek alpha bet by several centuries and 5000 tablets have been recorded. The tablets provide crucial details on economic, religious, and social systems, and push back the history of the Greek language by about 500 years, from the classical period into the late Bronze Age. Linear B provides a window into the late Bronze Age just before the Greek Dark Ages, a period for which writing evidence disappears. It helps explain the foundations of the civilization that would eventually re-emerge in the classical period. 

Pylos

Pylos is important for understanding Homer because its archaeological site, the Palace of Nestor, provides concrete evidence of the Mycenaean civilization that the epic poems describe. The palace's well-preserved remains, including the discovery of Linear B tablets and the depiction of cultural elements, give us insight into the society, politics, and potential history behind Homer's legendary narratives about kings like Nestor. It helps ground the myths in a historical context, even while showing how myths might have adapted over time

Troy

setting for Homers Iliad and Trojan War. During the Late Bronze Age (1750–1180 BC), Troy was a major settlement with significant wealth and foreign contact.  

figure 8 shield

Wall painting. Use of color. Shield distinctive to Mycenae.

cup of nestor

described in iliad.

Mosaic

priest chryses pleading w agamemnon to release his daughter chryseis.

embassy to achilles

ajax, Odysseus, phoenix apologizing to Achilles on behalf of Agamemnon to convince him to go back to war.

Priam before achilles

priam goes to plead w Achilles for his son hectors body back. Greek respect for the dead.

acropolis

A big rock and a religious center for worshipping Athena and the gods, a defensive citadel, a royal and high-status residence.

parthenon

temple dedicated to athena, Doric, The Parthenon is a masterpiece of Classical Greek architecture and a symbol of the power, wealth, and democracy of Athens. Its design and proportions have been studied and admired for centuries. 

• Site of a previous temple:

  The Parthenon was not the first temple on the site; it was built on the ruins of an earlier temple that was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BCE

temple of Athena nike

The small Ionic temple had a relief-carved frieze with different thematic representations on each side. On the east was shown a gathering of gods around the enthroned Zeus, while the other sides presented scenes of war between Greeks and Persians or Greeks with other Greeks.

erectheion

built intentionally to not disrupt other important landmarks, Doric, two porches, one with caryatids. it houses shrines to several deities, including Athena and Poseidon, and is named after the mythical King Erechtheus who judged the contest between them for the patronage of Athens. The north side features an Ionic colonnade, while the south side is distinguished by the porch with female figures, or caryatids, supporting the roof.