Classical Civilisation - Archaeology - Life in the Mycenean Age

How were palaces used for pleasure?

• Colonnades to walk around

• Courtyards (space)

• Several storeys for view

• Decoration

How were they used for business?

• Rooms for documents and archives

• Shrines to gods

• Oil press rooms for making olive oil

• Armouries

• Store rooms for food and trade goods

What was in the megaron (central hall)?

• Rectangle with an entrance porch (two columns)

• Between porch and megaron, vestibule

• Hearth, four columns around. Hearth for food and religion

• Hole in roof for smoke to leave

• Throne

What was the megaron used for?

Business, feasts

What do we know about Greek hunting and why it was used?

Greece mostly unsuitable for farming, so hunting provided meat

What does the Lion Dagger tell us?

• Too complex to use (ritual or ornamental)

• Probably status symbol, hunting and status

• Predators huge and deadly in dagger

• Tower and figure of 8 shields

• Spear, bow/arrow

What kind of armour and weapons are used in the Iliad (across the body)?

• Greaves

• Cuirass (breastplate)

• Sword

• Shield

• Helmet

• Spear

Why do different warriors use different weapons?

Regular: Spear

Rich: Sword

Poor: Rock

Coward: Bow and arrow

General: Shields

What do we know about swords from Mycenaean tombs?

• Many swords - male burial? useful in underworld?

• Elaborate gold handles - ceremonial over practical

• Shorter over Mycenean period

What have we found of spears in tombs?

• Spear heads (wooden handle likely decayed)

• Smaller by c. 12th century suggesting throw over poke

What have we found of bows (not just in tombs, generally)?

• Bows would rot, lack of

• Arrowheads found at sites in Troy

What does the earliest armour look like?

• Bronze sheets

• Torso with cuirass

• Shoulders, neck, thighs covered

• Leather holds together

• 15 plates

What did the armour come with?

• Boar tusk helmet

• Greaves

• Wrist guard

What did the armour come with according to the Warrior Vase?

• Tunic (chiton) - fabric texture with tassels (decorative ornament)

• Cuirass over chiton

• Greaves

How does the Iliad describe helmets?

• Gleaming (metal?)

• Plume nodding fearfully from top (fear?)

• Paris pulled along ground from chin strap

• Odysseus has boar tusk helmet

What was the boar tusk helmet?

• Leather cap covered by felt

• Tough covering

• Just one at Mycenae, a few at other sites

In what artworks are chariots shown?

• Frescoes

• Pottery

• Stelai

• The Iliad

What are they used in?

• Hunting

• Warfare

• Racing

• Transport

What are the problems with how we look at archaeological clothing?

• Clothes decayed

• Clothes descriptions very unspecific

What clothes did men wear?

• Short sleeved tunic

• Robe

• Kilt or loincloth

• Possibly barefoot

What clothes did women wear?

• Wrap around dresses for layered effect, thin layers, much colour

• Blouses short sleeved, possible breasts exposed

• Women wear robes, cloaks, shawls and jewellery

Where did the Mycenaeans get different dyes?

Yellow: onion skins, saffron

Red: Insect eggs, madder (plant)

Blue: Indigo plant

Purple: Shellfish ink

Why was trade important?

Greece did not have many resources that the Myceneans used

Why was trade done by sea?

• Difficult terrain

• Long travel time

• Bandits

• Chariots not designed to take goods

• Sea used island hops and rowing

What were disadvantages of sea trade?

• Piracy

• Weather

• Ships were small

What are some notable exports?

Copper: Most important, used for bronze

Slaves: Unknown amount though contemporarily mentioned

Pottery: Large kraters, most common export

Wine and gold

How are Linear B tablets made?

• Inscribe detail for tablet on clay

• Add multiple of the above onto a longer one (leaf tablet)

• Add multiple leaf tablets into a Linear B

What are Linear B tablets showing as?

• Short term record as clay would crumble

• List of objects for inventory or trading

• Accidental preservation (possibly fire)

• Work of many people due to many handwriting types, education important

What are Linear B tablets not?

• Event dating (no dates)

• Myths or stories (all factual)

• Preserved deliberately

• Work of one person

• For the public (largely found in record rooms as archives)

What hierarchy is shown by one Linear B tablet (of nobles)?

Wanax - leader, lord, who wears purple with some tax exemptions

Lawagetas - official, 1/3 size estate of wanax, possible army figure

Hequetai - noble, possibly warrior and slave owning