Armour and weapons

What armour and weapons did the Mycenaeans use?

Spears, swords, bow and arrows and helmets

Where did hunters and leaders of armies live in the citadels?

Within the walls of the citadel, which suggests that they were also aristocrats

Why did the Mycenaeans have a sudden growth in wealth?

They looted other places (which suggests that they were warlike people)

Spears

While the wooden poles decomposed, the bronze or other metal spear heads remain intact. By the 12th century, spears had become shorter so could be thrown (previously they had been longer and were used for jabbing)

Swords

Carried in a scabbard and became shorter during the Mycenaean Age, which was useful for fighting in close quarters

Bow and arrows

Although considered unheroic by some (seen as Odysseus leaves his bow and arrows at home when he leaves to fight in the Trojan War) as it involves shooting soldiers at a distance so carries very little threat to your own life. Bowmakers have been recorded in some Linear B tablets found at Pylos, and arrowheads have been uncovered at multiple excavation sites

What was the warrior vase?

A large (41cm tall) krater used to mix water and wine together, used for entertainment and as a display of wealth to the guests. It displays a row of marching soldiers on both sides (although the soldiers are not the same on each side) with a woman waving them off

What are the soldiers wearing on the warrior vase?

Tunics called chitons, breastplates and greaves for protection with knapsacks on their spears to suggest that they are going on a long journey since it appears that they are just leaving their home to go to war. Their helmets have horns on them to protect their forehead and necks

While the men on the other side have hedgehog helmets with shorter spears and circular shields with a sickle cut out

Where and when was the warrior vase from?

Found in the House of the Warrior in Mycenae and dating from the 13th century

What is the purpose of the warrior vase?

It tells us how the Mycenaeans viewed their armies and warriors by giving the viewer the impression that the army was organised (since the men all look the same including their beards) and suggesting that they are highly trained and an effective force

Helmets

Typically made of boar tusks covering a leather base to protect the skull better as it is a strong material. Each helmet required 10 or more boars to make one helmet (which would be a dangerous task as it is shown through the Odyssey, when Odysseus as a child was gored while killing a boar). However, there were multiple designs (as seen on the warrior vase), such as a horned helmet which had a horn at the front and back to protect the forehead and back of the neck or a hedgehog helmet - possibly named such as it uses hedgehog skin and a spiky outside layer)

What is the dendra panoply?

The only full set of armour ever found (a panoply) found at Dendra. It is also the oldest example of Mycenaean armour ever discovered, dating from the 15th century. Although it provides a very high level of protection due to the fully body covering armour, it would be heavy and difficult to walk or fight in