Mycenae Grave Circle Objects - Homeric World

Contains all of the Grave Circle objects from Mycenae required for GCSE Classics Homeric World unit

Grave Circle A

• This is in the south west area of the city ( inside the citdael )
  

• 28m in diameter
  

• It's thought to be a royal burial site since the 16th Century BC as it has items similar to Egyptian objects at the time
  
  

• It was rebuilt with a new wall and the ground was raised when the Lion Gate was built.
  
  

• 6 shaft graves, with 9 women, 8 men and 2 children were buried.
  
  

• The shaft graves were deeper and larger than those of Grave Circle B

Death Mask of Agamemnon - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

- Not actually Agamemnon ( mythical name given by Schliemann to make it sound more impressive )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Shaft Grave V, Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Significance :

- shows metalworking techniques ( hammering , repousse )

- burial customs - death jewellery/decoration

- designed to look like the deceased's face = mask would be worn by dead

Dimensions :

• 17cm high

• 25cm wide

• 168g in weight - very light as it's made from very thin gold.

Lion Hunt Dagger - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

Date - 16th century BC

Location : Grave IV, Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : gold, silver and niello ( black compound of metal pushed into engraved parts usually as a border or for fine detail.

Significance :

• inlay technique is used

• evidence of hunting, weaponry

• reputation/status object vs decorative.

Lion Head Rhyton - ( Grave Circle A Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave IV, Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : sheets of gold

Significance :

• container for pouring wine

• metalwork techniques (hammering, granulation, repousse)

• Status, power and wealth symbol perhaps

Octopus Brooch - ( Grave Circle A Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : gold

Significance :

• evidence of craftsmanship ( repousse, granulation )

• animals

• fashion

• burial customs ( suggest the dead were buried with clothing ? - brooch is a pin on a cloak )

Gold cups decorated with swirls - ( Grave Circle A Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : Gold

Significance :

• evidence of belief in afterlife - burial customs ( libations, drinking ? )

• metalworking techniques ( repousse )

• wealth and drinking culture

Gold body covering - ( Grave Circle A Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : gold sheets

Significance :

• evidence of burial customs (death jewellery )

• metalworking skill ( hammering, repousse )

• wealth and status

Gold pyxis with hunting scene

Date : 16th century

Location : Shaft Grave V, Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Function : jewellery box

Material : wood and gold

What is pictured :

• lion chasing horses

• heads of cattle

• swirls/spirals

Significance :

• evidence of craftsmanship ( repousse, filigree ) - attaching small golden plates to a wooden box.

• rare wooden object - wood usually does not last this long and will rot.

• Evidence for burial customs perhaps - gifts ?

Cup of Nestor - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : gold

Significance :

• Found by Schliemann.

• Had two eagles on the handle

• Similar to cup of Nestor described in the Iliad ( Nestor’s cup had two doves on the handles )

Signet ring of chariot hunt - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : Gold

Significance :

• jewellery

• metalwork techniques ( repousse, hammering ) - impressive craftsmanship

• evidence of hunting and weapons

• evidence of types of chariots

Gold leaf crown - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A Mycenae ‘

Material : Gold

Significance :

• burial customs - worn by the deceased perhaps ?

• wealth and status

• craftsmanship ( repousse, hammering, geometric patterns )

Gold brooch with birds and Minoan columns - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : Gold

Significance :

• craftsmanship ( repousse )

• suggestion of Minoan influences possibly early trade ( Minoan styled columns ) - possible artistic influence from the Minoan

• burial customs - could have been worn on clothing of the deceased ?

Eagle Necklace - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Material : Gold

Significance :

• burial customs - gift for the deceased ?

• craftsmanship ( repousse, hammer ) - skill

• evidence for wealth and status of deceased

Variety of death masks - ( Grave Circle A, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Material : Gold

Significance :

• skilled craftsmanship - variety of expressions created using ( repousse, hammering )

• evidence of burial customs : deceased would wear these masks.

• wealth and status of deceased - rich, able to afford gold death masks.

Grave Circle B

- The oldest tombs are found here although Grave Circle B was found later than Grave Circle A.

- It's next to the Tomb of Clytemnestra and is outside of the citadel

- 24 shaft graves found here

- diameter of 28m with an enclosed stone wall

- Over half of the graves are thought to be royal because of what they contained.

Gold decorated sword handles - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle B, Mycenae

Material : Gold handle on a bronze sword

Significance :

• craftsmanship - repousse to create swirls.

• decorative vs practical

• evidence of war and weaponry in the Mycenaean period

Sword with gold handles with swirls and dolphins - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle B, Mycenae

Material : Gold ( handle ) and bronze ( blade )

Significance :

• status/power symbol - decorative vs useful

• evidence of battle, weapons

• evidence of craftsmanship - ( repousse used on the handle )

Rock crystal duck shaped bowl from Crete - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle B, Mycenae

Material : rock crystal

Significance :

• Rock crystal is imported, suggesting trade with Crete

• impressive craftsmanship - carving duck shape out of rock crystal

• Decorative item

• evidence of a wealthy and prosperous society

• Evidence of burial customs - gifts to the deceased, possibly feasting, drinking ?

Handheld Mirror - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle B, Mycenae

Material : bronze + copper

Significance :

• evidence of burial customs - gifts or favourite items to accompany deceased.

• beauty culture

• evidence of wealth

• impressive craftsmanship and technical knowledge in knowing how to use metal as a mirror.

Electrum death mask - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle B, Mycenae

Material : Electrum ( alloy of gold + tin )

Significance :

• evidence of burial customs - worn by the deceased.

• impressive craftsmanship - metalworking techniques ( repousse, hammering )

• impressive technical knowledge = alloying

Lots of Pottery - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle B, Mycenae

Material : Clay

Significance :

• evidence of Minoan and Egyptian influences in pottery - suggesting possible trade and early influence from Minoan culture.

• burial customs - depictions of certain burial related imagery.

• Skill in pottery - detail on the images, variety of sizes and shapes with many different usages.

Sun shaped gold dress pin - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Materials : Gold ( thin plates - leaf )

Significance :

• evidence of burial customs - dress pin suggests perhaps worn when buried / act as gift.

• impressive craftsmanship - able to layer multiple thin layers of gold leaf to create sun/flower like shape.

• evidence of wealth - mainly gold

Pendant necklace with beads and ivory - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle B, Mycenae

Material : beads, ivory

Significance :

• evidence of burial customs - jewellery either being worn or buried with, possibly as a gift ?

• good craftsmanship - mould and carve beads, ivory into small pieces.

• evidence of trade - ivory from Africa

Gold swirl armband - ( Grave Circle B, Mycenae )

Date : 16th century BC

Material : gold

Significance :

• evidence of burial customs - gift/worn by the deceased as jewellery

• evidence of wealth - gold jewellery

• craftsmanship - bending and twisting the gold to create those spirals