Hunting - Homeric World

Why was hunting important in the Mycenaean Age ?

• Most of Greece was unsuitable for farmland and flat land was normally used for growing crops.

• Hunting was essential for meat.

• Many of the animals lived in mountainous terrain.

Fresco of dogs hunting a boar

Date : 13th - 14th century BC

Location : The Megaron in Tiryns

Material : Fresco - plaster + paints

Significance :

• evidence of art - techniques and colours

• evidence of animals involved in hunt :

  • humans hunted alongside dogs ( arrow at boar’s head )

  • dogs have matching collars - suggests co-ordination

  • boars were hunted

• evidence of equipment in hunt :

  • bow and arrow

Signet ring of hunting scene

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : Gold

Significance :

• evidence of hunting and weapons used ( bow and arrow )

• suggests some hunts are high speed - chasing stag

• Chariot usage in hunting

• suggests it’s quite dangerous - two people on small chariot.

Lion Hunt Dagger

Date : 16th century BC

Location : Grave IV, Grave Circle A, Mycenae

Material : Gold, silver and niello ( black compound of metal pushed into engraved parts as a border or for final detail )

Significance :

• evidence of weapons in a hunt :

  • spears

  • bow and arrow

  • variety of shields - figure of 8 , tower shield

• hunts were organised, group activities

• Lions were hunted - not for food but most likely for status etc )

• hunts were dangerous -

  • one man is injured or dead on the floor

  • lions are fighting back

Odyssey Book 19 - Young Odysseus’ boar hunt

• hunting = gaining Kleos, growing up - maturity

• Odysseus receives a scar from the boar - hunting is rather dangerous

Vapheio cups

evidence of bull hunt :

• possibly dangerous - one man fleeing

• however one man also finds it quite easy to string the bull up.