Mycenaean Metallurgy and Ceramics Module 4

The Mycenaeans were masterful metalworkers, as demonstrated by their gold, silver, and bronze daggers, drinking cups, and other objects.

Located at Mycenae, these are a series of shaft graves enclosed by a wall dating back to the 16th century BCE.
Originally excavated by Heinrich Schleimann.
Grave goods found there showcase the incredible skill of Mycenaeans in metalwork.

Commonly placed over the face of wealthy deceased individuals.
Record the main features of the dead.
Made with repoussé, a metalworking technique where a thin sheet of malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief.
The Death Mask of Agamemnon is suspected to be a fake when compared to other masks.

Inlaid with gold, silver, and niello (various black metal alloys, made of sulphur with copper, silver or lead, used to create decorative designs on other metals).
Common grave good found at Mycenaean burial sites.
Represent international trade and cultural connections between the Mycenaeans and the Minoans, Egyptians, and Near Eastern cultures.

Objects of gold, silver, and bronze excavated from Mycenaean grave sites and cities.
Include armor, jewelry, signet rings, and seals.

Diadem: A crown or headband worn as a symbol of sovereignty.
Repoussé: A metalworking technique in which a thin sheet of malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief.
Rhyton: A container, having a base in the form of a head, from which fluids are intended to be drunk.
Niello: Any of various black metal alloys, made of sulphur with copper, silver or lead, used to create decorative designs on other metals.

A set of graves from the sixteenth century BCE located at Mycenae.
Originally located outside the walls of the city.
Later encompassed inside the walls when the city's walls were enlarged during the thirteenth century BCE.
Surrounded by a second wall and has only one entrance.
Inside are six tombs for nineteen bodies buried in shaft graves.
Shaft graves were deep, narrow shafts dug into the ground.
Bodies were placed inside a stone coffin at the bottom of the grave along with grave goods.
Graves were often marked by a mound of earth and grave stele.
Excavated by Heinrich Schleimann in 1876.
Schleimann also excavated ancient sites such as Mycenae and Troy based on the writings of Homer.
He aimed to find archaeological remains aligned with observations in the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Schleimann declared he found the remains of Agamemnon and his followers upon excavating the tombs.

The Mycenaeans were talented potters.
Their ceramic styles and decorations reflect their skill and the values of their culture.

Mycenaean pottery can be identified by the types of clay and painting used.
Different pottery centers preferred different clay, slips, and motifs.
Popular themes include nature, marine life, narratives, and abstract design.
The Warriors Vase depicts a static scene of a woman bidding farewell to armed warriors.
The vase, from Mycenae, is decorated with minimal color and a uniform design.
This vase represents the culture's dependence on warfare.
Mycenaean rhytons crafted from terra cotta were usually conically shaped and painted to represent different animals, such as a boar or a bull.
Small-scale Mycenaean figurines made from terra cotta are abstract simple figures, often of women, that are simply painted and detailed.
The figures have bodies that are rounded or stand with outstretched arms, their legs are represented by cylindrical bases.

Rhyton: A container, having a base in the form of a head, from which fluids are drunk.
Krater: An ancient Greek vessel for mixing water and wine.
Figurine: A small carved or molded figure; a statuette.

The Mycenaeans created numerous ceramic vessels of various types and decorated them in a variety of styles.
These vessels were popular outside of Greece and were often exported and traded around the Mediterranean.
They have been found in Egypt, Italy, Asia Minor, and Spain.
Two of the main production centers were the Mycenaean cities at Athens and Corinth.
Products from the two centers were distinguishable by their color and decoration.
Corinthian clay was a pale yellow and tended to feature painted scenes based on nature.
Athenian potters decorated their vessels with a rich red and preferred geometric designs.