Life in the Mycenaeans age

• Why did Mycenaean cities have palaces?

  because they were ruled by kings
• What features did the palace contain?

  - the palace was used forpleasurebut alsobusinessand the matters ofindustry,warandreligion

  pleasure- several stories >> good view of city- courtyards- highly decorated- colonnades >> path protecting you from the sun

  business- rooms for official documents- shrines- potteries- oil press rooms- armouries- storerooms for food
• What was the

  Megaron?throne room of the king
• Location of the

  Megaron- highest point in the city

  - most important area of the palace
• Features of the

  Megaronsame plan in each palace:-rectangularin shape- entranceporchwith2 columns- a room between the porch and main room >> thevestibule-courtyardsleading off- floor covered inplasterin imitation of carpet- walls covered infrescoes-hearthin the middle of the room

  
• Features of the

  Hearth- in thecentreof the main room- surrounded by4 columns-hole in the roofto allow smoke to escape-kings thronenormally on theright, opposite the hearth
• Purpose of the

  Hearth- fire is forcookingandreligious purposes- official business-feasts, withrhapsodesreciting poetry-focal pointof palace
• Why was animal hunting an important activity in the Mycenaean Age?

  - most of Greece wasunsuitable for farm land>> flat land used for growing crops not raising animals- hunting is extremelyimportant for providing meatto be eaten
• Hunting Prescribed Source

  The Lion Hunt Dagger- found inGrave Circle Ain Mycenae

  
• PS: The Lion Heart Dagger


  What does this scene depict and what does this show about hunting?- men using spears and shields to hunt lions(tower shieldsandfigure of 8 shieldsused)

  - lion attacking a man and one man has been felled>> shows howdangeroushunting is>> draws attention to thebraveryof the hunters

  - lions running away>> suggests theskillof the hunters

  
• PS: The Lion Heart Dagger

  Use and significance- too ornate and beautiful to have been used- anornamental ritual object- probably owned by akingas astatus symbol>> shows hunting was important for status

  
• Evidence for hunting in the Mycenaean Age

  - Lion Hunt Dagger

  - the Vapheio Cups

  - Fresco of a boar hunt from Tiryns
• Vapheio Cups


  What were the 2 Vapheio Cups found called?- the ´peaceful´ cup (made in Crete)

  - the ´violent´ cup (made in Mycenae)

  
• Vapheio Cups


  What do both the Vapheio Cups depict?´peaceful´ cup- aheiferis used to seduce a bull into intercourse, allowing the hunter to tie a rope around its hood- shows the moretactical, non-violentside of hunting

  ´violent´ cup- a largebullwith muscles- man beingtrampled>> emphasizes thedangerof hunting>> emphasizesskillof the hunters

  
• Vapheio Cups


  Use and significance- too ornate and beautiful to have been used often- anornamental/ritual object- owned by akingas astatus symbol>> suggests hunting important for status-nestorin theIliadis described as having a´beautiful two-handled cup´
• Fresco of a boar hunt, Tiryns


  What does this depict and what does this show?-lots of dogsneeded to take on one boar>> stresses thedangerof boar hunting

  - all animals atfull stride>> suggest theyrerunning fast>>intensityof hunting

  - boar hastusksand is infull stride>> stressesdanger

  -blue background>> show fresco off asexpensive>> adds to thefantastic natureof the hunt

  
• Fresco of a boar hunt, Tiryns

  Use and significance- ornamental painting in the palace

  - probably owned by the king
• How do we know that battles played a huge part in the lives of the Mycenaeans?/Evidence for armour and weapons

  - huge amount ofdifferently shaped and made armour and weaponsfound from the period-representationsof the armour and weapons inart(ie. frescoes, pottery)-The Iliad(NB. describes the mycenaean period but was composed in the Archaic period)
• Shields

  How did shields change at the start of the Mycenaean period?the huge figure of eight shields and tower shields the Mycenaeans used were been replaced by smaller ones
• Shields

  Evidence for shields in the Mycenaean era- thefigure of eightandtower shieldare shown on theLion Hunt Dagger-Homerdescribes atower shieldused by the Greek heroAjax-painted shields, covering from neck to knee, are shown on thefrescoes of Akrotiri
• Helmets

  Evidence for helmets in the Mycenaean era- The Iliad (e.g. Odysseus wearing a boar tusk helmet)

  - Mycenaean boar tusk helmet

  - several others boars´ tusk helmets found at other sites

  - mycenaean wall paintings depicting plumed helmets
• Helmets


  Mycenaean Boar Tusk HelmetFeatures- leather cap

  - covered in felt

  - boars´ tusks attached to create a tough covering

  - strong and gave good protection

  
• Helmets

  How many tusks would each boar tusk helmet need?What is this issue with this?- the tusks ofat least 10 wild boars- the hunting of boars was extremelydangerous, as seen from the story ofOdysseus and the boar hunt in the Odyssey
• Helmets


  How were most helmets in the Iliad commonly described as?Why do you think the helmets such as those described in the Iliad were designed as they were?-"gleaming"- odysseus has a boar tusk helmet- having animal skin liners- Paris choked by his chin strap- animal hair plumes on top

  - makes it sound more impressive and intimidating- amount of animals needed to make them shows skill- felt for comfort
• Why do you think the form of helmets and shields changed during the Mycenaean Age?

  - greater knowledge of warfare

  - trade >> able to obtain different materials

  - advanced techniques

  - less focus on appearance and more on practicality
• Prescribed Source showing how far helmets and shields have developed?

  Mycenaean Warrior Vase
• PS: Mycenaean Warrior Vase


  What does the scene depict and what is the significance of this?- men holding aspear- men holdingknapsacksfor provisions>> showing theyre going on along term military campaign

  - all soldiers areidentical>> shows they are of alow status

  - men wearing ahelmetwith asingle boar tuskandplume>> developed from the tusks of10 boars

  - woman saying goodbye to the soldiers

  
• PS: Mycenaean Warrior Vase

  What does the other side of the vase depict?- men with hedgehog helmets- men holding shorter spears for throwing- wearingcuirass(body armour)
• Why did spears and swords become short through the Mycenaean Age?

  - more useful in close-quarter combat

  - can be thrown
• Evidence for spears

  - many spearheads found intombs>> spearhead found inGrave Circle A in Mycenae

  -Linear B tabletsin Crete which refer to42 bronze tipped spears
• Evidence for swords

  -scabbards with tasselsshown in theAkrotiri frieze- depicted in theBattle Scene frescofound in Tiryns- many swords found inMycenaean tombs>> suggests the burial wasmale>> suggests swords wereuseful in the underworld

  - some swords hadelaborately gold handles>> ceremonial
• Evidence for armour

  abreastplate,boar´s tusk helmet,pair of greavesandwrist guardfound at Dendra from the fifteenth century BC
• Armour


  What was the breast plate found at Dendra made out of?-sheets of bronzefor the chest and back>> chest and back covered incuirass

  -15separate plates of bronze made up the suit>> probably owned by a rich man due to the amount of bronze

  - bronze hinged together usingstrips of leather

  
• Armour


  Do you think the armour from the Dendra or the armour as shown in the Warrior Vase is more typical of how Mycenaean soldiers were protected?- in the warrior vase, the men are wearing chitons

  >> legs not covered

  >> less protection

  
  

  - warrior vase found in either the 8th or 13th century

  >> unreliable

  
  

  - Linear B symbol for armour is similar to the dendra armour

  
  

  - dendra had copious amounts of bronze and boar tusks

  >> heavy and impractical

  >> expensive so less accessible
• Bows


  Evidence that bows were considered cowardly weapons on the battlefield?- no bows were found in tombs

  - odysseus kept his bow at home in the odyssey

  - none of the great warriors in the iliad used a bow except for paris
• Bows


  Evidence for bows- arrowheads found in Troy VI

  - Lion Hunt Dagger shows use of a bow

  - image on a signet ring from Tiryns
• Bows


  Describe the images shown on thesignet ring from Tiryns- ornate, beautiful, made of precious gold

  - man riding a box chariot

  - bow and arrow used for hunting

  
• Why do you think Homer included arming sequences before a hero goes into battle?

  - builds up tension

  - makes it dramatic

  - shows heroism through the various weapons and armour

  >> therefore shows status and prestige
• Chariots


  Evidence for chariots
• Chariots


  Where are chariots most commonly shown- wall paintings

  - pottery

  - frescoes

  - the iliad