Mycenae- essay plans

• The Linear B tablet tells use little about the lives of the ordinary Mycenaeans. Using source A as a starting point, how far do you agree with this assessment? [8]

  for:- many linear tablets only mention military resources e.g. 42 bronze tipped spears>> does not represent an accurate representation of the daily life of an ordinary mycenaean citizen>> however could show that ordinary citizens were soldiers>> and the types of animals and crops which could show the work of farmers

  - doesnt tell us much about culture or custom>> more based on trade and military>> we only know details of the elite e.g. the wanax but nothing about normal people>> although, we do know that ordinary paid tax, so worked on their land

  - kept in archives within the palace>> not available for ordinary citizens>> likely that aspects of their daily life werent included

  - lists of goods>> exotic goods>> probably for the royal family and not ordinary citizens

  against:- may show the religion of the ordinary citizen>> gods named>> shows religion for everyone and not just the elite>> however does not tell us the role of people, apart from officials like the wanax, within religion, except as sacrificial victims
• ´Tombs and burials raise more questions about the Mycenaeans than they provide answers´. How far do you agree with this assessment? [15]

  AGAINST:cist graves and tumulie.g. cist grave in platmonas- shows how mycenaeans were influences by other cultures e.g. Minoans, as they were used before the Mycenaean age but continued until the end of the period>> shows how honouring the dead changed over time- represented burial for the lower class>> shows there was a hierarchy in society

  tholos tombs- extravagant, time consuming>> shows it was built for the most important members of society- instead of a tumulus, had a high roof dome, built from stone, using corbelling>> shows the technical skill of the mycenaeans- less used in the 13th century, with a rise in cist graves>> shows how Mycenaean cities began to lose their prosperity

  shaft graves- stelai showed what was valued and what was considered status symbols>> stelai showing man on a box chariot>> hunting important for status

  chamber tombs- built into the side of hills shows resourcefulness

  burial items/funerary objects- show trade links>> ostrich egg rhyton>> rock crystal duck vessels >> possibly from create and influenced by the minoans- lion head rhyton>> techniques and skill (repousse)>> religious importance (libations)- find out what was important to Mycenaean life>> swords show importance of being a soldier>> pyxis and jewellery show importance of appearance to women

  
  

  FOR:- gifts to the dead stolen or decayed- problems with identifying authenticity of certain objects e.g. warrior vase, death mask- we assume funerary objects were useful to the dead in the after life, however we know very little of Mycenaean beliefs of life after death
• ´The skill it took to build Mycenaean tombs should be admired more than the contents inside´ How far do you agree with this statement? [15]

  funerary objects- lion head rhyton found in grave circle A>> repousse, high skilled, tim consuming, made of gold- ostrich egg rhyton found in grave circle A>> ivory imported from africa>> extravagant and expensive- pyxis found in a woman´s grave>> incredible detail>> filigree and repousse- swords>> show cloisonne + inlay techniques>> these techniques are still used today>> innovative, ahead of their time- rock crystal vessel with duck handle>> blended aesthetics and practicalities

  graves and tombs- tholoi>> corbelling>> dromos provides a grand entrance- shaft graves>> resourcefully built>> roof support and rubble>> built in the side of hills- cist graves and tumuli>> tremendous amount of effort put into building the tumuli, especially if they were reopened as extra graves were added>> but were fairly basic - 4 slabs of stone