2.2 - Mycene age

• Palaces

  • Small but occupied a large percentage of the city
  • Official documents, shrines, potteries, oil press rooms, armoury, and stone rooms for food
• what were the three parts to the megaron called?


  front porch

  vestibule

  throne room (housed the circular hearth)
• Linear B

  • Series of inscribed tablets found at major palace sites
  • only semi-permanent, it would crack and crumble
  • couldn't be deciphered for many years
  • Mixture of letters and symbols
• What does the tablet tell us?

  • they list objects
  • lots about agriculture and food production
  • animals are mentioned
  • military organisation
  • chariot parts
  • offering to the gods
• How the city is run:

  Wanax (chief/king)

  lawagetas (Official)

  Hequetai (noble class)

  Other classes
• Hunting:

  • Most of greece is unsuitable for farm land
  • Evidence for hunting
  • frescos
  • scenes on daggers
  • carving on rings
• Dagger sheath:

  • Lion hunting is the greatest challenge a hunter could face
  • It likely belonged to a king
  • found in grave circle A
  • Too intricate and delicate to be used for combat

  
• Vase:

  • the vase shows worriors marchong
  • carry long spears and small round shields
  • carry knapsacks on their spears
  • have horns
  • Women on the far left presumed to be saying farewell

  
• Weapons:

  • spears, consisted of a wooden handle where a bronze spearhead
• Helmets:

  • Described as gleaming with animal skin for comfort
  • They had throat sraps and animal hair plumes , to look impressive
• Armour:

  • 15 separate plates of bronze made up the suit
  • armour would have been heavy but very protective
• Bows:

  • They were used a lot in the Mycene, but were considered cowardly during war
  • Arrow heads have been found on several sites and bow makers are recorded on Linear B tablets from Pylos

  
• Chariots:

  • Depictions:
  • signet rings
  • wall paintings, pottery, and Stelia
  • in the iliad
  • Steli in grave circle A
  • frescos from Tyrin's#
• Clothing:

  • ideas from frescos
  • made from wool from goat or sheep
  • colour was loced in with vinegar or urine
  • Linear B are a valuble source for info for cloth making
• Colours

  Purple - Shellfish Ink

  Blue - Indigo

  Red - Insect egg or Madder

  Yellow - Onion, saffron
• Women:

  • Regularly shown in a wrap around skirt
  • several thin layers
  • very colourful
  • worn with an under skirt
  • Akrotiri frescos show long and short versions of the skirt
  • short sleeved blouses
  • some are bare breasted
  • also wore robes, cloaks, shawls, ornate headbands, and ankle bracelets

  
• Men's Clothing

  • Kilt like garment, especially if they were soldiers.
  • they were generally barefooted
• What would travel be like?

  • journeys were hazardous and could take weeks
  • only safe to sail from early spring to early autumn
  • manned by rowers
  • mostly traded east but there was some trade with Italy and surrounding islands
  • items would be traded for other items
• What would have been traded?

  • copper (most crucial)
  • gold was the most famous
  • main example of trade was pottery ad it was found in Israel, Egypt, Sicily, Albania and Macedonia