2.4 - Death and Burial

• Burial customs

  • the wealthy would be adorned with Jewellery
  • a drink offering to the gods --> metal cups found on floor
  • Bones of animals found --> banquets to honour the dead
  • gifts were offered
  • would make a raised mound
  • stele would be placed over tomb
  • people could be buried with others
  • Painted scenes on caskets --> women were shown with the body a lot (had an important role)
• Cist Graves

  • Shallow pit was dug into the earth and the sides were covered in slabs of stone
  • very small --> before Mycenae age
• Shaft Graves

  • Star of Mycenean age
  • 14 found in Grave circle B
  • Bodies were laid on their back
  • Multiple bodies would be found in 1 chamber
• Tholos:

  • Entered through dromos (walkway)
  • built while person was alive
  • would have a very decorated entrance
• Chamber tomb:

  • dug out from the ground
  • several people could be buried there
  • Used until end of Mycenean Period
• Use of Funery Objects

  • people would be buried with valuable
  • pottery items were the most common objects found in tombs
• Contents of GCA

  • two gold death masks
  • gold cup with repoussé spirals
  • gold necklace
  • bronze dagger with the blade inlaid with gold spirals
  • amber bead necklace
  • wooden pyxis, covered with gold plates
  • ostrich-egg rhyton with faience and Dolphins
  • swords with handles decorated with gold
  • bronze sword decorated with griffins
  • gold octopus brooch
  • lots of other swords, pottery objects, items of jewellery.
• Prescribed Source

  • Gold death Mask of 'Agamemnon'
  • 16th century BC
  • found in Grave circle A
  • made of sheets of gold
  • death mask
  • Hammering and Repussé
  • shows techniques in metalworking and burial customs