the age of heroes power and myth mycenae and the late bronze age

The Age of HeroesThe Age of Heroes

Power and MythPower and Myth

Mycenae and the late Bronze Mycenae and the late Bronze AgeAge

Mycenae, Trojan War; Mycenae, Trojan War; Emergence of Greek Emergence of Greek

CivilizationCivilization

Feder: Chapter 8Feder: Chapter 8

Scarre: Chapter 13 The Mediterranean Scarre: Chapter 13 The Mediterranean World to page 503World to page 503

ArchaeologyArchaeology

►Serious study of Greece begins only in Serious study of Greece begins only in 1868. All prior knowledge was derived 1868. All prior knowledge was derived from ancient histories (more legend from ancient histories (more legend than fact).than fact).

►Key early figures were Mamet, Key early figures were Mamet, Schliemann, Evans (Mamet’s published Schliemann, Evans (Mamet’s published reports were in Latin so only a few reports were in Latin so only a few scholars knew of his research)scholars knew of his research)

►Many legends were attributed to Many legends were attributed to Homer were oral traditions recorded Homer were oral traditions recorded for the first time in writing around 700 for the first time in writing around 700 BC. (This is just when writing is BC. (This is just when writing is beginning in Greece). Greek alphabet beginning in Greece). Greek alphabet taken from the Phoenicians.taken from the Phoenicians.

Greek “Dark Ages”Greek “Dark Ages”

►During the period between 1000 and During the period between 1000 and 500 BC Greece was a place of petty 500 BC Greece was a place of petty kingdoms and politically disjointed, kingdoms and politically disjointed, much the opposite of what is described much the opposite of what is described in the legends.in the legends.

►The glory that had been ancient Greece The glory that had been ancient Greece from 1700BC -1000BC was nostalgically from 1700BC -1000BC was nostalgically thought of as an Age of Heroes.thought of as an Age of Heroes.

Contemporary Civilizations 1700BC-1000BCContemporary Civilizations 1700BC-1000BC

►Greece: small city-states. Powerful Greece: small city-states. Powerful Myceane, Sparta, AthensMyceane, Sparta, Athens

►Egypt: transition period from weak Egypt: transition period from weak Middle Kingdom to New Kingdom Middle Kingdom to New Kingdom

►Mesopotamia: powerful Sumeria, Mesopotamia: powerful Sumeria, Assyria, Babylonian EmpireAssyria, Babylonian Empire

►Crete: MinoansCrete: Minoans►Phoenicia: maritime tradersPhoenicia: maritime traders

Related mythsRelated myths

► The Iliad The Iliad (Tale of (Tale of the Trojan War by the Trojan War by Homer)Homer)

► The Odyssey The Odyssey (tale of (tale of Ulysses’ ten year Ulysses’ ten year struggle to return struggle to return from the Trojan from the Trojan War, by Homer)War, by Homer)

Homer. Roman sculpture 150 BC

Trojan War SynopsisTrojan War Synopsis

► Paris, son of Priam Paris, son of Priam (King of Troy) steals (King of Troy) steals Helen of SpartaHelen of Sparta

► Mainland Greek Mainland Greek states vs Troy and states vs Troy and its allies.its allies.

► Mycenae, Athens, Mycenae, Athens, Sparta, Syracuse, Sparta, Syracuse, others.others.

► War to restore Helen War to restore Helen back to husband.back to husband.

► War lasts ten years.War lasts ten years.► War ends with a trickWar ends with a trick

—wooden horse.—wooden horse.► Key players: Ulysses, Key players: Ulysses,

Agamemnon, Achilles, Agamemnon, Achilles, Paris, Ajax, Hector, Paris, Ajax, Hector, Helen, Clytemnestra, Helen, Clytemnestra, (actually Homer mentions (actually Homer mentions over 100 heroes and over 100 heroes and dozens of kingdoms).dozens of kingdoms).

Henrich Schliemann in

St. Petersburg, ca. 1856.

Schliemann believed the ancient legends were based in facts.

On site of Troy

Site plan for Troy.

Work in progress at Troy 1871.

Most of Schliemann’s trenches were dug deeper than the level dated to the time of the famed Trojan War of legend.

Modern excavations have turned up evidence of multiple episodes of construction and destruction.

Paved roadway to the gates of Troy.

The city has many layers spanning several centuries.

“Priam’s Treasure”

“Golden treasures of Priam”

Page from Schliemann’s publication on excavations at Troy.

For sale by a book-breaker on E-Bay

Sophia Schliemann wearing part of the treasure recovered at Troy and later smuggled out to Germany. This treasure would be “lost” after WWII until discovered in a vault in the Kremlin in Moscow in the 1990’s.

Artifacts remain in Russia despite UNESCO lawsuits to have them repatriated.

Sophia married Schliemann when she was 17. He was 46.

Site of Troy

►Multiple levels at Troy reveal early Multiple levels at Troy reveal early occupation at site dates to 3000 BC.occupation at site dates to 3000 BC.

►Site was also occupied long after Site was also occupied long after period associated with the Trojan War, period associated with the Trojan War, although in reduced state.although in reduced state.

Artists conception of Troy at its zenith.

Splendor in Mycenae Splendor in Mycenae 1700-1450 BC1700-1450 BC

►Fresh from success at Troy, Fresh from success at Troy, Schliemann sought the citadel of Schliemann sought the citadel of Agamemnon.Agamemnon.

►He was just as enthusiastic and error He was just as enthusiastic and error prone as before, but found important prone as before, but found important ruins and tombs.ruins and tombs.

Following the collapse of Minoan power, Mycenae colonizes Crete.

Lion gate at Mycenae from within the walls. This style of construction is termed “cyclopean.”

Face of Agamemnon? Schliemann declared this to be the king described by Homer in the Iliad.

The concept of covering the face with a mask was likely adopted from Egyptian practices.

Gold death masks predate Trojan war period by several centuries

► Schliemann’s error Schliemann’s error was trying to fit his was trying to fit his findings to a findings to a preconceived preconceived sequence and sequence and perception of ancient perception of ancient splendor.splendor.

► Myceane represented Myceane represented an unknown period in an unknown period in Greek history.Greek history.

Fresco on wall at Mycenae.

Styles reminiscent of Minoan but more formalized

Fresco

Mycenaean lifeMycenaean life

►MilitaristicMilitaristic►Centered on citadelCentered on citadel►Agricultural and trade basedAgricultural and trade based►Cyclopean architecture provides Cyclopean architecture provides

evidence of power.evidence of power.►Art is influenced from abroad, much of Art is influenced from abroad, much of

it from Crete.it from Crete.

Bronze swords and bronze armor from shaft graves.

Shaft graves were reserved for royal elite.

Bronze armor, boar's tusk helmet from grave at Mycenae.

Mycenaean daggers from shaft graves.Shaft grave era 1700-1450 BC

Ceremonial sword from Mycenae. Gold with lapis lazuli and colored glass.

Signet stamps. Note the one at right depicts Minoan boat type.

Mycenae. Female idols, depicted fully clothed.

Mycenae from above.

Shaft graves. Grave circle A (excavated 1876)

►Shaft Grave period 1700-1450 BC. Shaft Grave period 1700-1450 BC. Several phases of ‘royal” burials Several phases of ‘royal” burials carved into soft rock. Slab style may carved into soft rock. Slab style may have been influenced by Egyptian have been influenced by Egyptian mortuary practice.mortuary practice.

►Arguably the origin of “Greek” culture Arguably the origin of “Greek” culture can be traced to the late Bronze Age can be traced to the late Bronze Age and decline of Mycenaean dominance and decline of Mycenaean dominance after 1400 BC. after 1400 BC.

Tholos tomb. So-called “Treasury of Atreus”.

Mycenaean pottery.

Highly formal and conventionalized. Preferences fro symmetry or single balanced design.

Dancers? Painted box 13th century BC, Mycenae.

Despite his many faults and errors…Despite his many faults and errors…

►Schliemann's work gave rise to first Schliemann's work gave rise to first professional archaeology and first professional archaeology and first Scientific archaeology: Scientific archaeology: Established hypothesis based on Established hypothesis based on

observation and stated questionobservation and stated question Followed testing procedures for evidenceFollowed testing procedures for evidence Published resultsPublished results Followed interdisciplinary approachFollowed interdisciplinary approach

►The questions that emerge are:The questions that emerge are: Are all ancient legends based in fact?Are all ancient legends based in fact? If Troy and Mycenae could be found, is the If Troy and Mycenae could be found, is the

story of Atlantis also based on fact?story of Atlantis also based on fact?

Important to recall that Schliemann did not Important to recall that Schliemann did not enlarge on the data or speculate beyond enlarge on the data or speculate beyond his evidence. Many who seek Atlantis his evidence. Many who seek Atlantis pursue lines of speculation not contained in pursue lines of speculation not contained in the original story. the original story.

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►Ancient tradeAncient trade►Ancient technologyAncient technology►The search for Atlantis in its many The search for Atlantis in its many

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