2019 Homeric World past paper

Question 1

Explain the location of Mycenaean graves in relation to the city walls? Make two points.

Answer 1

• (Shaft) graves usually outside the city walls
  to save space for living areas and for hygiene
• Grave Circle A inside city walls city walls
  expanded in later building phase to encompass
  Grave Circle A
• Tholos tombs easier to build up outside city
  to mark off the power of the deceased and not
  enough space inside city
• Graves close to the walls so they were
  easier to protect

Question 2

What type of graves were found in GCA

Answer 2

shaft graves

Question 3

why would it have been hard for an invader to approach the gate?

Answer 3

• Bastion allowed defenders to hurl down missiles on attackers
• Uphill approach to entrance would tire out attackers
• Narrow entrance meant soldiers could not attack in large numbers
• Mycenaean is on a hill which would make attackers more visible
• The lions on the gate might intimidate attackers
• Area in front of gate was like a funnel for a killing zone

Question 4

Explain how other features of Mycenae, made it easier for the inhabitants to defend the city?

Answer 4

• Cistern/water tank (1) / allowed Mycenaeans to hold out in a siege (1)
• Sally port (1) / allowed Mycenaeans to make a surprise attack in a siege
• Postern/Northern Gate (1) / only one other entrance to city for attackers (1) / defenders did not have to spread out forces (1)
• Megaron/palace (1) / situated high for good vantage point (1) / in centre, further away from initial attacks (1)
• Hill (1) / would enable defenders to see attackers (1)

Question 5

What do you think were the main difficulties in doing trade in Mycenaean times? Justify your response. Use the map as a starting point and your own knowledge in your answer. 8 marker plan or points you could make

Answer 5

Trade routes, sailing seasons and boats. Ships
would stop off at islands to pick up and drop off cargo
Shipwrecks (e.g. Ulu Burun)
- Roads
- Chariots
- Lack of currency
- Geography of Greece and beyond
- Some areas were located far from each other
- Very dangerous to sail at end and start of year – goods possibly only were imported in spring and
autumn. No way of knowing if a storm would
occur whatever the season
- Impossible to know in advance when goods
would arrive or exactly what would arrive
- Boats small and flimsy by modern standards
- Roads barely existed and would be very hard to
use in poor weather
- Chariots were light and not designed for
transporting goods
- Bartering system meant you could only buy if
you had something that was wanted
- Likelihood of banditry or piracy
- Mountainous/hilly areas would slow do travel by
land, as would rocky coastlines
- Animals and chariots couldn’t carry much

Question 6

What would a stirrup jar have contained?

Answer 6

water, oil, wine

Question 7

Identify features of the decoration of this vessel (mycenaean stirrup jar, google if need be) that are typical of Mycenaean pottery. and why

Answer 7

 Slip/clay and iron mix on vessel
 Red colour
 Geometric design (1)
 Swirls (1)
 Stripes (1)
 False spout (1)
 Circular design on top (1)
 Different thickness of bands (1)
Why?
Attractive (1)
 To make it distinctive/not plain (1)
 Shows precision (1)
 Fashionable (1)Attractive (1)
 To make it distinctive/not plain (1)
 Shows precision (1)
 Fashionable (1)

Question 8

name a feature fo a stirrup jar and why it was useful

Answer 8

Double handle (1) to make it easier to transport
Small size (1) to make it lighter (1)
 Position of spout (at side) (1) to make it easier to
pour accurately (1)
 Narrowness of spout (1) made flow of liquid
steady (1)
 False spout (1) made it perhaps easier to carry
in the palm (1) or stronger (1)

Question 9

Suggest two reasons why the Mycenaeans made vessels out of clay.

Answer 9

 Cheap (1)
 Naturally occuring (1)
 Easy to shape (1)
 Waterproof (1)
 Fireproof (1)
 Kept contents fresh (1)
 Long-lasting (1)

Question 10

Why did Odysseus escape form Polyphemus’ cave in the way that he did?

Answer 10

Explain why Odysseus chose to escape in the manner that he did?
 The door stone prevented he leaving normally
(1)
 If he left normally, Polyphemus could feel him
running out (1)
 If he was on top of the sheep, Polyphemus
would have felt them (1)
 He chose to escape under the ram as it was
fitting he should be under the best animal (1)
 He knew he would have to let out the ram at
some point (1)
 So he wouldn’t make any noise (1)

Question 11

What happened to the ram after Odysseus and his crew had left Polyphemus’ island?

Answer 11

 It was awarded to Odysseus (1)
 It is killed/sacrificed (1)
 To Zeus (1)
 It is eaten (1)

Question 12

Odysseus’ crew believed there was gold and silver in the bag. State two other things that they said while Odysseus was asleep. (the bag of winds and Aeolus)

Answer 12

 It wasn’t fair (1)
 He was welcomed in every port (1)
 He didn’t share treasure with them (1)
 He was coming back with treasure from Troy (1)
 Aeolus had given him the bag (1)
 He had been given the bag from friendship (1)
 They should open the bag (1)