2.2 Life in the Mycenaean Age: Linear B Tablets

Question 1

Where were the Linear B tablets found?

Answer 1

Pylos and Knossos on Crete

Question 2

How were Linear B tablets made?

Answer 2

damp clay is written on and left to harden in the sun to provide semi-permenant records and eventually will crumble

Question 3

why did the Linear B tablets last so long?

Answer 3

the sites they were found suffered major fires which baked the tablets as if in a kiln and became hardened.

Question 4

What do Linear B Tbalets tell about the development of Greek Religion?

Answer 4

• reveals names of several Olympian Gods
• many female versions pf Greek Gods (Diwia, Posidia)

Question 5

What do Linear B Tablets tell about agriculture, food and animals?

Answer 5

Animals
- goats, pigs
- horses for military
- oxen for ploughing
Agriculture
- 518l oil
- honey
- figs, wheat and barley
Food
- 420 vines
- 14000l of wine

Question 6

What do Linear B Tablets tell us about how Mycenaean society was run?

Answer 6

1. Wanax
2. Lawagetas
3. Hequetai
4. Workers

Question 7

Wanax

Answer 7

chieftain/ king

Question 8

Lawagetas

Answer 8

military figure

Question 9

Hequetai

Answer 9

warrior class/ nobles
owned slaves
landowners

Question 10

Workers

Answer 10

bakers
musicians
women - bath attendants, waitresses

Question 11

What do the Linear B Tablets tell us about Mycenaean Warfare?

Answer 11

At Pylos
- 117 pais of wheels
- 600 rovers
- 800 coastal watchmen
- preparing for war?

Question 12

PS: Linear B Tablet showing the word ‘tripod’
Date?

Answer 12

13th Century BC

Question 13

PS: Linear B Tablet showing the word ‘tripod’
Material?

Answer 13

clay

Question 14

PS: Linear B Tablet showing the word ‘tripod’
Original Location?

Answer 14

Archive Room, Palace of Pylos

Question 15

PS: Linear B Tablet showing the word ‘tripod’
Significance?

Answer 15

shows various syllables and ideograms, including the word for tripod