2.4 Tombs, graves and burial Flashcards
libation
a drink offering poured in honour of the gods
What is the evidence for drink offerings being poured to the gods?
metal cups were found on the floor of the entrance of tholos tombs
What suggests a meal was eaten in honour of the dead?
the bones of animals and sea shells have been found
Was a clay burial casket common place?
no
Who had a greater role in funerals?
women
What is the most basic type of burial?
cist graves
Describe a cist grave:
a shallow pit and the sides were covered in slabs of stone
What happened to cist graves at the start of the Mycenaean age?
they began to be grouped together with a mound on top
What happened to cist graves when a new body was to be buried?
the mound was opened up
Describe a shaft grave
larger and deeper than a cist grave, with a chamber constructed from low rubble walls at the bottom, with roof support
How were bodies laid in a shaft grave?
on their backs
How were bodies laid in a cist grave?
in a curved position
What was common to happen in one chamber?
multiple burials
What style of burial emerged in the 14th century?
tholos tombs
What were tholos tombs made of?
stone
List the features of a tholos tomb:
-dromos = passageway
-decorated entrance
-dome
-side chamber
After what century were tholos tombs rarley seen?
13th Century
Where were less important nobles buried in the 14th Century?
chamber tombs
How were chamber tombs different to tholos tombs?
they were dug into the Earth
What was the most common item found in tombs?
pottery items
What was also commonly found in tombs?
military items
What were women often buried with
jewellery and cosmetic boxes
What grave circle and shaft grave had the most impressive grave goods?
grave circle A, shaft 5
Date of the Gold death mask of Agamemnon?
16th Century BC
