Homeric World Life in the Mycenaean Age

Question 1

Palaces

Answer 1

Mykenaean cities were ruled by kings
Their palaces occupied a large portion of the city
Contained pleasant areas, like colonnades, but also included rooms for official documents, shrines, potteries, oil press rooms, armouries, and storerooms for food.
The most important part was the Megaron

Question 2

Megaron

Answer 2

Often in the highest part of the city, dominating the area
Similar to later Greeek temples as it was rectangular with a porch with two colums, with another room behind (vestibule)
The megaron usually contained one or more courtyards
The most important feature was the hearth, a stone area, usually circular, on which a fire would be lit for religous purposes or cooking
Around the hearth were four columns, used to support the roof. A hole in the roof allowed smoke to escape
Also where the throne would have been, and would have been used for feasts, and poetry would have been recited there

Question 3

Hunting

Answer 3

Important activity
Most land unsuitable for farming, so was only way to get meat
Many animals lived in the mountains
Evidence comes from frescoes, daggers, and carvings on rings
Included hunting boars and lions

Question 4

Identify this object

Answer 4

Lion Hunt Dagger
From Grave Circle A in Mycenae
Lions lived in Greece in ancient times
Decoarative item
belonged to a king as a status symbol
Shows how dangerous hunting lions was
One hunter has a bow and arrow and the others have long spears
Two types of shield are shown; the figure of eight originates from the Minoans

Question 5

Other objects on hunting

Answer 5

Two cups from Vapheio near Sparta show the capture of bulls A signet ring from Grave IV in Greave Circle A in Mykenae shows a minatiure scene of a hunter and driver on a chariot armed with a bow and chasing a deer
A fresco from Tiryns shows the use of dogs in hunting

Question 6

Battles

Answer 6

Huge part in lives of Mykenaeans judging from Homer and numerous objects found in cities

Different styles of armour nad weapons have been found, leading to uncertainty as to the exact nature
of warfare, with helmets and shields changing significantly

Question 7

Shields

Answer 7

• Changing
• At the start there were tower shields and figure of eight shield were being replaced by smaller ones
• Older style appear on the Lion Hunt Dagger and in the Iliad
• Painted shields, covering from the neck to the knees are seen on frescoes of Akrotiri, and the ones on the Lion Hunt Dagger covers to the ankle, likewise, Agamemon was said to have a shield that covered a man

Question 8

Helmets

Answer 8

Boar’s tusk

• The Iliad has Odysseus wearing a helmet made up of a leather cap, covered with felt, onto which boar’s tusks were put.
• This seems to have been used in the early Mycenaean Age
• One survives from Mycenae, and several others have been found, suggesting they were common. One even sports bronze cheek pieces
• The tusks provided good protection
• Each helmet required at least ten wild boars

However,

• Most in the Iliad are shining and have animal skin liners.
• Often had throat straps and hair plumes.
• Mycenaean wall paintings show plumed helmets

Question 9

The Warrior Vase

Answer 9

• 13th Century BC
• Location: House of the Warrior, Mykenae
• Material: clay
• Original purpose: Krater, a large bowl for mixing wine and water
• Series of soldiers in a battle-line
• A group of almost identical warriors are shown marching, carrying long spears and small round shields.
• They are dressed in chitons and wear breast plats and greave, they also carry knapsacks on their spears
• The helmets have horns and seem to be relatiely light. On the far left a woman is shown saying farewell/
• On the other sides the soldiers are wearing spiky helmets and carrying shorter spears
• Noting the handles and the appearance of the soldiers, some scholars suggest it is not Mykenaean but later.

Question 10

Weaponry

Answer 10

• Spears, by the 12th century, were shorter and thrown. evidence comes from Linar B tablets in Crete
• Many swords have been found in tombs , some with gold hilts.
• Early swords had wooden pommels covered in gold.
• The more elaborate a sword, the less likely it would have been used for combat.
• Carried in a scabbard, and could have tassles.
• Became shorter through the period

Question 11

Armour

Answer 11

Earliest suit of armour in Europe comes from this period:
A breastplate was found in Dendra near Argos from the fifteenth century BC
Made up of sheets of bronze for chest and back, hinged together using strips of leather. Further plates of broze protected the shoulders, neck and back.
It was found with a boars’ tusk helmet, greaves, and a wrist guard
Would have been heavy, but the protection was greater than other types of body armour
Fifteen sparate plastes made up the suit, which differed significantly from the ones used on the Warrior Vase, which were probably leather

Question 12

Bow and arrow

Answer 12

Used
Considered cowardly in the Iliad
Odysseus kept his bow at home, and none of the great warriors used one in the Iliad
The Lion Hunt Dagger and the Signet ring from Tityns show the use of a bow.
Arrowheads have been found on several sites and bowmakers are recorded on the linear B tablets from Pylos

Question 13

Chariots

Answer 13

• Key aspect
• Often in paintings, pottery, and stelai
• Used most often for hunting, or war.
• The Iliad often shows warriors driving to the centre of the fighting and dismounting to fight.
• Did not fight chariot to chariot
• After fighting, the charioteer would pick up the warrior and take him elsewhere
• Raced each other in funeral contests, Iliad
• Earliest representation is from a stelai of Grave Circle A in Mycenae, showing a man on a two-wheeled box chariot, chasing another man
• Often had four spokes on the wheels
• A fresco at Tiryns has a chariot being used as transport, it is more spacious and has a red fabric or animal hide, similar to one from Pylos
• Presumably travelled roads, but cannot be said what roads were like

Question 14

Clothing

Answer 14

None remains
Descriptions in Homer give us little information
Art and frescoes show us information
The vast majority were from wool, or linen, made from flax
They were dyed, with the colour being locked in through vinegar or urine, which would preserve the dye when it was washed.
Some were made from silk, but they were rare
Some colours were expensive due to rarity

Question 15

Mycenaean dyes

Answer 15

Yellow: onion skins, saffron
Red: insect eggs, madder plant
Blue: indigo plant
Purple: shellfish ink

Question 16

Making clothes

Answer 16

Linerar B tablets from Pylos tell us of different workers who prepared, spun, dyed and wove the wool. Some of the workers were given rations from the palace, but whether it meant they were slaves or not is unclear

Question 17

Clothing, women

Answer 17

wrap-around skirts, with several layers creating a tiered effect (like the armour)

Often colourful and required skill to make

Worn with an underskirt.

Frescoes from Akrotiri show both longer and shorter versions, while later later versions from Mycenae only have longer ones.

Blouses were short-sleeved, but may not have covered the breasts: some frescoes show bare-breasted women, and others are designed to highlight their breasts

There is also evidence from frescoes that women wore robes, cloaks, shawls, ornate headbands and ankle bracelets.

Archaeology gives us examples of different jewelry

Question 18

Clothing, men

Answer 18

Wore braided short-sleaved tunic, with a robe over it
There is evidence of a kilt-like garment, especially for soldiers, and a loincloth for underwear
Leather boots were worn, as shown on the Warrior Vase but people may have generally gone barefoot

Question 19

Fresco of a Mycenaean lady holding a necklace

Answer 19

Fresco of a Mycenaean lady holding a necklace
Date: 13th century BC
Location: House of the Chief Priest, Mycenae
Significance: fresco colours and styles of female clothing, hairstyle, jewellery

Most famous original fesco
Shows a thoughtful woman in a typically; head bowed creating a realistic double-chin.

Mycenaean garment holding a necklace, which may be a gift to her

Might be goddess depicted

Wears a short-sleeved top over a thin bodice which has enabled the artist to show off her breasts
She has an intricate hairstyle and is wearing a fine necklace and bracelet
She holds another bracelet

Question 20

Trade outline

Answer 20

• Strong trade links
• Essential for growth and survival for their societies
• Greece does not have a rich supply of minerals and metals
• Much of the trade was done by sea
• Land travel was impaired by mountains and bandits
• Roads would have been basic and little could be carried compared to boats

Question 21

Trade

Answer 21

• Evidence comes from the objects themselves, Linerar B, and shipwrecks
• Many of the Mycenaean sites are a few miles from the sea, and there may have been sheltered harbours
• Sea trips would hvae taken a long time and been hazardous.
• Only safe to sail from spring to early autumn, and even then the weather could be unpredictable
• Merchants would island hop and would probably drop off and pick up on the way
• Most trade was with the east, but some came from Italy and the surrounding islands
• Perhaps imported amber and tin from Britain
• Items exchanged goods via bartering as there was no money

Question 22

Mycenaean imports probable origins

Answer 22

Gold: Macedonia, Egypt, Thasos
Amber: Denmark, northern Europe
Ivory: Africa, Syria
Lapis Lazuli gemstones: Africa
Silver, lead: Attica
Copper: Attica: Syria, Cyprus, Sardinia
Ostrich eggshells: Africa
Tin: Britain, Turkey, Afghanistan, Spain
Glass: Egypt

Question 23

Imports rarity

Answer 23

Some were found in small quantities
Copper was crucial for bronze
Gold is most famous as some of the most famous objects from Mycenae are of gold

Question 24

Slaves

Answer 24

Debatable whether slaves were imported
The Iliad has many people enslaved, especially women
Numerous mentions of workers in the Linear B tablets, unknown if they were slaves
Their native land is often mentioned as far away

Question 25

Export

Answer 25

Pottery is their main export
Reached Israel, Egypt, Sicily, Albania, and Macedonia
Many vessels would have contained olive oil, and some have been found in other parts of Greece
Kraters were exported to Cyprus.
One of the inhabitants of Mycenae seems to have traded wine and another oil.
Other items include a gold Mycenae style dagger from Romania and beads in Egypt

Question 26

Ulu Burun

Answer 26

e1375, a Mycenae ship sunk off the coast of southwest Turkey near Ulu Burun
We do not know where it was going or whence it came
It was carrying 10 tonnes of copper and 1 tonne of tin, used for bronze, and the correct proportion
Around 150 jars of Middle East origin, majority filled with resin or olives, one with glass beads
Other items include wooden logs, elephant tusks, hippo teeth, tortoise shells, oil lamps, and pottery, amber, drinking cups, weapons, food (nuts, olives, spices, etc), a trumpet, wooden tablets, (possibly filled with wax for writing) and much else

Question 27

Linear B tablets

Answer 27

• series of inscribed clay tablets
• Found at some of the major palaces, notably Pylos and Knossos
• Over 1,000 have been found at Pylos alone
• Scholars have identified different sets of handwriting, showing that over 100 people wrote the tablets at Knossos
• many were kept in archive rooms
• The tablets were pieces of damp clay on which records were inscribed with a sharp tool.
• They were hardened in the sun
• Would eventually crack and crumble, lasting only several months
• They have survived due to major fires which baked them as if in a kiln
• Those that we have represent a moment in time
• Most are dated to the end of the Mycenaean period

Question 28

Writing Linear B tablets

Answer 28

First stage was to inscribe the detail on a small piece of clay held in the palm
Some are only 3 cm in length
The information was transfered to a larger thin horizontal tablet, known as a leaf tablet, and several could be transferred to a larger document up to a foot in length
Many were fragile on discovery and crumbled when touched

Question 29

Linear B

Answer 29

Uses syllables and ideograms
Symbols for each vowel and symbol for each consonant and vowel syllable
Ideograms were a picture representing a whole word
Sometimes the syllable form and ideogram are inscribed next to each other, presumably to aid those reading the signs
The gender of the animal was shown by extra strokes on the ideogram, with two small extra horizontal lines indicating a male, and an extra vertical, or near vertical, line for a female

Question 30

Significance of Linear B tablets

Answer 30

• No literature
• Show us certain aspects of life
• How cities were run and where workers came from
• Tablets also shed light on how the Greek language developed and some ebliefs
• Reveals the names of several main Olympian gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hermes, Hera, Artemis, and female versions of Zeus and Poseidon Diwia and Posidaia – show that some survived)
• Some of the words did not change much between then and Classical Greece
• Pamako meant medicine and in English has become pharmacy
• Tripod was written as tripode
• Until the translation it was presumed that later Greeks wiped out the original Mycenaean language

Question 31

Linear B religion

Answer 31

Zeus, Poseidon, Hermes, Hera, Artemis, Diwia, Posidaia
Offerings made are mentioned one one tablet.
Gold items, some for Zeus
Controversy, but many believe that two men and eight women are mentioned as offerings for gods including Zeus, Hermes, and Hera, suggesting human sacrifice

Question 32

Linear B food

Answer 32

A tablet from Knossos tells us about wine production, entioning 420 vines and the storage of 14,000 litres of wine.
One tablet records the delivery of 518 litres of oil by Kolakas to Eumedes
Figs, wheat, and barley are mentioned
An official was in charge of honey production and honey used for religious offerings
Spices, e.g. saffron and corriander, are mentioned

Question 33

Linear B animals

Answer 33

Some plough oxen even have names, such as Dusky, Dapple, or Whitefoot

Horses are listed as part of military equipment, and goats and pigs are mentioned

Question 34

Linear B society

Answer 34

• Chieftain called a wanax at the top of each society
• Correspons to ‘anax’ in Homer which means ‘lord’
• Only used in Mycenaean times
• He had royal lands, special garments, often purple, and freedom from certain taxes
• Beneath him was an official called a lawagetas whose estate at Pylos was a third of the size of the wanax, might be connected with the future Greek word for leader and people, potentially meaning a military role
• Beneath these are the nobles - hequetai - perhaps followers of the ruler and warriors, they owned land and may have owned slaves
• Beneath these were the classes who did much of the work

Question 35

Linear B workers

Answer 35

• Mention of female religious workers and women who ground corn, spun, produced flax, and were waitresses and bath attendants.
• Often they came from other parts of the world, suggesting they were slaves
• Other workers include headband makers for horses, musicians, sweepers, baker, fire kindlers, perfume makers, and stonemasons

Question 36

Linear B military

Answer 36

Tablets of Knossos tell us of 42 bronze pointed spears,

while tablets from Pylos mention that officials had to provide bronze for spears, arrows, and ships, suggesting a greater focus on producing what would be needed in an attack

The tablets also tell us of chariot parts, wheels, frames, etc, with those from Pylos mentioning 117 pairs of wheels

Tablets from Pylos mention 600 rowers and 800 coastal watchment, suggesting fear of invasion