Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Classics GCSE > Key sites test > Flashcards

Key sites test Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards GCSE Geography - AQA flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards
1
Q

When did the Mycenean age occur?

A
  • 1600 BC to 1150 BC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why was it called the Mycenean age?

A
  • time where there were many similar successful cities
  • similar culture, buildings, administration, had palaces at the heart of them
  • not linked or united
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which other period did the Mycenean age overlap with?

A
  • bronze age
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Why was it difficult to date Mycenean period?

A
  • greek alphabet did not exist, cannot be precisely dated
  • similar to minoan culture, hard to distinguish which culture it came from
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the two methods that are used to date items from this period?

A
  • comparing pottery styles with ancient Egypt (historical records kept more accurately)
  • based on radioactivity in carbon based objects eg. wooden objects and timbers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where was Minoan culture based and how does it differ from Mycenaean culture in terms of dating?

A
  • based in Crete 3500 - 1400 BC
  • overlaps in time + area with Mycenaean culture
  • did not build many walls
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a citadel?

A
  • ancient city built on higher ground
  • defended by walls
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Where was Mycenae?

A
  • Northeast Peloponnese, Greece
  • built on hill
  • 40-50 m above plains
  • perimeter of 900m
  • small by modern standards
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Who did the Greeks believe to have founded the Mycenae?

A
  • Perseus, man who killed Medusa
  • given help building city by cyclopes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How did the cyclopean walls get their name?

A
  • Greeks thought no human could have built such huge walls
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who was Agamemnon?

A
  • king of Mycenae several centuries after Perseus
  • leader of Greek forces at Troy
  • richest of all Mycenaens
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where was Tiryns?

A
  • East Peloponnease, Greece
  • 10 miles from Mycenae
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Mycenae

What was the sally port for?

A
  • defensive feature
  • defenders could rush out and surprise attackers
  • could be seen from a distance = not very effective?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Mycenae

What were sally ports and how big are they?

A
  • 2 narrow exits on north and south of walls
  • 2.5m wide
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is corbelling?

A
  • technique used to span a gap between 2 walls
  • place increasingly larger blocks of stone onto each other
  • creates vaulted roof
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where is corbelling used in Mycenae?

A
  • underground cistern
  • roof of Treasury of Arteus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the underground cistern used for and where does the water come from?

A
  • keeps water cool and it from evaportating
  • collected water by clay pipes on roof, water is from spring
  • freshwater supply within citadel for under siege
  • 18m below ground level
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe the development of the cyclopean walls

A
  • originally only surrounded on top of city
  • enlarged a century later
  • final perimeter = 900m
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What were the dimensions of the cyclopean walls and what were they made of?

how were they kept together?

A
  • orginal height = 12m
  • length = 900m
  • width = 5.5-7.5m
  • made of limestone, quarried near Mycenae
  • no mortar used
  • used smaller stones in between large blocks to hold it together
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

When was the Lion Gate built?

A

13th century BC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What was the Lion Gate and how large was it?

A
  • main entrance to citadel
  • 3m wide square
  • 20 ton lintel
  • wooden doors
  • relief sculpture of a pair of lions/ griffins with front paws on altar
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What was the function of the Lion Gate?

A
  • main entrance = small amount of gates limit number of weak points
  • majestic/ powerful lion relief = reflects people of city, impress visitors
  • small size to limit flow of enemies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Where was Grave Circle B, when was it built, how big is it and what was in it?

A
  • just outside of citadel, surrounded by stone wall
  • 28m in diameter
  • 16-17 century BC
  • shaft graves with objects in it
  • just over half were graves of royal family
  • uncarved stelai = female
  • carved stelai = male
  • 35 bodies, 24 graves
24
Q

How big was Grave Circle A, how did it expand and what was in it?

A
  • 28m in diameter
  • originally surrounded by low walls
  • lion gate built = raised walls + ground
  • could have been outside originally but walls were widened
  • shaft graves with precious goods (gold, silver etc)
25
Q

What were the tombs of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus like?

A
  • both 13m in diameter
  • T.C. is 13m high
  • T.A. roof collapsed
  • both built in 14th century
  • empty - goods were raided/ stolen
  • arch achieved with corbelling
  • beehive shape

not actual graves of the both of them- Schliemann was just delusional

26
Q

Who were Clyclemnestra and Aegisthus?

A
  • wife of Agamemnon
  • second husband of Clyclemnestra
27
Q

What is the Treasury of Atreus?

A
  • place to store treasure
  • Atreus was Agamemnon’s father
28
Q

How big was Tiryns?

A
  • 18m above land that surrounds it
  • 300m long
  • 45-100m wide
29
Q

How high were the walls of Tiryns?

A
  • 10 m high
30
Q

Who was the founder of Tiryns?

A

Protios
- brother to Acriscus who was grandfather of Perseus

31
Q

Was Mycenae or Tiryns older?

A

Tiryns

32
Q

Describe the bull leaping fresco

A
  • boy leaping over bull
  • blue background, maroon spots on cow, yellow hooves
  • may have been festival to show men’s courage/ sport
  • copied Minoans? (happened more in crete)
33
Q

Which famous hero was said to be born here?

A

Heracles

34
Q

What was the date of the earliest buildings in Tiryns compared to Mycenae?

A
  • 2500 BC
  • first Mycenaean style building = 1400 BC
35
Q

How did Tiryns justify the description in the Iliad as “surrounded by walls”?

A
  • wall on western side added with curving defense
36
Q

What was the tactical advantage of the main entrance of Tiryns?

A
  • attackers trapped in long narrow passage between 2 gates beyond entrance
  • defenders hurl objects at them
37
Q

What was the main entrance of Tiryns like?

A
  • 3m high
  • 3m wide, similar to Lion Gate
  • pivot holes for doors still seen
  • slots in gate posts for bar to lock gates
38
Q

What was the Cyclopean Ramp like and where was it?

A
  • given name because of size
  • small part remains now
  • little clue of how impressive it was
  • short walk to main gate
39
Q

What was the tactical advantage of the Cyclopean Ramp?

A
  • narrow = reduces number of people charging at once
40
Q

What were the Galleries?

A
  • area containing workshops and houses added in 13th century BC
  • created extra loop of walls to north
  • built into outerwalls of city
  • corbelling to create vaulted roofs
  • some up to 30m long
  • leading off galleries = large number of rooms
41
Q

What were the defences of Tiryns?

A
  • walls are relatively straight
  • wall of west city = deliberate, significant curve
  • stairway leading to narrow corridor
  • double gate + bend = killing box
  • killing box traps enemies inside, can’t charge
  • harder to attack uphill
  • high lookout point
42
Q

Tiryns

What would have the palace been like?

A
  • on highest part of Tiryns
  • protected by own defensive walls
  • floor is plastered, had images of octopi + dolphins
  • walls covered in plaster (frescoes painted on damp plaster, rich ladies, hunting scene, patterns)
  • around megaron- series of apartments & colonades for rulers
  • bathroom floor made with polished limestone slabs, holes drilled into floor for drainage
43
Q

What would the Tholos tomb have been like?

A
  • 6m tall + wide
  • entrance = 1.5m high
  • inside tomb -> large round stone (altar?)
  • superb corbelled roof
  • massive blocks of stone to hold up entrance
  • away from town
44
Q

What was the evidence for Troy VI for being the site of Homer’s Troy?

A
  • destroyed around 1250BC, Trojan War = 1200BC
  • rich city with numerous houses
  • 7m high walls, Iliad mentioned high walls
  • walls had towers = matches Iliad
  • large area with population of 10000 = thriving city in Iliad
45
Q

What was the evidence against Troy VI being the site of Homer’s Troy?

A
  • destroyed by earthquake, not fire from ancient literature
46
Q

What was the evidence for Troy VIIa being the site of Homer’s Troy?

A
  • large towers
  • crowded single storey houses = emergency housing during War
  • storage jars underground = food for under siege
  • destroyed by fire
  • partial human remains have been found possibly killed in warfare
  • 3 bronze arrowheads have been found
47
Q

What were the arguments against Troy VIIa being the site of Homer’s Troy?

A
  • houses crammed together = city not rich
  • sunken jars may not have been from siege (lack of space storing food)
  • fire could have been accidental (eg cooking fire)
48
Q

How big were palaces?

A

occupied large percentage of city

49
Q

What is a collannade and how was it used by the royal family?

A
  • sheltered area with columns to block the sun/ elements
50
Q

What other types of rooms would have been included in the palace?

A
  • rooms for official documents
  • shrines
  • potteries
  • oil press rooms
  • armouries
  • storerooms for food
50
Q

What was the most important room in the palace and where was it positioned?

A
  • megaron
  • highest point of city, dominating the area
51
Q

What was the shape and layout of the megaron?

A
  • rectangular
  • entrance porch with 2 columns
  • vestibule behind it
  • usually contained more than 1 courtyards
52
Q

What were the most important features of the megaron and what is it used for?

A
  • the hearth, stone circle surrounding fire
  • surrounded by 4 columns
  • kings throne
  • smoke escapes through the roof + lets light in
  • religious purposes or cooking
53
Q

What was the flooring in the megaron made out of?

A
  • marble
54
Q

What two important events would the megaron would have been used for?

A
  • feasts like the ones described in the Odyssey
  • poetry recited

Classics GCSE (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions