Mycenae Flashcards
Dating of Mycenaean civilisation
1600BC-1150BC
What were the 3 main cities
- Mycenae
- Tiryns
- Troy
4 aspects of a Mycenae
- Sally Port (back exit)
- Lion Gate
- Underground cistern (water supply)
- Grave circle A+B
4 aspects of Tiryns
- Cyclopean ramp
- Tholos tomb
- palace
- 8m high, 13m thick walls
3 key factors of Mycenaean cities
- on a hill
- water supply
- tall + wide walls
What is corbelling
When the gate to the city is like a funnel so that attackers are easier to kill, also so that objects and weapons could be dropped on the enemy as they entered.
What is a sally port
A secret exit in a mycenaean city used to escape if they were under attack, or to sneak up behind their opposition
Grave circle B
- situated 200m from the east of the city walls
- contained 24 graves
What is a Stele
Stone slabs, with patterns and images carved on them, often used as a grave stone.
What are 3 features of the Tholos tomb
- a huge igloo shaped tomb
- the stones used to build it weighed lots
- was used to bury the Wanax (Mycenean king)
How were frescos made
Paint was put onto damp plaster so that when it dried the colours were fixed into the plaster - this is what allowed frescos to survive till today
3 pieces of evidence FOR Troy VI
- was destroyed around 1250BC, similar to Trojan war of 1200BC
- seemed to have towers that featured in the illiad
- had tall walls and lots of houses as mentioned in the illiad
Evidence AGAINST Troy VI
Archeologists believe it was destroyed by an earthquake, unlike the fire in the illiad
3 pieces of evidence FOR Troy VIIa
- was destroyed by a large fire, which matched Virgils description
- 3 bronze arrow heads have been found
- had large towers as described in the illiad
Evidence AGAINST Troy VIIa
Crammed together houses suggests the city was poor, unlike the rich city Homer described
What is a krater
A large bowl used form mixing wine
What is a Megaron?
The great hall in the centre of a Mycenaean palace
What was the 3 main features of a Megaron?
- Entrance porch
- Front room
- Hearth (fire in the centre for cooking and heat)
What is the repousse technique?
A technique where a design is hammered onto an object from the inside of it
What is a pyxis?
A box, oftern with a lid, to hold cosmetics of possibly jewellery
What is the inlay technique?
A technique where one metal is put on top of another on an object
What is the cloisonne technique?
The soldering of a wire onto metal and then putting glass or gemstones in the soldered pattern
What is granulation technique?
Dropping molten metal onto an object to give a spotted effect
What is an amphora?
A clay storage jar, often containing wine and olive oil, with two carrying handles
What is a kylix?
A drinking cup
What is a pithos?
A large, clay storage jar
What is a rhyton?
- A vessel probably for pouring liquid
- Either the shape of a cone or animal head
- Made from either pottery or metal
What is a libation?
A drink offering poured in honour of the gods
What is a cist grave?
A grave in the form of a stone-lined pit,
Dug into the earth, and covered up
What is a shaft grave?
A grave in which a deep shaft was dug and a space created at the bottom for a body,
Often re-used for later burials
What is a dromos
The pathway leading to the tholos tomb
What is a chamber tomb
A tomb dug from rock
In which a body would be buried in a chamber
5 Things found in grave circle A
- 2 gold death masks
- gold necklace
- gold cup with repousse spirals
- amber bead necklace
- bronze dagger with the blade inlaid with golden spirals
