Tombs, Graves and Burial Flashcards
Explain the symbolism behind the jewellery, cups and animal bones found in the (tholos) tombs [3]
- Jewellery: the person was very wealthy
- Cups: libations were made
- Animal bones: a meal was eaten in honour of the dead
Why was there a raised mound of earth over the tombs?
To make it visible from a distance
What was a stele?
A stone slab, usually used as a gravestone
Explain the symbolism behind the funeral procession painted on the caskets [2]
- Elaborate dresses show the wealth of the women and highlights their class
- The hands raised to their heads show that they are grief women (greater role in the burial)
What was the most basic grave?
A cist grave
Describe how a cist grave would have looked [4]
- Shallow pit dug into the earth
- Sides covered in slabs of stone
- Stones placed at bottom for body to lie on
- Small in size so body had to lay in curved position
How many times were cist graves intended to be used?
Once
What was a shaft grave?
A larger and deeper version of a cist grave
Describe how a shaft grave would have looked [2]
- Chamber with low rubble walls at the bottom, made for roof support
- Large enough for multiple burials in the same chamber (first body pushed aside)
How were tholos tombs different from cist and shaft graves?
- They were built from stone rather than dug into the earth
- They were built for the most important city members
Describe how a tholos tomb would have looked [4]
- High-roofed dome dug down from the top of a hill
- Side chamber to house the body
- Stone for the walls and roof
- Excavated earth placed over the top of the roof
When were the tholos tombs first created?
14th century BC
What was the problem with tholos tombs?
Time-consuming to make
What was a dromos?
A long passageway with stone walls in front of a tholos tomb
Describe the outside of a tholos tomb when a body was buried [3]
- Large stones to block of dromos entrance
- Earth placed on dromos to create an elevated slope
- Richly decorated entrance
What was a chamber tomb?
A tomb similar to the tholos tomb where less important Mycenaean nobles were buried
When were chamber tombs introduced?
14th century BC
Describe what chamber tombs would have looked like [3]
- Dug from rocks and earth
- Space for multiple bodies
- Had a dromos
Why were chamber tombs similar to tholos tombs?
They both had a dromos
Why were items buried with the bodies?
To show status and wealth
What were the most popular objects found in tombs and what did they usually contain? [4]
- Pottery
- Vessels
- Figurines
They usually contained perfumes, oils and other liquids
What did it suggest about the person if they were buried with military equipment?
They were a warrior
What were women often buried with? [4]
- Jewellery
- Cosmetic boxes
- Combs
- Bronze mirrors
Why was it more convenient to reuse graves? [3]
- People died quicker than graves could be made
- Poorer people would have a burial option
- Family were usually buried together
