The Age of Heroes Power and Myth Mycenae and the late Bronze Age

Mycenae, Trojan War; Emergence of Greek Civilization Feder: Chapter 8 Scarre: Chapter 13 The Mediterranean World to page 503

Archaeology ► Serious study of Greece begins only in All prior knowledge was derived from ancient histories (more legend than fact). ► Key early figures were Mamet, Schliemann, Evans (Mamet’s published reports were in Latin so only a few scholars knew of his research)

► Many legends were attributed to Homer were oral traditions recorded for the first time in writing around 700 BC. (This is just when writing is beginning in Greece). Greek alphabet taken from the Phoenicians.

Greek “Dark Ages” ► During the period between 1000 and 500 BC Greece was a place of petty kingdoms and politically disjointed, much the opposite of what is described in the legends. ► The glory that had been ancient Greece from 1700BC -1000BC was nostalgically thought of as an Age of Heroes.

Contemporary Civilizations 1700BC-1000BC ► Greece: small city-states. Powerful Myceane, Sparta, Athens ► Egypt: transition period from weak Middle Kingdom to New Kingdom ► Mesopotamia: powerful Sumeria, Assyria, Babylonian Empire ► Crete: Minoans ► Phoenicia: maritime traders

Related myths ► The Iliad (Tale of the Trojan War by Homer) ► The Odyssey (tale of Ulysses’ ten year struggle to return from the Trojan War, by Homer) Homer. Roman sculpture 150 BC

Trojan War Synopsis ► Paris, son of Priam (King of Troy) steals Helen of Sparta ► Mainland Greek states vs Troy and its allies. ► Mycenae, Athens, Sparta, Syracuse, others. ► War to restore Helen back to husband. ► War lasts ten years. ► War ends with a trick— wooden horse. ► Key players: Ulysses, Agamemnon, Achilles, Paris, Ajax, Hector, Helen, Clytemnestra, (actually Homer mentions over 100 heroes and dozens of kingdoms).

Henrich Schliemann in St. Petersburg, ca Schliemann believed the ancient legends were based in facts.

On site of Troy

Site plan for Troy.

Work in progress at Troy Most of Schliemann’s trenches were dug deeper than the level dated to the time of the famed Trojan War of legend.

Modern excavations have turned up evidence of multiple episodes of construction and destruction.

Paved roadway to the gates of Troy.

The city has many layers spanning several centuries.

“Priam’s Treasure”

“Golden treasures of Priam”

Page from Schliemann’s publication on excavations at Troy. For sale by a book-breaker on E-Bay

Sophia Schliemann wearing part of the treasure recovered at Troy and later smuggled out to Germany. This treasure would be “lost” after WWII until discovered in a vault in the Kremlin in Moscow in the 1990’s. Artifacts remain in Russia despite UNESCO lawsuits to have them repatriated. Sophia married Schliemann when she was 17. He was 46.

Site of Troy

► Multiple levels at Troy reveal early occupation at site dates to 3000 BC. ► Site was also occupied long after period associated with the Trojan War, although in reduced state.

Artists conception of Troy at its zenith.

Splendor in Mycenae BC ► Fresh from success at Troy, Schliemann sought the citadel of Agamemnon. ► He was just as enthusiastic and error prone as before, but found important ruins and tombs.

Following the collapse of Minoan power, Mycenae colonizes Crete.

Lion gate at Mycenae from within the walls. This style of construction is termed “cyclopean.”

Face of Agamemnon? Schliemann declared this to be the king described by Homer in the Iliad. The concept of covering the face with a mask was likely adopted from Egyptian practices. Gold death masks predate Trojan war period by several centuries

► Schliemann’s error was trying to fit his findings to a preconceived sequence and perception of ancient splendor. ► Myceane represented an unknown period in Greek history.

Fresco on wall at Mycenae. Styles reminiscent of Minoan but more formalized

Fresco

Mycenaean life ► Militaristic ► Centered on citadel ► Agricultural and trade based ► Cyclopean architecture provides evidence of power. ► Art is influenced from abroad, much of it from Crete.

Bronze swords and bronze armor from shaft graves. Shaft graves were reserved for royal elite. Bronze armor, boar's tusk helmet from grave at Mycenae.

Mycenaean daggers from shaft graves. Shaft grave era BC

Ceremonial sword from Mycenae. Gold with lapis lazuli and colored glass.

Signet stamps. Note the one at right depicts Minoan boat type.

Mycenae. Female idols, depicted fully clothed.

Mycenae from above. Shaft graves. Grave circle A (excavated 1876)

► Shaft Grave period BC. Several phases of ‘royal” burials carved into soft rock. Slab style may have been influenced by Egyptian mortuary practice. ► Arguably the origin of “Greek” culture can be traced to the late Bronze Age and decline of Mycenaean dominance after 1400 BC.

Tholos tomb. So-called “Treasury of Atreus”.

Mycenaean pottery. Highly formal and conventionalized. Preferences fro symmetry or single balanced design.

Dancers? Painted box 13 th century BC, Mycenae.

Despite his many faults and errors… ► Schliemann's work gave rise to first professional archaeology and first Scientific archaeology:  Established hypothesis based on observation and stated question  Followed testing procedures for evidence  Published results  Followed interdisciplinary approach

► The questions that emerge are:  Are all ancient legends based in fact?  If Troy and Mycenae could be found, is the story of Atlantis also based on fact?  Important to recall that Schliemann did not enlarge on the data or speculate beyond his evidence. Many who seek Atlantis pursue lines of speculation not contained in the original story.

Next week ► Ancient trade ► Ancient technology ► The search for Atlantis in its many forms