{"id":738,"date":"2020-09-22T17:08:59","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T21:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=738"},"modified":"2021-01-02T17:08:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T22:08:52","slug":"738","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/chapter\/738\/","title":{"raw":"Mycenaean Art","rendered":"Mycenaean Art"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"the-aegean-bronze-age\">\r\n<h3><em>\"I have gazed into the face of Agamemnon.\" Schliemann<\/em><\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1904\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/smarthistory.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/graveb.jpg\" alt=\"The \u201cPalace\u201d and Grave Circle A, Mycenae, c. 1600-1100 B.C.E.\" width=\"1904\" height=\"1141\" \/> <em><strong>\u00a0The \u201cPalace\u201d and Grave Circle A:<\/strong> Mycenae, c. 1600-1100 BCE.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-align: initial;background-color: #ffffff;color: #333333;font-size: 1em\">The architecture of Mycenaean [pb_glossary id=\"1601\"]citadel[\/pb_glossary] sites reflects the war-like culture and its constant need for protection and fortification.<\/span>\r\n\r\nMycenaean culture can be summarized by its architecture, whose remains demonstrate the Mycenaeans\u2019 war-like culture and the dominance of citadel sites ruled by a single ruler. The Mycenaeans populated Greece and built citadels on high, rocky outcroppings that provided natural fortification and overlooked the plains used for farming and raising livestock. The citadels vary from city to city but each shares common attributes, including building techniques and architectural features.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h4 class=\"textbox__title\">By the end of this module you will be able to:<\/h4>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<div><\/div>\r\n<div id=\"h5p-interactive-book-section-2ad03900-4341-401c-a032-f92fa7077d76\" class=\"h5p-column-content h5p-advanced-text\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify and describe the form, content, and context of Mycenaean works<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Define the critical terms related to Mycenaean art<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Describe the Mycenaean architecture and funerary practices<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h3>Building Techniques<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">The walls of Mycenaean citadel sites were often built with [pb_glossary id=\"1136\"]ashlar[\/pb_glossary] and massive stone blocks. The blocks were considered too large to be moved by humans and were believed by ancient Greeks to have been erected by the Cyclopes\u2014one-eyed giants. Due to this ancient belief, the use of large, roughly cut, ashlar blocks in buildings are referred to as Cyclopean masonry. The thick Cyclopean walls reflect a need for protection and self-defence since these walls often encircled the citadel site and the acropolis on which the site was located.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Corbel Arch<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">The Mycenaeans also relied on new techniques of building to create supportive archways and vaults. A typical [pb_glossary id=\"1132\"]post and lintel[\/pb_glossary] structure is not strong enough to support the heavy structures built above it. Therefore, a corbeled (or corbel) arch is employed over doorways to relieve the weight on the lintel.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 26.1pt\">The [pb_glossary id=\"1134\"]corbel arch[\/pb_glossary] is constructed by offsetting (cantilevering) successive courses of stone (or brick) at the spring line of the walls so that they project towards the archway\u2019s center from each supporting side until the courses meet at the apex of the archway (often, the last gap is bridged with a flat stone). The corbel arch was often used by the Mycenaeans in conjunction with a relieving triangle, which was a triangular block of stone that fits into the recess of the corbeled arch and helped to redistribute weight from the lintel to the supporting walls. The triangular space may have been left open in some structures.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_695\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"367\"]<img class=\"wp-image-695\" title=\"By User:Alexikoua, User:Panthera tigris tigris, TL User:Reedside - \u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03af\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd \u0388\u03b8\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2, \u0395\u03ba\u03b4\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u0391\u03b8\u03b7\u03bd\u03ce\u03bd, \u03c4. \u0391' \u03c7\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03c3\u03b5\u03bb. 263-265, \u03c3\u03b5\u03bb. 290, 292-293 (\u03b5\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=61505445\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/Picture1-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"367\" height=\"603\" \/> <em><strong>Corbeled vault, Tiryns:<\/strong> This photo shows the offsetting successive courses of stone at the spring line of the walls so that they project towards the archway\u2019s center from each supporting side until the courses meet at the apex of the archway.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<div class=\"the-aegean-bronze-age\">\r\n<h3>Citadel Sites<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.05pt\">Mycenaean citadel sites were centred around the megaron, a reception area for the king. The megaron was a rectangular hall, fronted by an open, two-columned porch. It contained a more or less central open hearth, which was vented through an oculus in the roof above it and surrounded by four columns. The architectural plan of the megaron became the basic shape of Greek temples, demonstrating the cultural shift as the gods of ancient Greece took the place of the Mycenaean rulers.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">Citadel sites were protected from invasion through natural and man-made fortification. In addition to thick walls, the sites were protected by controlled access. Entrance to the site was through one or two large gates, and the pathway into the main part of the citadel was often controlled by more gates or narrow passageways. Since citadels had to protect the area\u2019s people in times of warfare, the sites were equipped for sieges. Deepwater wells, storage rooms, and open space for livestock and additional citizens allowed a city to access basic needs while being protected during times of war.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Mycenae<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 26.35pt\">The citadel site of Mycenae was the center of Mycenaean culture. It overlooks the Argos plain on the Peloponnesian peninsula, and according to Greek mythology was the home to King Agamemnon.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.45pt\">The site\u2019s megaron sits on the highest part of the acropolis and is reached through a large staircase. Inside the walls are various rooms for administration and storage along with palace quarters, living spaces, and temples. A large gravesite, known as Grave Circle A, is also built within the walls.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 30.35pt\">The main approach to the citadel is through the Lion Gate, a cyclopean-walled entranceway. The gate is 20 feet wide, which is large enough for citizens and wagons to pass through, but its size and the walls on either side create a tunnelling effect that makes it difficult for an invading army to penetrate.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 24.65pt\">The gate is famous for its use of the relieving arch, a corbeled arch that leaves an opening and lightens the weight carried by the lintel. The Lion Gate received its name from its decorated relieving triangle of lions on either side of a single column. This composition of lions or another feline animal flanking a single object is known as a heraldic composition<em>. <\/em>The lions represent cultural influences from the Ancient Near East. Their heads are turned to face outwards and confront those who enter the gate.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"680\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image22-5.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"680\" height=\"551\" \/> <em><strong>Lion Gate:<\/strong> limestone, circa 1300\u20131250 BCE, Mycenae, Greece: The Lion Gate is famous for its use of the relieving arch, a corbeled arch that leaves an opening and lightens the weight carried by the lintel.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.3pt\">Mycenae is also home to a subterranean beehive-shaped tomb (also known as a tholos tomb) that was located outside the citadel walls. The tomb is known today as the Treasury of Atreus, due to the wealth of grave goods found there. This tomb and others like it are demonstrations of corbeled vaulting that covers an expansive open space. The vault is 44 feet high and 48 feet in diameter. The tombs are entered through a narrow passageway known as a dromos and a post-and-lintel doorway topped by a relieving triangle.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"680\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image23-2.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"680\" height=\"480\" \/> <em><strong>Treasury of Atreus:<\/strong> Mycenae, Greece, circa 1300\u20131250 BCE: The Treasury of Atreus and other tombs like it are demonstrations of corbeled vaulting that covers an expansive open space.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h3>Tiryns<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.7pt\">The citadel site of Tiryns, another example of Mycenaean fortification, was a hill fort that has been occupied over the course of 7000 years. It reached its height between 1400 and 1200 BCE when it was one of the most important centers of the Mycenaean world. Its most notable features were its palace, its Cyclopean tunnels, its walls, and its tightly controlled access to the megaron and main rooms of the citadel.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 34.15pt\">Just a few gates provide access to the hill but only one path leads to the main site. This path is narrow and protected by a series of gates that could be opened and closed to trap invaders. The central megaron is easy to locate, and it is surrounded by various palatial and administrative rooms. The megaron is accessed through a courtyard that is decorated on three sides with a colonnade.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"333\"]<img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image24-2.png\" alt=\"image\" width=\"333\" height=\"884\" \/> <em><strong>Ground plan of the citadel of Tiryns:<\/strong> circa 1400\u20131200 BCE, Tiryns, Greece: The citadel site of Tiryns is known for its Cyclopean vaulted tunnels that run next to its walls and its tightly controlled access to the megaron and the main rooms of the citadel.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23.5pt\">The famous megaron has a large reception hall, the main room of which had a throne placed against the right wall and a central hearth bordered by four wooden columns that served as supports for the roof. It was laid out around a circular hearth surrounded by four columns. Although individual citadel sites varied to a degree, their overall uniformity allows us to compare design elements easily. For example, the hearth of the megaron at the citadel of Pylos provides an idea of how its counterpart at Tiryns appears.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image25-3.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"640\" height=\"455\" \/> <em><strong>Megaron hearth at the citadel of Pylos<\/strong>: Due to the uniformity of citadel plans throughout the Mycenaean civilization, we can get an idea of how the hearth of the megaron at Tiryns looked by comparing it to its counterpart at Pylos. The holes at the corners of the surrounding square once held wooden columns.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h2>Mycenaean Metallurgy<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 48.8pt\">The Mycenaeans were masterful metalworkers, as their gold, silver, and bronze daggers, drinking cups, and other objects demonstrate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt\">Grave Circle A at Mycenae<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 29.9pt\">Grave Circle A is a set of graves from the sixteenth century BCE located at Mycenae. The grave circle was originally located outside the walls of the city but was later encompassed inside the walls of the citadel when the city\u2019s walls were enlarged during the thirteenth century BCE.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">The grave circle is surrounded by a second wall and only has one entrance. Inside are six tombs for nineteen bodies that were buried inside shaft graves. The shaft graves were deep, narrow shafts dug into the ground.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23pt\">The body would be placed inside a stone coffin and placed at the bottom of the grave along with grave goods. The graves were often marked by a mound of earth above them and grave stele<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.7pt\">The gravesite was excavated by Heinrich Schleimann in 1876 CE, who excavated ancient sites such as Mycenae and Troy based on the writings of Homer and was determined to find archaeological remains that aligned with observations discussed in the Iliad and the Odyssey. The archaeological methods of the nineteenth century were different than those of the twenty-first century and Schleimann\u2019s desire to discover remains that aligned with mythologies and Homeric stories did not seem as unusual as it does today. Upon excavating the tombs, Schleimann declared that he found the remains of Agamemnon and many of his followers, a claim discounted by modern archaeology.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Grave Circle B<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 36.45pt\">An additional grave circle, Grave Circle B, is also located at Mycenae, although this one was never incorporated into the citadel site. The two grave circles were elite burial grounds for the ruling dynasty. The graves were filled with precious items made from expensive material, including gold, silver, and bronze.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23.5pt\">The amount of gold, silver, and precious materials in these tombs not only depict the wealth of the ruling class of the Mycenae but also demonstrates the talent and artistry of Mycenaean metalworking. Reoccurring themes and motifs underline the culture\u2019s propensity for war and the cross-cultural connections that the Mycenaeans established with other Mediterranean cultures through trade, including the Minoans, Egyptians, and even the Orientalizing style of the Ancient Near East<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Gold Death Masks<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 48.9pt\">[pb_glossary id=\"1142\"]Repouss\u00e9[\/pb_glossary] death masks were found in many of the tombs. The death masks were created from thin sheets of gold, through a careful method of metalworking to create a low relief.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 31.55pt\">These objects are fragile, carefully crafted, and laid over the face of the dead. Schleimann called the most famous of the death masks the Mask of Agamemnon, under the assumption that this was the burial site of the Homeric king. The mask depicts a man with a triangular face, bushy eyebrows, a narrow nose, pursed lips, a mustache, and stylized ears.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23.5pt\">This mask is an impressive and beautiful specimen but looks quite different from other death masks found at the site. The faces on other death masks are rounder; the eyes are more bulbous; at least one bears a hint of a smile. None of the other figures have a mustache or even a hint of a beard.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.45pt\">In fact, the mustache looks distinctly nineteenth century and is comparable to the mustache that Schleimann himself had. The artistic quality between the Mask of Agamemnon and the others seems dramatically different. Despite these differences, the Mask of Agamemnon has inserted itself into the story of Mycenaean art.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"495\"]<img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image26-4.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"495\" height=\"495\" \/> <em><strong>Mycenaean death mask:<\/strong> Mycenaean death mask with a hint of a smile. Gold, circa 1600\u20131500 BCE. It was found in Grave Circle A, Grave Shaft IV, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"459\"]<img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image27-2.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"459\" height=\"459\" \/> <em><strong>Mask of Agamemnon:<\/strong> The Mask of Agamemnon, identified by Heinrich Schliemann. Gold, circa 1600\u2013 1500 BCE (?). It was found in Grave Circle A, Grave shaft V, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h3>Bronze Daggers<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.65pt\">Decorative bronze daggers found in the grave shafts suggest there were multicultural influences on Mycenaean artists. These ceremonial daggers were made of bronze and inlaid in silver, gold, and niello with scenes that were clearly influenced by foreign cultures.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 31.05pt\">Two daggers that were excavated depict scenes of hunts, which suggest an Ancient Near East influence. One of these scenes depicts lions hunting prey, while the other scene depicts a lion hunt. The portrayal of the figures in the lion hunt scene draws distinctly from the style of figures found in Minoan painting. These figures have narrow waists, broad shoulders, and large, muscular thighs.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 29.2pt\">The scene between the hunters and the lions is dramatic and full of energy, another Minoan influence. Another dagger depicts the influence of Minoan painting and imagery through the depiction of marine life, and Egyptian influences are seen on a dagger filled with lotus and papyrus reeds along with fowl.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"680\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image28-5.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"680\" height=\"232\" \/> <em><strong>Mycenaean hunting dagger:<\/strong> A Mycenaean hunting dagger with a scene of a lion hunt. Bronze with gold, silver, and niello inlay. Circa 16th century BCE. It was found in Grave Circle A, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h3>Gold and Silver Rhytons (Drinking Cups)<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 24.75pt\">A variety of gold and silver drinking cups have also been found in these grave shafts. These include a [pb_glossary id=\"1675\"]rhyton[\/pb_glossary] in the shape of a bull\u2019s head, with golden horns and a decorative, stylized gold flower, made from silver repouss\u00e9.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 24.75pt\">Other cups include the golden Cup of Nestor, a large two handle cup that Schleimann attributed to the legendary Mycenaean hero Nestor, a Trojan War veteran who plays a peripheral role in The Odyssey.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"426\"]<img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image29-6.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"426\" height=\"568\" \/> <em><strong>The Cup of Nestor:<\/strong> The Cup of Nestor. Gold, circa 1600\u20131500 BCE. It was found in Grave Circle A, Grave Shaft IV, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"340\"]<img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image30-1.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"340\" height=\"453\" \/> <em><strong>Rhyton in the form of a bull\u2019s head:<\/strong> Mycenaean. Circa 1600\u20131500 BCE. Found in Grave Circle A.<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"379\"]<img class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image31-3.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"379\" height=\"468\" \/> <em><strong>A gold rhyton in the form of a lion\u2019s head<\/strong>: From Grave Circle A, Mycenae, 16th c. BCE (National Archaeological Museum, Athens).<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n<h3>Other Objects<\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.75pt\">Additional gold trinkets include signet rings that depict images of hunts, combat, and animals, along with other decorative jewelry, such as bracelets, earrings, pendants, and diadems (headbands designating their wearers\u2019 sovereign status).<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.75pt\">Bronze armour, including breastplates and helmets, were also uncovered in excavations of the tomb sites.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.75pt\">There are few examples of large-scale, freestanding sculptures from the Mycenaeans. A painted plaster head of a female\u2014perhaps depicting a priestess, goddess, or sphinx \u2014is one of the few examples of large-scale sculpture. The head is painted white, suggesting that it depicts a female. A red band wraps around her head with bits of hair underneath. The eyes and eyebrows are outlined in blue, the lips are red, and red circles surrounded by small red dots are on her cheeks and chin.<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h4 class=\"textbox__title\">Summary<\/h4>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The city of Mycenae was the center of Mycenaean culture. It is especially known for its protective gateway, the Lion Gate, and the Treasury of Atreus, an example of a tholos tomb. Mycenaean architecture reflects its warring society. A wide, strong wall built from large, roughly cut stones (known as cyclopean masonry ) was one method of protection, as was limited access to citadel sites and well-protected gates.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Grave Circle A and B, at Mycenae, are a series of shaft graves enclosed by a wall from the 16th century BCE. These gravesites were originally excavated by Heinrich Schleimann, and the grave goods found there demonstrate the incredible skill Mycenaeans possessed in metalwork.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Gold death masks were commonly placed over the face of the wealthy deceased. These death masks record the main features of the dead and are made with repouss\u00e9, a metalworking technique. When compared to other masks, the Death Mask of Agamemnon is most likely a fake.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Other objects of gold, silver, and bronze have been excavated from Mycenaean gravesites and cities, including armour, jewelry, signet rings, and seals.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAdapted from\u00a0<strong>\"Boundless Art History\"<\/strong>\u00a0https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/boundless-arthistory\/chapter\/mycenaean-art\/ <strong>License<\/strong>:\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license noopener noreferrer\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"the-aegean-bronze-age\">\n<h3><em>&#8220;I have gazed into the face of Agamemnon.&#8221; Schliemann<\/em><\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1904px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smarthistory.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/graveb.jpg\" alt=\"The \u201cPalace\u201d and Grave Circle A, Mycenae, c. 1600-1100 B.C.E.\" width=\"1904\" height=\"1141\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>\u00a0The \u201cPalace\u201d and Grave Circle A:<\/strong> Mycenae, c. 1600-1100 BCE.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"text-align: initial;background-color: #ffffff;color: #333333;font-size: 1em\">The architecture of Mycenaean <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_738_1601\">citadel<\/a> sites reflects the war-like culture and its constant need for protection and fortification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Mycenaean culture can be summarized by its architecture, whose remains demonstrate the Mycenaeans\u2019 war-like culture and the dominance of citadel sites ruled by a single ruler. The Mycenaeans populated Greece and built citadels on high, rocky outcroppings that provided natural fortification and overlooked the plains used for farming and raising livestock. The citadels vary from city to city but each shares common attributes, including building techniques and architectural features.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h4 class=\"textbox__title\">By the end of this module you will be able to:<\/h4>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div id=\"h5p-interactive-book-section-2ad03900-4341-401c-a032-f92fa7077d76\" class=\"h5p-column-content h5p-advanced-text\">\n<ul>\n<li>Identify and describe the form, content, and context of Mycenaean works<\/li>\n<li>Define the critical terms related to Mycenaean art<\/li>\n<li>Describe the Mycenaean architecture and funerary practices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Building Techniques<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">The walls of Mycenaean citadel sites were often built with <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_738_1136\">ashlar<\/a> and massive stone blocks. The blocks were considered too large to be moved by humans and were believed by ancient Greeks to have been erected by the Cyclopes\u2014one-eyed giants. Due to this ancient belief, the use of large, roughly cut, ashlar blocks in buildings are referred to as Cyclopean masonry. The thick Cyclopean walls reflect a need for protection and self-defence since these walls often encircled the citadel site and the acropolis on which the site was located.<\/p>\n<h3>Corbel Arch<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">The Mycenaeans also relied on new techniques of building to create supportive archways and vaults. A typical <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_738_1132\">post and lintel<\/a> structure is not strong enough to support the heavy structures built above it. Therefore, a corbeled (or corbel) arch is employed over doorways to relieve the weight on the lintel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 26.1pt\">The <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_738_1134\">corbel arch<\/a> is constructed by offsetting (cantilevering) successive courses of stone (or brick) at the spring line of the walls so that they project towards the archway\u2019s center from each supporting side until the courses meet at the apex of the archway (often, the last gap is bridged with a flat stone). The corbel arch was often used by the Mycenaeans in conjunction with a relieving triangle, which was a triangular block of stone that fits into the recess of the corbeled arch and helped to redistribute weight from the lintel to the supporting walls. The triangular space may have been left open in some structures.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_695\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-695\" style=\"width: 367px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-695\" title=\"By User:Alexikoua, User:Panthera tigris tigris, TL User:Reedside - \u0399\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03af\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd \u0388\u03b8\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2, \u0395\u03ba\u03b4\u03bf\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u0391\u03b8\u03b7\u03bd\u03ce\u03bd, \u03c4. \u0391' \u03c7\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03c3\u03b5\u03bb. 263-265, \u03c3\u03b5\u03bb. 290, 292-293 (\u03b5\u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=61505445\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/Picture1-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"367\" height=\"603\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-695\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Corbeled vault, Tiryns:<\/strong> This photo shows the offsetting successive courses of stone at the spring line of the walls so that they project towards the archway\u2019s center from each supporting side until the courses meet at the apex of the archway.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-aegean-bronze-age\">\n<h3>Citadel Sites<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.05pt\">Mycenaean citadel sites were centred around the megaron, a reception area for the king. The megaron was a rectangular hall, fronted by an open, two-columned porch. It contained a more or less central open hearth, which was vented through an oculus in the roof above it and surrounded by four columns. The architectural plan of the megaron became the basic shape of Greek temples, demonstrating the cultural shift as the gods of ancient Greece took the place of the Mycenaean rulers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">Citadel sites were protected from invasion through natural and man-made fortification. In addition to thick walls, the sites were protected by controlled access. Entrance to the site was through one or two large gates, and the pathway into the main part of the citadel was often controlled by more gates or narrow passageways. Since citadels had to protect the area\u2019s people in times of warfare, the sites were equipped for sieges. Deepwater wells, storage rooms, and open space for livestock and additional citizens allowed a city to access basic needs while being protected during times of war.<\/p>\n<h3>Mycenae<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 26.35pt\">The citadel site of Mycenae was the center of Mycenaean culture. It overlooks the Argos plain on the Peloponnesian peninsula, and according to Greek mythology was the home to King Agamemnon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.45pt\">The site\u2019s megaron sits on the highest part of the acropolis and is reached through a large staircase. Inside the walls are various rooms for administration and storage along with palace quarters, living spaces, and temples. A large gravesite, known as Grave Circle A, is also built within the walls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 30.35pt\">The main approach to the citadel is through the Lion Gate, a cyclopean-walled entranceway. The gate is 20 feet wide, which is large enough for citizens and wagons to pass through, but its size and the walls on either side create a tunnelling effect that makes it difficult for an invading army to penetrate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 24.65pt\">The gate is famous for its use of the relieving arch, a corbeled arch that leaves an opening and lightens the weight carried by the lintel. The Lion Gate received its name from its decorated relieving triangle of lions on either side of a single column. This composition of lions or another feline animal flanking a single object is known as a heraldic composition<em>. <\/em>The lions represent cultural influences from the Ancient Near East. Their heads are turned to face outwards and confront those who enter the gate.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image22-5.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"680\" height=\"551\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Lion Gate:<\/strong> limestone, circa 1300\u20131250 BCE, Mycenae, Greece: The Lion Gate is famous for its use of the relieving arch, a corbeled arch that leaves an opening and lightens the weight carried by the lintel.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.3pt\">Mycenae is also home to a subterranean beehive-shaped tomb (also known as a tholos tomb) that was located outside the citadel walls. The tomb is known today as the Treasury of Atreus, due to the wealth of grave goods found there. This tomb and others like it are demonstrations of corbeled vaulting that covers an expansive open space. The vault is 44 feet high and 48 feet in diameter. The tombs are entered through a narrow passageway known as a dromos and a post-and-lintel doorway topped by a relieving triangle.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image23-2.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"680\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Treasury of Atreus:<\/strong> Mycenae, Greece, circa 1300\u20131250 BCE: The Treasury of Atreus and other tombs like it are demonstrations of corbeled vaulting that covers an expansive open space.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Tiryns<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.7pt\">The citadel site of Tiryns, another example of Mycenaean fortification, was a hill fort that has been occupied over the course of 7000 years. It reached its height between 1400 and 1200 BCE when it was one of the most important centers of the Mycenaean world. Its most notable features were its palace, its Cyclopean tunnels, its walls, and its tightly controlled access to the megaron and main rooms of the citadel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 34.15pt\">Just a few gates provide access to the hill but only one path leads to the main site. This path is narrow and protected by a series of gates that could be opened and closed to trap invaders. The central megaron is easy to locate, and it is surrounded by various palatial and administrative rooms. The megaron is accessed through a courtyard that is decorated on three sides with a colonnade.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 333px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image24-2.png\" alt=\"image\" width=\"333\" height=\"884\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Ground plan of the citadel of Tiryns:<\/strong> circa 1400\u20131200 BCE, Tiryns, Greece: The citadel site of Tiryns is known for its Cyclopean vaulted tunnels that run next to its walls and its tightly controlled access to the megaron and the main rooms of the citadel.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23.5pt\">The famous megaron has a large reception hall, the main room of which had a throne placed against the right wall and a central hearth bordered by four wooden columns that served as supports for the roof. It was laid out around a circular hearth surrounded by four columns. Although individual citadel sites varied to a degree, their overall uniformity allows us to compare design elements easily. For example, the hearth of the megaron at the citadel of Pylos provides an idea of how its counterpart at Tiryns appears.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image25-3.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"640\" height=\"455\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Megaron hearth at the citadel of Pylos<\/strong>: Due to the uniformity of citadel plans throughout the Mycenaean civilization, we can get an idea of how the hearth of the megaron at Tiryns looked by comparing it to its counterpart at Pylos. The holes at the corners of the surrounding square once held wooden columns.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Mycenaean Metallurgy<\/h2>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 48.8pt\">The Mycenaeans were masterful metalworkers, as their gold, silver, and bronze daggers, drinking cups, and other objects demonstrate.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"import-Normal\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt\">Grave Circle A at Mycenae<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 29.9pt\">Grave Circle A is a set of graves from the sixteenth century BCE located at Mycenae. The grave circle was originally located outside the walls of the city but was later encompassed inside the walls of the citadel when the city\u2019s walls were enlarged during the thirteenth century BCE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 25.4pt\">The grave circle is surrounded by a second wall and only has one entrance. Inside are six tombs for nineteen bodies that were buried inside shaft graves. The shaft graves were deep, narrow shafts dug into the ground.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23pt\">The body would be placed inside a stone coffin and placed at the bottom of the grave along with grave goods. The graves were often marked by a mound of earth above them and grave stele<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.7pt\">The gravesite was excavated by Heinrich Schleimann in 1876 CE, who excavated ancient sites such as Mycenae and Troy based on the writings of Homer and was determined to find archaeological remains that aligned with observations discussed in the Iliad and the Odyssey. The archaeological methods of the nineteenth century were different than those of the twenty-first century and Schleimann\u2019s desire to discover remains that aligned with mythologies and Homeric stories did not seem as unusual as it does today. Upon excavating the tombs, Schleimann declared that he found the remains of Agamemnon and many of his followers, a claim discounted by modern archaeology.<\/p>\n<h3>Grave Circle B<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 36.45pt\">An additional grave circle, Grave Circle B, is also located at Mycenae, although this one was never incorporated into the citadel site. The two grave circles were elite burial grounds for the ruling dynasty. The graves were filled with precious items made from expensive material, including gold, silver, and bronze.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23.5pt\">The amount of gold, silver, and precious materials in these tombs not only depict the wealth of the ruling class of the Mycenae but also demonstrates the talent and artistry of Mycenaean metalworking. Reoccurring themes and motifs underline the culture\u2019s propensity for war and the cross-cultural connections that the Mycenaeans established with other Mediterranean cultures through trade, including the Minoans, Egyptians, and even the Orientalizing style of the Ancient Near East<\/p>\n<h3>Gold Death Masks<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 48.9pt\"><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_738_1142\">Repouss\u00e9<\/a> death masks were found in many of the tombs. The death masks were created from thin sheets of gold, through a careful method of metalworking to create a low relief.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 31.55pt\">These objects are fragile, carefully crafted, and laid over the face of the dead. Schleimann called the most famous of the death masks the Mask of Agamemnon, under the assumption that this was the burial site of the Homeric king. The mask depicts a man with a triangular face, bushy eyebrows, a narrow nose, pursed lips, a mustache, and stylized ears.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 23.5pt\">This mask is an impressive and beautiful specimen but looks quite different from other death masks found at the site. The faces on other death masks are rounder; the eyes are more bulbous; at least one bears a hint of a smile. None of the other figures have a mustache or even a hint of a beard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 27.45pt\">In fact, the mustache looks distinctly nineteenth century and is comparable to the mustache that Schleimann himself had. The artistic quality between the Mask of Agamemnon and the others seems dramatically different. Despite these differences, the Mask of Agamemnon has inserted itself into the story of Mycenaean art.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 495px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image26-4.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"495\" height=\"495\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Mycenaean death mask:<\/strong> Mycenaean death mask with a hint of a smile. Gold, circa 1600\u20131500 BCE. It was found in Grave Circle A, Grave Shaft IV, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 459px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image27-2.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"459\" height=\"459\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Mask of Agamemnon:<\/strong> The Mask of Agamemnon, identified by Heinrich Schliemann. Gold, circa 1600\u2013 1500 BCE (?). It was found in Grave Circle A, Grave shaft V, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Bronze Daggers<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.65pt\">Decorative bronze daggers found in the grave shafts suggest there were multicultural influences on Mycenaean artists. These ceremonial daggers were made of bronze and inlaid in silver, gold, and niello with scenes that were clearly influenced by foreign cultures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 31.05pt\">Two daggers that were excavated depict scenes of hunts, which suggest an Ancient Near East influence. One of these scenes depicts lions hunting prey, while the other scene depicts a lion hunt. The portrayal of the figures in the lion hunt scene draws distinctly from the style of figures found in Minoan painting. These figures have narrow waists, broad shoulders, and large, muscular thighs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 29.2pt\">The scene between the hunters and the lions is dramatic and full of energy, another Minoan influence. Another dagger depicts the influence of Minoan painting and imagery through the depiction of marine life, and Egyptian influences are seen on a dagger filled with lotus and papyrus reeds along with fowl.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image28-5.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"680\" height=\"232\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Mycenaean hunting dagger:<\/strong> A Mycenaean hunting dagger with a scene of a lion hunt. Bronze with gold, silver, and niello inlay. Circa 16th century BCE. It was found in Grave Circle A, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Gold and Silver Rhytons (Drinking Cups)<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 24.75pt\">A variety of gold and silver drinking cups have also been found in these grave shafts. These include a <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_738_1675\">rhyton<\/a> in the shape of a bull\u2019s head, with golden horns and a decorative, stylized gold flower, made from silver repouss\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 24.75pt\">Other cups include the golden Cup of Nestor, a large two handle cup that Schleimann attributed to the legendary Mycenaean hero Nestor, a Trojan War veteran who plays a peripheral role in The Odyssey.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 426px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image29-6.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"426\" height=\"568\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>The Cup of Nestor:<\/strong> The Cup of Nestor. Gold, circa 1600\u20131500 BCE. It was found in Grave Circle A, Grave Shaft IV, at Mycenae, Greece.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 340px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image30-1.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"340\" height=\"453\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>Rhyton in the form of a bull\u2019s head:<\/strong> Mycenaean. Circa 1600\u20131500 BCE. Found in Grave Circle A.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 379px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/alenabuis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1143\/2020\/09\/image31-3.jpeg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"379\" height=\"468\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><strong>A gold rhyton in the form of a lion\u2019s head<\/strong>: From Grave Circle A, Mycenae, 16th c. BCE (National Archaeological Museum, Athens).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Other Objects<\/h3>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.75pt\">Additional gold trinkets include signet rings that depict images of hunts, combat, and animals, along with other decorative jewelry, such as bracelets, earrings, pendants, and diadems (headbands designating their wearers\u2019 sovereign status).<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.75pt\">Bronze armour, including breastplates and helmets, were also uncovered in excavations of the tomb sites.<\/p>\n<p class=\"import-BodyText\" style=\"margin-left: 5pt;margin-right: 42.75pt\">There are few examples of large-scale, freestanding sculptures from the Mycenaeans. A painted plaster head of a female\u2014perhaps depicting a priestess, goddess, or sphinx \u2014is one of the few examples of large-scale sculpture. The head is painted white, suggesting that it depicts a female. A red band wraps around her head with bits of hair underneath. The eyes and eyebrows are outlined in blue, the lips are red, and red circles surrounded by small red dots are on her cheeks and chin.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h4 class=\"textbox__title\">Summary<\/h4>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>The city of Mycenae was the center of Mycenaean culture. It is especially known for its protective gateway, the Lion Gate, and the Treasury of Atreus, an example of a tholos tomb. Mycenaean architecture reflects its warring society. A wide, strong wall built from large, roughly cut stones (known as cyclopean masonry ) was one method of protection, as was limited access to citadel sites and well-protected gates.<\/li>\n<li>Grave Circle A and B, at Mycenae, are a series of shaft graves enclosed by a wall from the 16th century BCE. These gravesites were originally excavated by Heinrich Schleimann, and the grave goods found there demonstrate the incredible skill Mycenaeans possessed in metalwork.<\/li>\n<li>Gold death masks were commonly placed over the face of the wealthy deceased. These death masks record the main features of the dead and are made with repouss\u00e9, a metalworking technique. When compared to other masks, the Death Mask of Agamemnon is most likely a fake.<\/li>\n<li>Other objects of gold, silver, and bronze have been excavated from Mycenaean gravesites and cities, including armour, jewelry, signet rings, and seals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Adapted from\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Boundless Art History&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/boundless-arthistory\/chapter\/mycenaean-art\/ <strong>License<\/strong>:\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license noopener noreferrer\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_738_1601\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_738_1601\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The core fortified area of a town or city.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_738_1136\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_738_1136\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Masonry made of large, square-cut stones.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_738_1132\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_738_1132\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>A simple construction method where two vertical posts support a horizontal lintel, which is placed on top of the two vertical posts.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_738_1134\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_738_1134\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Constructed by offsetting successive courses of stone (or brick) at the springline of the walls so that they project towards the archway\u2019s center from each supporting side, until the courses meet at the apex of the archway (often, the last gap is bridged with a flat stone).<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_738_1142\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_738_1142\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>A metalworking technique in which a thin sheet of malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_738_1675\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_738_1675\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>A large ceremonial drinking cup fashioned in the shape of an animal\u2019s head.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":961,"menu_order":5,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-738","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":732,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/961"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2200,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/738\/revisions\/2200"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/732"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/738\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=738"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=738"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/cavestocathedrals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}