By: Sean Rodriguez

The Mycenaeans (Day 2)

Heinrich Schliemann: Excavated an ancient Greek city called Mycenae in 1874.

He found a vast culture within the structures filled with all sorts of artifacts.

The civilization seemed to have thrived in the years 1600-1100 BC.

Discovery!

Many artifacts were found in burial tombs that were filled with spoils of war.

The tombs were discoveries themselves as they had a unique bee-hive shape called tholos.

Artifacts

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2946223340059082311rlZrAd

The Mycenaeans developed a written language (much like the Minoans) called Linear B.

It was deciphered by Michael Ventris in the 1950’s. However it still didn’t open up that much information about them.

Communication

http://proteus.brown.edu/greekpast/4690

The cities of Tiryns, Athens, Orchomenus, and Thebes also had evidence of having Mycenaean influence.

Other Major Mycenaean Sites

Around 1200 BC, the palaces are burnt in all major Mycenaean cities, probably from warfare or revolt.

More places are destroyed fifty years later, people leave the cities at this point.

Collapse of the Mycenaeans

There is some evidence of a Trojan War at this time but the evidence is highly disputed.

Heinrich was heavily influenced by the tales of the Iliad and Odyssey, so his judgment might have been subjective.

Possible Trojan War?

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/dayintech_0424

Heinrich found what he thought was the death mask of Agamemnon in a burial mound, however there is no scientific to support this.

He also found the tomb was filled with treasure which he believes was confiscated at Troy, however there is no real evidence of this either.

Evidence of Trojan War?

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/G/greek/agamemnon.jpg.html