Mycenae
The Citadel
Mycenae
• Enduring Understanding: Mycenaeans
were an advanced Bronze Age civilization
which existed in a time of much warfare.
Mycenaeans took great measures to
guard themselves from attack and were
skilled craftsmen, architects and artists.
Mycenae
• Brief History:
– Location: Mainland of Greece
– Mycenae was one of a number of small
kingdoms in mainland Greece during Bronze
Age.
– It was the most important, so the civilization
encompassing all of the kingdoms is known
as Mycenaean, after Mycenae.
Mycenae
• History: Archaeology
– Heinrich Schliemann first to really do much work on the site,
he was famous for having discovered Troy.
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He began excavating in late 1830’s.
Lion’s Gate discovered in 1841.
1874, he discovered shaft graves.
He also was the first to explore Tiryns in 1876.
– Christos Tsountas excavated from 1880-1902.
• He uncovered the palace and the secret cistern.
– Excavations continued until the 1950’s.
– Other archaeologists are: Dorpfeld, 1880’s, Blegen, 1950’s. Both
excavated at Pylos, where the palace of Nestor was.
Mycenae
• Plan of Mycenae:
Mycenae
• The Defensive Walls: known
as Cyclopean Walls by later
Greeks. Because they
believed the stones were so
large that not even the Cyclops
could move them.
Mycenae
• Cyclopean Walls: Very large stones were
used.
Mycenae
• Walls: There are different kinds of walls at
Mycenae:
– Polygonal Walls: stones shaped to fit together.
– Ashlar Walls: stones cut into finely cut blocks.
Polygonal Walls
Ashlar Walls
Mycenae
• The Lion Gate: The road
to Mycenae led to the main
gate, “The Lion’s Gate”. So
named because of the lion
reliefs at the top of the wall.
lions
Mycenae
• Lion’s Gate:
Mycenae
• Walls: the walls were built from 15th BC to 13th BC.
– Earliest wall: encompassed palace area.
– Walls extended in 13th BC. to include Grave circle A.
Mycenae
• Walls: looking from Grave Circle A, one can see the walls along
with foundations of buildings close by the circle.
Mycenae
• The road within the walls leads to the palace,
which is at the summit.
Lion’s Gate
Road
Mycenae
• Palace of Agamemnon most of it has been lost. What can be
seen here is remnants of the Megaron or large room (king’s meeting
room). Notice circular hearth, remnants of columns.
Mycenae
• Hearth: This hearth, better preserved is from
another Mycenaean site, Pylos.
Mycenae
• Water Stair: past the
palace, far eastern end of the
citadel, a water stair cut into
the rock, built down to a spring
fed source. It provided a
secure source of water during
a siege.
Mycenae
• Sally Port: An opening in
the wall, allowed scouting
parties to survey the area in
the event of a siege.
Mycenae
• Postern Gate:
Mycenae
• Many houses were built within the citadel
walls. Many were also built outside those
same walls.
• Also scattered throughout the area are
Tholos tombs (shaped like beehives).
Mycenae
• Other pictures:
Inside the walls.
Mycenae
• Other pictures:
Mycenae
• Other pictures:
Mycenaeans
• Essential Questions:
• From what they produced, what do you
believe the Mycenaeans were most
concerned about?
• Provide examples to show that the
Mycenaeans were an advanced
civilization.
• How de we know the Mycenaeans were
always prepared for attacks?