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The Shaft Grave Period and the Rise of the Mycenaeans

The Shaft Grave Period and the Rise of the Mycenaeans. BA Chronology. Crete Minoan (Minos - mythical king) Cyclades Cycladic (Aegean island chain) Mainland Helladic (Hellas = Greece) Early EBA EM EC EH (3100-2000) Middle MBA MM MC MH (2000-1650) Late LBA LM LC LH (1650-1050).

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The Shaft Grave Period and the Rise of the Mycenaeans

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  1. The Shaft Grave Period and the Rise of the Mycenaeans

  2. BA Chronology Crete Minoan (Minos - mythical king) Cyclades Cycladic (Aegean island chain) Mainland Helladic (Hellas = Greece) • Early EBA EM EC EH (3100-2000) • Middle MBA MM MC MH (2000-1650) • Late LBA LM LC LH (1650-1050)

  3. MH Burial Types • Pithos (jar) burial • Built Grave or Warrior Grave (Kollonna, Aegina; Thebes) • Pit Burial • Cist Grave • Intramural or Extramural

  4. Cist Grave • Most Common MH Burial Practice • Single Burials • Fetal Position • Return to mother earth? • No, smaller hole!

  5. Mycenae • Grave Circle A • “Mycenae Rich in Gold” • Schliemann

  6. Shaft Grave: Grave Circle A

  7. Shaft Grave Ware: Mainland Polychrome

  8. Shaft GraveStructure enlarged cist grave entered from above through a shaft several feet deep dug from the contemporary ground surface

  9. Inside the Shaft Grave • Extended body • Multiple burials over time possible • Older Remains pushed to side

  10. Marking the Grave • Slabs, waterproof clay cover • Shaft filled • Rectangular border of stones may mark spot • Stele (1st large-scale relief sculptures on Greek Mainland)

  11. Shaft Grave Sites Mycenae (Intact) Lerna (robbed out) Ayios Stephanos, Lakonia (bare bones) Argos

  12. Lavish Grave Goods • Rhyton, Rhyta

  13. Bigger, sturdier than earlier MH corpses or contemporary burials in other sorts of graves Why bigger? The Dead

  14. Better nutrition for elite group? Different racial group? Big Eaters or Big Invaders?

  15. Who are they?

  16. Mycenae: Grave Circles A & B

  17. Grave Circle B • Earlier than Grave Circle A • John Papademetriou & Greek Archaeological Society • 14 Shaft Graves out of 24 tombs

  18. Grave Circle Origins • MH Tumulus at Vrana • Plural Tumuli

  19. The Shaft Graves and Myth • 2 Heroic Periods a) Late MH to LHI-II Shaft Grave period & later b) LHIII • Danaos & the Shaft Grave Period • Trojan War & LHIII

  20. FAMILY TREE OF DANAOS POSEIDON_____________LIBYA I ________I________ I I AGENOR BELUS ________I______ I I AEGYPTUS DANAOS I I I I 50 SONS 50 DAUGHTERS

  21. The Danaids • Danaos & daughters flee Egypt, but sons of Aegyptos follow • Danaids marry, then kill sons of Aegyptos • Mercy of Hypermestra • Purified by gods • “Widows” have difficulty attracting new husbands • No dowry, daughters as sports prizes! • Danaans (Greeks), children of Danaids

  22. Danaids Historical? Danaids = Hyksos? • heka khasewet "rulers of foreign lands") • Semitic, Hurrian, Indo-Aryan people? • Migrants/Invaders?

  23. Theories from Archaeological Evidence?

  24. Shaft Grave Dead as Cretan Conquerors? • Minoan style artifacts • Un-Minoan style burials

  25. Nomadic Tribe of Central or Northern Europe? • Chariots • Grave steles • New Art Style • “Aegeanized” by more advanced local culture • BUT no chariots in N or C Europe. Only in Near East, a MORE sophisticated culture

  26. Locals looted Crete? • Lots of Minoan style treasures • BUT wealth gradually accumulated • No evidence of destruction on Crete • Minoan naval strength

  27. Mercenaries Rewarded by Egypt against Hyksos? • But Hyksos BETWEEN Mycenae and Egyptian Thebes

  28. Mycenaean Control of Trade Route for Valuable Commodity? • Tin (for bronze)? • Disruption of Near Eastern trade for tin by Hyksos, Hittites, Hurrians, et al. • Evidence for Mycenaean trade with Northern Europe (pottery, amber)

  29. Gold (& Amber) from Transylvania (Romania) • Mycenaeans: lavish use of gold • Minoans: economical use • Gold traded for Early Mycenaean daggers

  30. Identity, Origins & Source of Wealth Still Matters of Debate

  31. Readings for Next Class: Iliad 9, Rutter 20 (Mycenaean Residential Architecture)

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