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The Mycenaeans (Day 2). By: Sean Rodriguez. Discovery!. 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.
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The Mycenaeans (Day 2) By: Sean Rodriguez
Discovery! • 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.
Artifacts • 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. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2946223340059082311rlZrAd
Communication • 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. http://proteus.brown.edu/greekpast/4690
Other Major Mycenaean Sites • The cities of Tiryns, Athens, Orchomenus, and Thebes also had evidence of having Mycenaean influence.
Collapse of the Mycenaeans • 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.
Possible Trojan War? • 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. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/dayintech_0424
Evidence of Trojan War? • 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. http://www.artchive.com/artchive/G/greek/agamemnon.jpg.html