The ancient Greeks were convinced that Mycenae was built by Perseus, and the thick, high walls of huge stone slabs, on his orders, were erected by the Cyclopes - one-eyed giant monsters. Otherwise, they simply could not explain how in the second millennium BC they managed to build such a grandiose structure.
The ruins of Mycenae are located on the Peloponnese peninsula, on the eastern side of a rocky ridge, 2 km from the small town of Mykenes, 90 km southwest of the capital of Greece, Athens, 32 km north of the Argolicos Gulf. On a geographical map, this ancient Greek city can be calculated using the following coordinates: 37 ° 43′ 50 ″ s. sh., 22° 45′ 22″ in. d.
Mycenae and Troy were discovered by a German amateur archaeologist, Schliemann. He found these unique monuments of the Bronze Age by a rather interesting method, using Homer's Iliad instead of a guide: first he found the famous Troy, and after a short period of time - Mycenae.
The heyday of the ancient Mycenaean civilization dates back to the end of the Bronze Age and dates back to 1600 - 1100 years. BC. Legends say that Mycenae was built by King Perseus, but historians are inclined to conclude that the founders of the ancient city are the Achaeans, warlike representatives of one of the ancient Greek tribes.
lucky geographical position and the wealth of the city (the Mycenaeans were active in trade throughout the Mediterranean) led to the fact that by the beginning of the XIII century. ancient Mycenae turned out to be one of the most powerful and influential states located on the territory of mainland Greece.
The power of the rulers of Mycenae extended to the entire nearby territory and, according to scientists, even covered the entire north of the Peloponnese (the researchers suggest that the kings of the city could well lead the confederation of the Peloponnesian kingdoms).
It is not surprising that the city of Mycenae had well-fortified walls designed to protect against enemy attacks: they tried to capture it more than once, and often quite successfully (this is evidenced by numerous myths of that period, whose plot was bizarrely mixed with real events, evidence of which was found by archaeologists ).
The Mycenaeans themselves were quite warlike: King Agamemnon organized a campaign against Troy, which competed with Mycenae for dominance in the region, and after a ten-year siege won a major victory. According to one of the legends, the victory was granted to him by the gods because, having fulfilled the command of the Oracle, he sacrificed his daughter, Iphigenia (later this caused the death of the king: the wife of Agamemnon, who did not accept the death of her daughter, organized a conspiracy against him).
It should be noted that the Greeks failed to take advantage of the fruits of the long-awaited victory: around 1200 BC. the territory of Greece was invaded by the tribes of the Dorians, who destroyed almost all the cities of the Peloponnese, among which were also Mycenae and Troy (the latter did not even have time to recover from the defeat and just survived a severe earthquake). For some time, the inhabitants of the cities did not leave their territory, they hid in the mountains, but later they were forced to leave their lands - some moved to the islands, others moved to Asia Minor.
What did the city look like?
Most of the population of Mycenae lived outside the fortress, at the foot of the hill. Excavations carried out by archaeologists have shown that before entering the citadel, it was necessary to pass the cemetery, located outside the walls of the city, and residential buildings. The discovered buildings within the city showed that within its boundaries there was a palace, living quarters, temple buildings, warehouses and shaft tombs, in which representatives of the ruling dynasties were buried.
Like most ancient cities, Mycenae was a well-fortified fortress and was built on a rocky hill about 280 meters high.
The city was surrounded by a fortress wall laid out of huge boulders, about 900 meters long, at least 6 meters wide, and in some places exceeded 7 meters in height, while the weight of some stone blocks exceeded 10 tons.
front gate
It was possible to get into the fortress along a stone-paved road through the Lion Gate, the width and depth of which was about three meters.
The Lion Gate was built in Mycenae in the thirteenth century BC during the expansion of the fortress wall. They were erected from three huge, slightly processed limestone blocks, and closed with two wooden doors (this is evidenced by the recesses located inside the side walls).
The upper horizontal lintel was wider than the pillars on which it was laid - this was done so that a triangular limestone pediment slab with two depicted lions could be installed on top. According to one hypothesis, the bas-relief crowning the Lion Gate is the coat of arms of the Atrid dynasty, which ruled the city at that time. According to another, it is dedicated to the goddess Potnia, who is the patroness of all animals.
These lions are turned towards each other and, standing on their hind legs, their front legs rest on two located altars, between which a column is depicted. Unfortunately, the heads of animals have not survived to this day, but after carefully studying the bas-relief, scientists came to the conclusion that they were made of a different material (possibly ivory) and most likely looked at people who entered the citadel through the Lion Gate .
One of the purposes of this bas-relief was to mask the resulting hole: the Lion's Gate was built according to all the rules of its time, so all the blocks that needed to be placed above the lintel were installed with a bevel, which made it possible to move most of the load on the side walls, between which they were installed Lion Gate.
As a result, an empty space was formed above the lintel, where a slab with a bas-relief was installed, which is considered the earliest monumental sculpture of the Mycenaean period (before Mycenae were discovered, only figurines 50 cm high were found).
Castle
Immediately after the Lion Gate, the road rises, and then on the left side rests on a staircase, along which it was possible to climb to the palace, located on top of the cliff (according to experts, the castle was built in the XIV century BC, and some found fragments in it belong to an earlier period).
The staircase ends in a rectangular courtyard, which could be accessed from the throne room, bypassing the reception room and a portico with two columns. The throne room had a rectangular shape, its roof was supported by four columns, and the walls were decorated with frescoes depicting war chariots, horses and women.
The living quarters were located on the north side of the castle, many of them were two-story. Most likely, they could be reached from the vestibule of the palace. There was also a temple with round altars, near which an ivory sculpture of two goddesses and a child was found.
Interestingly, during excavations, clay tablets with inscriptions were found in the palace, which turned out to be financial reports of military expenses, as well as lists of people working for the Mycenaean rulers: it was a list of slaves, rowers, artisans. This gives reason to scientists to suggest that Mycenae was a rather bureaucratic state.
Shaft Tombs
On the right side of the Lion's Gate, there were shaft tombs surrounded by a stone fence, in which kings were buried. These were rectangular-shaped burial chambers carved into the rock, going to a depth of one and a half to five meters. Now, on the site of ancient burials, stone slabs set on edge, marking their location, are installed. In these tombs, archaeologists have found real treasures - coins, jewelry, rings, bowls, daggers, swords made of gold, silver and bronze.
Domed and chamber tombs
Before building a fortress, the Mycenaeans buried their rulers in the so-called domed tombs, which were shaped like huge domes. In total, archaeologists have discovered nine such tombs dating back to the 15th-14th centuries. BC. The tombs were underground structures with a high dome tapering upwards, which towered above the ground. After the burial, the tomb was closed, and the corridor leading to the burial pit was covered with earth.
One of the most famous tombs of this type is the tomb of Atreus (XIV century), which could be reached through a long corridor, the dromos. The burial pit was underground and had a height of 13 meters and a width of 14 (unfortunately, it was not possible to find out what exactly the king took with him to the afterlife, since the grave was plundered in ancient times). A nine-meter square slab was installed above the entrance to the burial room. How exactly the ancient masters managed to establish it, scientists still have not figured out.
Aristocrats and members of their families were buried in nearby chamber tombs. These were mostly family crypts carved into the mountainside, which can be reached via the dromos.
How to get to Mycenae
Those who wish to see one of the most famous monuments of the Bronze Age should take into account that it is located on the territory of the Mycenae archaeological park, and therefore the entrance to its territory is paid (the ticket costs about 8 euros).
It is best to get to the city of Mycenae from the capital of Greece by regular bus, in this case the road will take about two hours, and the ticket will cost 12 euros. You can also use a car and a map - first get to the city of Argo, passing the Corinth Canal, and from there go to Mykenes.
- Troy and the Trojan War.
Troy (tur. Truva), the second name is Ilion, an ancient city in the north-west of Asia Minor, off the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was known thanks to the ancient Greek epics, discovered in 1870. during the excavations by G. Schliemann of the Hisarlyk hill. The city gained particular fame thanks to the myths about the Trojan War and the events described in Homer's poem "The Iliad", according to which the 10-year war of the coalition of Achaean kings led by Agamemnon - the king of Mycenae against Troy ended with the fall of the city - fortress. The people who inhabited Troy are called Tevkras in ancient Greek sources. - Troy is a mythical city.
For many centuries, the reality of the existence of Troy was questioned - it existed like a city from a legend. But there have always been people looking for a reflection of real history in the events of the Iliad. However, serious attempts to search for the ancient city were made only in the 19th century. In 1870, Heinrich Schliemann, during excavations of the mountain village of Gissrlyk on the Turkish coast, stumbled upon the ruins of an ancient city. Continuing to excavate to a depth of 15 meters, he unearthed treasures belonging to an ancient and highly developed civilization. These were the ruins of the famous Homeric Troy. It is worth noting that Schliemann unearthed a city that was built earlier (1000 years before the Trojan War), further research showed that he simply went through Troy, since it was erected on the ruins of the ancient city he found. - Troy and Atlantis are one and the same.
In 1992, Eberhard Zangger suggested that Troy and Atlantis are the same city. He built a theory on the similarity of the description of cities in ancient legends. However, there was no distribution and scientific basis for this assumption. This hypothesis has not received wide support. - The Trojan War broke out because of a woman.
According to Greek legend, the Trojan War broke out because one of the 50 sons of King Priam, Paris, kidnapped the beautiful Helen, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. The Greeks sent troops precisely to take Helen. However, according to some historians, this is most likely only the pinnacle of the conflict, that is, the last straw that gave rise to the war. Prior to this, presumably, there were many trade wars between the Greeks and the Trojans, who controlled trade along the entire coast in the area of the Dardanelles. - Troy held out for 10 years thanks to outside help.
According to available sources, the army of Agamemnon encamped in front of the city on the seashore, without besieging the fortress from all sides. The king of Troy, Priam, took advantage of this, establishing close ties with Caria, Lydia and other regions of Asia Minor, which during the war provided him with assistance. As a result, the war turned out to be very protracted. - The Trojan horse really existed.
This is one of the few episodes of that war that has not found its archaeological and historical confirmation. Moreover, there is not a word about the horse in the Iliad, but Homer describes it in detail in his Odyssey. And all the events associated with the Trojan horse and their details were described by the Roman poet Virgil in the Aeneid, 1st century BC. BC, i.e. almost 1200 years later. Some historians suggest that the Trojan horse meant some kind of weapon, such as a battering ram. Others claim that this is how Homer called the Greek sea vessels. It is possible that there was no horse at all, and Homer used it in his poem as a symbol of the death of gullible Trojans. - The Trojan horse got into the city thanks to a cunning trick of the Greeks.
According to legend, the Greeks spread a rumor that there was a prophecy that if a wooden horse would stand within the walls of Troy, he would be able to protect the city from Greek raids forever. Most of the inhabitants of the city were inclined to believe that the horse should be brought into the city. However, there were also opponents. The priest Laocoön offered to burn the horse or throw it off a cliff. He even threw a spear at the horse, and everyone heard that the horse was empty inside. Soon a Greek named Sinon was captured, telling Priam that the Greeks built a horse in honor of the goddess Athena in order to atone for many years of bloodshed.
This was followed by tragic events: during the sacrifice to the god of the sea Poseidon, two huge snakes swam out of the water, which strangled the priest and his sons. Seeing this as an omen from above, the Trojans decided to roll the horse into the city. It was so huge that it did not fit through the gate and had to dismantle part of the wall. - The Trojan horse caused the fall of Troy.
According to legend, on the night after the horse entered the city, Sinon released from its womb the warriors hiding inside, who quickly killed the guards and flung open the city gates. The city, which fell asleep after violent festivities, did not even put up strong resistance. Several Trojan warriors, led by Aeneas, tried to save the palace and the king. According to ancient Greek myths, the palace fell thanks to the giant Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, who broke the front door with his ax and killed King Priam. - Heinrich Schliemann, who found Troy and accumulated a huge fortune during his life, was born into a poor family.
He was born in 1822 in the family of a country pastor. His homeland is a small German village near the Polish border. His mother died when he was 9 years old. The father was a harsh, unpredictable and self-centered man who loved women very much (for which he lost his position).
At the age of 14, Heinrich was separated from his first love, the girl Minna. When Heinrich was 25 years old and already becoming a famous businessman, he finally asked in a letter for Minna's hand in marriage with her father. The answer was that Minna had married a farmer. This message completely broke his heart. Passion to Ancient Greece appeared in the boy’s soul thanks to his father, who read the Iliad to children in the evenings, and then presented his son with a book on world history with illustrations.
In 1840, after a long and exhausting job in a grocery store that nearly cost him his life, Heinrich boards a ship bound for Venezuela. On December 12, 1841, the ship fell into a storm and Schliemann was thrown into the icy sea, a barrel saved him from death, by which he held on until he was rescued. During his life, he learned 17 languages and made a large fortune. However, the peak of his career was the excavation of the great Troy. - Heinrich Schliemann undertook the excavations of Troy because of the disorder in his personal life.
This is not out of the question. In 1852, Heinrich Schliemann, who had a lot of business in St. Petersburg, married Ekaterina Lyzhina. This marriage lasted 17 years and turned out to be absolutely empty for him. Being a passionate man by nature, he married a sensible woman who was cold to him. As a result, he was almost on the verge of insanity. The unhappy couple had three children, but this did not bring happiness to Schliemann.
Out of desperation, he made another fortune selling indigo paint. In addition, he came to grips with the Greek language. He had an inexorable desire for travel. In 1868 he decided to go to Ithaca and organize his first expedition. Then he went towards Constantinople, to those places where, according to the Iliad, Troy was located and began excavations on the hill of Gissarlik. This was his first step on the way to the great Troy. - Schliemann tried on the jewelry of Helen of Troy for his second wife.
Heinrich was introduced to his second wife by his old friend, it was the 17-year-old Greek Sophia Engastromenos. According to some sources, when in 1873 Schliemann found the famous treasures of Troy (10,000 gold items), he brought them upstairs with the help of his second wife, whom he loved immensely. Among them were two luxurious diadems. Putting one of them on Sophia's head, Heinrich said: "The jewel worn by Helen of Troy now adorns my wife." In one of the photographs, she is indeed depicted in magnificent ancient jewelry. - Trojan treasures were lost.
There is a deal of truth in it. The Schliemanns donated 12,000 items to the Berlin Museum. During World War II, this priceless treasure was moved to a bunker from which it disappeared in 1945. Part of the treasury unexpectedly showed up in 1993 in Moscow. There is still no answer to the question: "Was it really the gold of Troy?". - During excavations at Hissarlik, several layers-cities of different times were discovered.
Archaeologists have identified 9 layers that refer to different years. They are all called Troy. Only two towers remain from Troy I. Troy II was explored by Schliemann, considering it to be the true Troy of King Priam. Troy VI was the highest point of the development of the city, its inhabitants traded profitably with the Greeks, but this city seems to have been badly damaged by an earthquake.
Modern scientists believe that the found Troy VII is the true city of Homer's Iliad. According to historians, the city fell in 1184 BC, being burned by the Greeks. Troy VIII was restored by the Greek colonists, who also erected the Temple of Athena here. Troy IX belongs to the Roman Empire. I would like to note that the excavations have shown that Homeric descriptions very accurately describe the city.
Mycenae is an ancient city mentioned in many Greek legends. It was the birthplace of the famous Agamemnon, who defeated impregnable Troy. Numerous characters from the works of ancient poets and mythical heroes also lived here. The city was the largest cultural center. He even gave a name to an entire era called the "Mycenaean civilization". Mycenae was notable for its enormous wealth, traces of which were discovered during archaeological excavations several centuries later.
Mycenae in mythology
According to the myths of ancient Greece, the city was built by the son of Danae and Zeus Perseus. It is to him that the victory over the terrible Gorgon Medusa belongs. To protect the city, the mighty Cyclopes erected a fortress wall 900 meters long. It is made of huge stone slabs. Their height in some places reaches 7.5 m, and their weight is 10 tons. No man can do such a job.
The management of Mycenae from Perseus passed to his descendants, who for several generations supported the prosperity of the city. Gradually, power passed to the Atreus dynasty, which did not diminish the influence of the city.
Scheme of the ancient city
Agamemnon, a worthy ruler and heir to the dynasty, managed to gather an army and defeated Troy in a long struggle. However, at this time, tragic events occurred that had an impact on his entire life. They are described in myths and works of poets.
During the campaign, tailwinds stopped and further progress was in doubt. At the behest of the Oracle, Agamemnon sacrificed his own daughter to the gods. The sacrifice was not in vain, the gods helped Agamemnon to win, but broke the heart of the girl's mother and the king's wife. Returning home only after 10 years, the king found his wife Klimnestra heartbroken. She did not forgive her husband and, conspiring with her lover, killed him in the bathroom. Almost three millennia later, the Greeks continue to call female murderers after the ancient queen.
Mycenae in Greek history
Mycenae was the largest city of the entire Aegean coast and ancient Hellas. Unfortunately, very little documentary evidence from that period has been preserved. Most of the information has to be drawn from archaeological finds and poetic works of Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and others.
Historians suggest that the city was founded in 2000 BC. During its history, it had to go through the heyday and decline twice. The first period falls on the pre-antique era and ends with a volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini.
In the second heyday, Mycenae became the largest city in modern Europe, which owned almost all the lands of the Peloponnese. Here was the residence of the rulers. By the beginning of the Christian era, the role of Mycenae had significantly decreased, and complete desolation overtook it by the 2nd century BC. already AD.
Description and attractions
Thanks to the work of archaeologists of the XIX century. managed to discover the ancient city and study its history. A real revolution in the study of Mycenae was made by Heinrich Schliemann, a businessman and amateur archaeologist obsessed with the idea of finding the great Troy. During the excavations, many household items and clay tablets were found, as well as jewelry, including the golden mask of Agamemnon.
Inside the fortress walls, which in some places reached 17 m in thickness, galleries and casemates were equipped. Numerous paths for the inhabitants of the surrounding area passed from the base of the hill to the fortress. Noble persons traveled to the city along a paved road. The main gate of the city was the Lion Gate, made of three hewn blocks and decorated with figures of lionesses.
In the central part of Mycenae there were rooms for the king and queen (megarons). These are spacious halls with a throne for the lord. On the floor and walls, elements of beautiful frescoes and the remains of a hearth in the central part have been preserved to this day. All important meetings and courts took place here. Among other rooms, the reddish floor of the bathroom survived, where the famous Agamemnon was killed.
To store the ashes of crowned persons, tombs in the form of shafts were used. Most Interest represents the treasury of Atreus, to which a corridor 36 m long leads. The treasury itself has a cylindrical shape and is covered with a huge monolithic slab. Scientists still do not understand how the ancient builders were able to install a plate weighing more than 120 tons.
Not far from the tombs, you can see the remains of other buildings, such as the houses of the Sphinx, an oil merchant or a wine merchant. There is also a museum on the territory, which presents valuable archaeological finds.
How to get there?
To get to the ruins of the ancient city, you should come to the small village of Mykines, which is located 90 km from Athens. Excursion buses regularly leave for Mycenae from the capital's terminal KTEL Athinon. You can visit the ruins on your own by purchasing a ticket for 8 euros, but a tour in the company of an experienced guide who will share a lot of useful and interesting facts will leave more impressions.
background
Due to constant internal wars, the cultural, economic and political life of the Achaeans state formations concentrated around the palace-citadel, which makes this civilization similar to the Cretan-Minoan culture , although the latter was much less militant. One of the largest citadels was located in the Mycenae region, thanks to the rich archaeological finds in this area associated with the Achaeans, their civilization was called Mycenaean.
Approximately in the XIV century. BC. began the mass migration of the Achaeans to the peninsula of Asia Minor (the territory of modern Turkey) . This historical period is reflected in the work of the ancient poet Homer "Iliad", which tells about the united campaign of the Achaeans led by King Agamemnon against Troy, the epic tells us about a ten-year siege of this settlement, which ended with its plunder. It can be argued that the Iliad tells us about the military confrontation between the Achaeans and the inhabitants of Asia Minor, which ended in the victory of the first, as evidenced by the many Achaean settlements in this region, the time of which corresponds to approximately the 13th century BC. BC.
At the turn of the 13th and 12th centuries, the Balkan Peninsula was swept by a new wave of migrations: less developed culturally and economically than the Achaeans, but militarily successful (this is due to the development of the production of iron weapons), the Dorians quickly captured the Mycenaean citadels and subjugated their masters. The Dorian conquest of Greece is generally considered to be the end of the Mycenaean civilization.
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Conclusion
The Mycenaean civilization left behind a rich cultural heritage, it also contributed to the formation of the civilization of classical Greece, and the famous Iliad and Odyssey, which tell about the Mycenaean era, became the most significant works for the ancient world.
After the death of the Cretan civilization, the flowering of Mycenaean culture began. We learn about this period of Greek history from the myths of the Trojan War, information from which is confirmed by archaeological finds. Heinrich Schliemann, a German self-taught scientist, devoted his whole life to the search for the mysterious Troy; it is he who has the honor of discovering ancient Troy and Mycenae. In today's lesson, following Schliemann, we will visit the ruins of ancient Mycenae and Troy, learn about the mythological and historical reasons for the start of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans.
Mycenae was located in southern Greece, on a rocky hill. The city was surrounded by a fortress wall 900 meters long and 6 meters wide. The entrance to the fortress, built of huge boulders, passed through the Lion's Gate (Fig. 1). From the gate, the entrance opening has been preserved. Archaeologists have unearthed royal graves near the Lion's Gate. Numerous precious ornaments were found in the tombs. From the golden masks that lay on the faces of the buried, one can imagine the appearance of the Mycenaean rulers. They had stern faces with beards and mustaches.
Rice. 1. Lion Gate ()
During excavations of royal palaces in the most ancient Greek cities, hundreds of clay tablets with inscriptions were found. These inscriptions have been read. They contain lists of female slaves, rowers on ships, artisans who worked for the king. Many of the inscriptions refer to preparations for the war. The Mycenaean kings, greedy for other people's wealth, undertook long campaigns for prey.
Around 1200 BC e. Greek cities united under the leadership of the king of Mycenae and opposed Troy, a rich trading city on the coast of Asia Minor. The siege of the city lasted 10 years and ended with the fall of Troy.
The Greeks failed to take advantage of the victory. Warlike tribes invaded Greece from the north. Long-haired, in animal skins, they devastated the south of the country, destroyed Pylos, Mycenae and other cities. The population hid in the mountains, moved to the islands of the Aegean Sea and Asia Minor. There was a decline in the economy, writing was forgotten.
Among the newcomers were also Greek tribes related to those that lived in Greece before their invasion. They settled in the deserted lands.
From generation to generation, the Greeks passed on myths about their gods, ancient heroes, and the war against the Trojans. One day the gods arranged a sumptuous feast. The goddess of quarrels and strife was not called to him. However, she appeared uninvited and imperceptibly threw a golden apple with the inscription: "To the most beautiful" among the feasting. Three goddesses argued over an apple. One was Hera - the eldest of the goddesses (the Greeks portrayed her as a beautiful and majestic woman). The other is the warrior Athena. Despite her formidable appearance, she was just as attractive. The third is Aphrodite, the eternally young goddess of beauty and love. Each of the goddesses believed that the apple was intended for her. They turned to the god of thunder and lightning, Zeus, asking him to judge them. But Zeus, although he was the main god, did not want to interfere in the quarrel, because Hera was his wife, and Athena and Aphrodite were daughters. He ordered them to turn to the Trojan prince Paris, so that he would resolve the dispute about the golden apple (Fig. 2).
Rice. 2. Judgment of Paris ()
Three goddesses flew across the Aegean and appeared before Paris. “Give me an apple,” said Hera, “and I will make you the ruler of all Asia.” “If you award the apple to me,” Athena intervened, “I will help you accomplish great feats and become famous.” Aphrodite said: "Give me the apple, and I will find you the most beautiful woman in the world as your wife." Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite. Since then, she began to help him in everything, and Hera and Athena hated Paris and all the Trojans.
Elena was considered the most beautiful of women (Fig. 3). She lived in the Greek city of Sparta and was the wife of King Menelaus who ruled there. To him, as if to visit, and Paris came. He was received kindly and cordially. But when the king left for a few days on business, Aphrodite inspired Helen with love for Paris. She forgot her husband, agreed to flee to Troy. Returning home, the king of Sparta, Menelaus, became furious and began to call all the kings of Greece to war against Troy. They agreed to participate in the campaign.
Rice. 3. Beautiful Elena ()
On hundreds of ships, the Greeks crossed the sea and landed near Troy. Pulling the ships ashore, they set up camp, protecting it with a wall. Fighting began on the plain between the camp and Troy. For many years the Greeks unsuccessfully besieged Troy. The Trojan War was the last venture of Mycenae. According to the myths, Troy was defeated and captured by the Greeks. In fact, the city was destroyed by an earthquake around 1300 BC. e. A long war exhausted the strength of the Greek cities, including Mycenae, after which their decline began.
Bibliography
- A.A. Vigasin, G.I. Goder, I.S. Sventsitskaya. Ancient world history. Grade 5 - M .: Education, 2006.
- Nemirovsky A.I. A book to read on the history of the ancient world. - M.: Enlightenment, 1991.
- Antiquites.academic.ru ()
- Bibliotekar.ru ()
- mify.org()
Homework
- What archaeological finds show that Mycenae was one of the most powerful Greek cities?
- Name the mythical and historical reasons for the start of the Trojan War.
- Why did Mycenaean culture decline after the Trojan War?
- How did the popular expression "apple of discord" come about?
The descendants of the mythical Perseus ruled Mycenae for many generations, until they were replaced by the powerful Atreus dynasty, with which many heroic and tragic events are associated. The son of Atreus, the legendary Agamemnon, who led the campaign against Troy, on the advice of the oracle, sacrificed his own daughter Iphigenia to the gods. After the triumphant return from the Trojan War, Agamemnon was killed in the bathroom by his wife Clytemnestra, who did not forgive her husband for the death of her daughter. Clytemnestra, in turn, is killed by her son Orestes, distraught with rage, incited by her sister Electra. What can I say? Tough times, tough habits. But after millennia, the name of Clytemenestre became a household name in Greece for wives - murderers of men.
These legends and assumptions found historical confirmation when the German amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, in search of Troy, accidentally stumbled upon one of the mine burial grounds. Several more burials of the same type were found nearby, and then it became clear why Homer called Mycenae rich in gold. During the excavations, an incredible amount of gold and amazingly beautiful things (about 30 kg!) was found: jewelry, goblets, buttons, military equipment and bronze weapons trimmed with gold. Struck Schliemann wrote: "All the museums of the world do not possess even a fifth of these riches." But the most significant find was the golden death mask, which, according to Schliemann, belonged to Agamemnon himself. But the age of the burial grounds did not confirm this version; the burials were made much earlier, before the reign of Agamemnon. An interesting fact confirming the power and wealth of ancient Mycenae is that no iron objects were found. The main materials from which the discovered objects were made are silver, bronze and gold. Artifacts found in the mine burial grounds are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Athens and in the Archaeological Museum of Mycenae.
The ancient city occupied a strategically advantageous position on a hilltop, protected by the massive walls of the acropolis. The laying of the defensive walls was carried out without the use of any binder solution. The stones were fitted so tightly that the walls give the impression of being monolithic. The famous "Lion's Gate" led to the acropolis - a cyclopean structure made of stones, decorated with a bas-relief with two lionesses - a symbol of the power of the royal dynasty. The gate is the most famous building of Mycenae, and the bas-relief is considered one of the most significant heraldic monuments in the world.
In the citadel there were residential houses of the nobility and household buildings, and many of the buildings were two and three stories high. Not far from the entrance, the remains of burial circle A have been preserved, where shaft tombs dating back to 1600 BC are located. The objects found in them indicate that there were burials of royal families.
From the courtyard at the "Lion's Gate" began a large staircase leading to the royal palace. The center of the palace was Megaron - a large room with a hearth on the floor. The royal Megaron was the central building, a kind of administrative center. Meetings were held here, courts were decided. Only the foundation remained of the royal chambers. You can also make out fragments of the foundation of the red bathroom in which Agamemnon was killed.
At a short distance from the walls of the acropolis, burial circle B was discovered, which includes domed tombs (tholos) - another example of Mycenaean architecture. The most impressive and well-preserved of them is the so-called "Treasury of Atreus" or "Tomb of Agamemnon". When the burial was found by Schliemann, it turned out to be looted. Therefore, it was not possible to establish who owned the tomb, but the dimensions and architectural features suggest that inside was the royal tomb. Round underground structures have replaced mine burials. An inclined corridor lined with stones leads to a high narrow entrance. Inside the tomb is an imposing dome 13.5 m high and 14.5 m in diameter, lined with horizontal rows of stones. Each row protrudes slightly from the previous one. Prior to the construction of the Roman Pantheon, the tomb was the tallest building of its type.
