Mycenae was an
Indo-European city-state of the
Achaeans in
ancient Greece's northeastern
Peloponnesus. Around
1550 BC, Mycenae came to dominate the rest of Greece; this period is called the
Mycenaean civilization, which was dominated by the warrior
aristocracy. Around
1400 BC, the Mycenaeans conquered the
Minoans.
Mycenae thrived in the period that scholars believe corresponds to the events in Homer's Iliad. Some believe that Mycenae was the home of King Agamemnon.
Around 1100 BC, it is thought that the Dorians attacked Greece from the north while the Sea People attacked from the sea. Numerous cities were sacked and the region entered a dark age. During this period the Mycenaeans adopted iron, instead of bronze; adopted cremation; and suffered from decreasing population and literacy rates.
Around 800 BC, the dark age ended with beginning of Greek civilization.
Mycenae is the home of "
beehive tombs," which are large circular
burial vaults[?] found in the hills. The Mycenaeans often buried
daggers, or some form of military equipment, with the deceased. The nobility was frequently buried with
gold,
masks,
tiaras,
armor, and
jeweled weaponry.
Mycenaeans were buried in a sitting position and some of the nobility underwent mummification.
Mycenaeans worked as bakers, bath attendants, bowmakers, carders, carpenters, cooks, coppersmiths, doctors, foresters, fullers, goldsmiths, heralds, masons, messangers, oarsmen, potters, saddlers, shepherds, shipwrights, spinners, unguent-boilers, weavers, and woodcutters.
The Mycenean religion was very similar to that of the Minoans'. The Minoan "
Earthshaker", became known as
Zeus. The
Goddess became known as
Athena,
Hera,
Rhea,
Demeter, and
Artemis. Minoan symbols are found throughout Mycenea and include the
bulls,
bullhorns[?],
pillars,
doves, and
snakes.
The Myceneans practiced human sacrifice.
Mycenaean strongholds were located on hilltops and protected by
towered walls, as thick as
6m.
Major works of art and architecture:
- Beehive tombs
- Vaffio cups
- corbelled arches
- cyclopean walls
- The "Lion Gate"