Created page with "{{Imageneed}} {{Update}} '''Wander the remnants of Mycenae, a place that was in ruins even in the time of antiquity.''' <tabber> |-|Opening Remarks= *'''Herodotos:''' ''Welco..."
'''Wander the remnants of Mycenae, a place that was in ruins even in the time of antiquity.'''
'''Wander the remnants of [[Mycenae]], a place that was in ruins even in the time of antiquity.'''
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("Who are you?")
("Who are you?")
*'''Herodotos:''' ''My name is Herodotos, and I am a traveler from Halikarnassos. I retrace the various events, such as wars and great calamities. I describe what I see and record what I am told — all with the aim of providing a better understanding of why these things occur. Look for me to introduce you to many sites.''
*'''Herodotos:''' ''My name is [[Herodotos]], and I am a traveler from {{Wiki|Halikarnassos}}. I retrace the various events, such as wars and great calamities. I describe what I see and record what I am told — all with the aim of providing a better understanding of why these things occur. Look for me to introduce you to many sites.''
("What do you think of this place?")
("What do you think of this place?")
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("Let's begin the tour.")
("Let's begin the tour.")
*'''Herodotos:''' ''These are the ruins of Mycenae, center of the old Mycenaean civilization. It was home to great warriors and heroes. In many ways, places like Athens and Sparta stand on the shoulders of its accomplishments. This tour will take you through its ruins and introduce you to its most important monuments, revealing its history in the process. I hope you enjoy yourself. I'll be waiting for you at the end of your visit.''
*'''Herodotos:''' ''These are the ruins of Mycenae, center of the old Mycenaean civilization. It was home to great warriors and heroes. In many ways, places like [[Athens]] and [[Sparta]] stand on the shoulders of its accomplishments. This tour will take you through its ruins and introduce you to its most important monuments, revealing its history in the process. I hope you enjoy yourself. I'll be waiting for you at the end of your visit.''
|-|Mycenaean Civilization=
|-|Mycenaean Civilization=
The Mycenaean civilization flourished in the late {{Wiki|Bronze Age}}, between 1600 and 1200 BCE.
During this period, it was mainly located in the [[Peloponnese]] and [[Greece|Central Greece]].
Myceneans were known for exploring distant lands.
Notably, they battled the {{Wiki|Hittites|Hittite}} allied city of {{Wiki|Wilusa}} in a conflict that was believed to be the inspiration for [[Homer]]'s [[Trojan War]].
But the Myceanaean people didn't only travel to fight.
They learned much from their neighbors, the [[Minoan civilization|Minoans]] of [[Krete]], such as how to write syllabic script on clay tablets.
Such tablets provide evidence that Mycenaeans spoke an early form of Greek.
They also tell of how great Mycenaean kings ruled over their warriors from opulent palaces in places like Mycenae, [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], and [[Knossos Palace|Knossos]].
'''Learn More:'''
Mycenaean warriors roamed the seas on twenty to fifty-oared galleys. Knowledge about their various ventures abroad can be traced back to many sources, such as cargo from Bronze Age shipwrecks and [[Egypt|Egyptian]] pharaonic artifacts discovered in Mycenaean palaces.
|-|The Lion Gate=
|-|The Lion Gate=
The entrance to [[Agamemnon]]'s citadel, or the Lion Gate, is one of the most iconic monuments in Mycenae.
It is impressive for both its height, and for the intimidating rendering on its relief, which depicts two [[lion]]s standing on either side of a column.
Unfortunately, the lions' heads, which were presumbly made of a precious metal or higher quality stone, have been lost to time.
The gate was most likely meant to greet a triumphant king returning home from successful military campaigns, and to awe foreign visitors.
'''Learn More:'''
The Lion Gate was described by the traveler [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] in the 2nd century CE. He stated that the two animals on the relief were lions, but it is unknown if their heads were still in place at the time.
Numerous seals and carved gems from the 13th century BCE depicted similar images of lions, panthers, and [[griffin]]s. There were also other gates guarded by lions in the {{Wiki|Eastern Mediterranean}}, such as the one in {{Wiki|Hattusa}}, the capital of the Hittite Empire.
|-|Grave Circle=
|-|Grave Circle=
When [[Grave Circle|these shafts]] were discovered by archaeologist [[Heinrich Schliemann]] in 1876, he believed the six gold-filld graves to be connected with the family of the great King Agamemnon, even going so far as to proclaim a gold mask he found within to be "The Death Mask of Agamemnon".
However, this was refuted by later excavations, which showed that the nineteen bodies buried in the shafts dated back to a few hundred years before Agamemnon was even born.
In fact, at the time of the bodies' burial, the Lion Gate and the citadel walls had not even been built yet.
It's estimated that the people in the graves were members of the first Mycenaean dynasty.
The graves later became a place of worship for Mycenaean kings, who raised walls to protect them.
These walls helped preserve several incredible artifacts, including women's jewelry, death masks, and masterfully crafted weapons.
'''Learn More:'''
The artifacts found in the Grave Circles are noteworthy for their monetary value, but also because some of them feature detailed fighting and hunting scenes that help historians better understand the life of early Mycenaean elites.
Shaft grave burials were eventually abandoned around 1500 BCE and replaced with the more prestigious "tholo" tombs.
|-|Habitations=
|-|Habitations=
|-|Megaron Palace=
|-|Megaron Palace=
Revision as of 15:41, 16 July 2021
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Wander the remnants of Mycenae, a place that was in ruins even in the time of antiquity.
Herodotos:Welcome, traveler, to the ruins of Mycenae.
("Who are you?")
Herodotos:My name is Herodotos, and I am a traveler from Halikarnassos. I retrace the various events, such as wars and great calamities. I describe what I see and record what I am told — all with the aim of providing a better understanding of why these things occur. Look for me to introduce you to many sites.
("What do you think of this place?")
Herodotos:It is humbling to stand in the remnants of such a great civilization. Looking at these ruins, I am reminded that the past is never as far behind us as we think.
("Let's begin the tour.")
Herodotos:These are the ruins of Mycenae, center of the old Mycenaean civilization. It was home to great warriors and heroes. In many ways, places like Athens and Sparta stand on the shoulders of its accomplishments. This tour will take you through its ruins and introduce you to its most important monuments, revealing its history in the process. I hope you enjoy yourself. I'll be waiting for you at the end of your visit.
The Mycenaean civilization flourished in the late Bronze Age, between 1600 and 1200 BCE.
During this period, it was mainly located in the Peloponnese and Central Greece.
Myceneans were known for exploring distant lands.
Notably, they battled the Hittite allied city of Wilusa in a conflict that was believed to be the inspiration for Homer's Trojan War.
But the Myceanaean people didn't only travel to fight.
They learned much from their neighbors, the Minoans of Krete, such as how to write syllabic script on clay tablets.
Such tablets provide evidence that Mycenaeans spoke an early form of Greek.
They also tell of how great Mycenaean kings ruled over their warriors from opulent palaces in places like Mycenae, Thebes, and Knossos.
Learn More:
Mycenaean warriors roamed the seas on twenty to fifty-oared galleys. Knowledge about their various ventures abroad can be traced back to many sources, such as cargo from Bronze Age shipwrecks and Egyptian pharaonic artifacts discovered in Mycenaean palaces.
The entrance to Agamemnon's citadel, or the Lion Gate, is one of the most iconic monuments in Mycenae.
It is impressive for both its height, and for the intimidating rendering on its relief, which depicts two lions standing on either side of a column.
Unfortunately, the lions' heads, which were presumbly made of a precious metal or higher quality stone, have been lost to time.
The gate was most likely meant to greet a triumphant king returning home from successful military campaigns, and to awe foreign visitors.
Learn More:
The Lion Gate was described by the traveler Pausanias in the 2nd century CE. He stated that the two animals on the relief were lions, but it is unknown if their heads were still in place at the time.
Numerous seals and carved gems from the 13th century BCE depicted similar images of lions, panthers, and griffins. There were also other gates guarded by lions in the Eastern Mediterranean, such as the one in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire.
When these shafts were discovered by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1876, he believed the six gold-filld graves to be connected with the family of the great King Agamemnon, even going so far as to proclaim a gold mask he found within to be "The Death Mask of Agamemnon".
However, this was refuted by later excavations, which showed that the nineteen bodies buried in the shafts dated back to a few hundred years before Agamemnon was even born.
In fact, at the time of the bodies' burial, the Lion Gate and the citadel walls had not even been built yet.
It's estimated that the people in the graves were members of the first Mycenaean dynasty.
The graves later became a place of worship for Mycenaean kings, who raised walls to protect them.
These walls helped preserve several incredible artifacts, including women's jewelry, death masks, and masterfully crafted weapons.
Learn More:
The artifacts found in the Grave Circles are noteworthy for their monetary value, but also because some of them feature detailed fighting and hunting scenes that help historians better understand the life of early Mycenaean elites.
Shaft grave burials were eventually abandoned around 1500 BCE and replaced with the more prestigious "tholo" tombs.
The quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles, oil painting by Gaulli Giovanni Battista (1639-1709)
Herodotos:You've completed the tour. I trust it was an eye-opening experience. Though it did not last, Mycenae was a sort of precusor to what would eventually become the Greek civilization we know today. It's important we remember them, if only to avoid repeating their mistakes. Now, what else would you like to do?
("I'm ready for the quiz.")
("Take on the next suggested tour.")
("Take me on a random tour.")
([LEAVE] "That's all for now.")
Herodotos:Then I suppose this is farewell, at least for now. Safe travels.
