In this episode we pick up from the Shaft Grave Period and begin looking at the Mycenaean palaces, especially Mycenae & Pylos. I pay special attention to the Mycenaean Tholos Tombs around Mycenae and what they tell us about the emergence of the palaces. I then touch on the problems and challenges with Homeric Archaeology and the drawbacks of using Homer as a historical source (i.e the lack of Spartan palaces). We then dissect the palace at Pylos for its architecture and craft production zones by looking at its Linear B archives.
Some of the discussion on Mycenaean religion is naturally speculative because of the nature of the evidence, but nevertheless interesting to contemplate, especially with regard to the Arcadian Mystery Cults. Finally I discuss the nature of trade in the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean and some possible theories for the Late Bronze Age collapse.
Main Summary of This Episode:
🏛️ Mycenaean Palaces -The architectural layout and significance of the Mycenaean palaces, including Pylos, Tiryns, and Knossos
📜 Homeric Archaeology -The discrepancies between Homer’s accounts and the archaeological record
🏺 Tholos Tombs - The Tholos Tombs and their role in the emergance of Mycenaean society
🗡️ Linear B Tablets -The administrative and economic insights provided by the Linear B tablets from Pylos
🌍 Trade Networks -The extensive trade networks of the Mycenaeans and their impact on Bronze Age Mediterranean trade
💥 The Late Bronze Age Collapse -The causes and consequences of the catastrophic Late Bronze Age Collapse
Share your thoughts on the Mycenaean palaces and the Late Bronze Age Collapse in the comments below. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more archaeology!
Find me on the internet
►TWITTER: x.com/ChrisLyonX
►INSTAGRAM: / mystaiofficial
►FACEBOOK: / mystaiofficial
►SUBSTACK: chrislyon.substack.com
►DISCORD: / discord
I am currently teaching a lecture series on Ancient & Late Antique Hermeticism. Do check it out! www.mystai.co.uk/way-of-hermes
Sources & Bibliography:
Bouwman, A S; Brown, K A; Prag, J N.W.; Brown, T A. 2008: Kinship between burials from Grave Circle B at Mycenae revealed by ancient DNA typing. Journal of Archaeological Science. 35 (9): 2580-2584
Castleden, R. 2005: Mycenaeans. London and New York: Routledge.
Sherratt, E. S. 1990: Reading the texts: archaeology and the Homeric question, Antiquity 64, 807‑24
Bennet, J. 2013: Bronze Age Greece. In (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the State in the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean. Oxford University Press
Bennet, J. 1997: Homer and the Bronze Age, in I. Morris & B. Powell (eds.) A New Companion to Homer, 511‑34
Osborne, R.G. 1996 (or 2009 2nd ed.): Greece in the Making: 1200‑479 BC, Chapters 2 and 4‑5
Cline, E H. 2014: 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Bachhuber, C R. and Roberts, G. 2009: Forces of Transformation : The End of the Bronze Age in the Mediterranean : Proceedings of an International Symposium Held at St. John's College University of Oxford 25-6th March 2006 Paperback ed. Oxford
Oren, E D. 2000: The Sea Peoples and Their World : A Reassessment. Philadelphia: University Museum.
Steel, L. 2018: Watery Entanglements in the Cypriot Hinterland. Land. 7. 104. 10.3390
Spagnoli, F. 2015: Two Mycenaean Stirrup Jars From the Levant. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 16, No 1 pp. 185-192
William-Blegen, C. 2015: The Palace of Nestor at Pylos in Western Messenia, Vol. 1: The Buildings and Their Contents: Princeton Legacy Library, 1917
Vallence, J, R. 2015. A New Translation of KT FP 13
Champollion, F, J. 1832: Monuments de l'Egypte et de la Nubie: notices descriptives conformes aux manuscrits autographes rédigés sur les lieux.
#mycenaean #latebronzeage #bronzeagecollapse #seapeoples #pylos #mycenae #menelaus #agamemnon #homer #troy #arcadia #mysterycult #poseidon #persephone #desponia