Mycenae and the Heroic Age
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Mycenaean palace architecture
Mycenaean palace architecture was centred on a large hall or megaron which had a porch with pillars and a central hearth. A bathroom would be situated near the front door. However, the megarons of this time do not match those of Knosós for size and splendour. Nonetheless, the size of the 'beehive' tombs that were cut into a hillside in which kings were buried did increase. A particularly magnificent example exists at Mycenae probably built c. 1330 BC. It has a dome 12 metres high and the lintel stone over the door is estimated to weigh 100 tons. It has been called the Treasury of Atreus, though it was not a treasury but a tomb that was looted in early Greek times. It has also been called the Tomb of Agamemnon, though this is without basis. Homer's list of the contingents at Troy has been supported by archaeology - every site he mentions has yielded Mycenaean remains. Archaeology also supports the images depicted by Homer of Mycenaean culture - with the porched "halls" and chariots. Both long leather shields and the bronze round shield appear to have been use around 1250 BC, which is also consistent with Homer's account.
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Contents of
Mycenae and the Heroic Age
1 The fall of Knosos
2 Crete circa 1400 BC
3 Mycenae
4 Mycenaean palace architecture
5 Mycenaean burial practices
6 Mycenaean influence
7 Cyprus
8 Decline of Mycenae
9 The sea raiders
10 The wars with Thebes and Troy
11 The seven against Thebes
12 Troy
13 The Dorian Invasion and the end of Mycenaean civilisation
14 The Heraclids
15 Disputing the theory of the Dorian invasion
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