Mycenae and the Heroic Age
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The sea raiders
There is a reference to Mycenaean Greece in the archives of the Hittite capital, Khattu-sas, whic his near Boghazkeui in Turkey. It refers to a kingdom in the west called the kingdom of Ahhiawa, whose earlier name was Ahhaïwa (i.e the Achaioi), which is connected with the sea. A certain Piyamaradus is accused of piracy around the region of Millawanda or Milawata (Miletos) and the Hittite king Mursil (or Mutallu, c 1334 - c 1282) is requesting his extradition. The Hittite Empire was destroyed by raids from land and sea in 1191 BC. The region was later occupied by Phrygians from the Balkans. The Hittite culture survived only in parts of Syria. There are Egyptian records that also tally with the names recorded in Homer. The Pharoah Rameses II fought a battle with the Hittites, who were supported by the Dardanoi and Kilikes, both peoples listed as allies of Troy in Homer. It seems that the Achaeans resorted to war as a means of sustaining their economies. Hittite records indicated that c 1230 BC Attarissiyas (or Attarsiyas), meaning "a man of Ahhia" attacked Karia with 100 chariots and infantry and drove out Wadduwattas (Adyattes) who went to the Hittite king. Later Wadduwattas joined Attarissiyas in attacking Alasiya. The archaeological record shows that a further wave of Mycenaean raiders attacked and overran Cyprus and the plain of Tarsus also around 1230 BC. Egyptian records indicate that in 1221 BC various peoples of the sea in league with the Libyans attempted to invade Egypt. Peoples mentioned are K-W-SH, possibly "Akaiwasha", and other vocalised forms that could represent the Lykians and possibly the Hittites, Taroisans or Trojans. The attempted invasion met with defeat - the Egyptians archery dealt with them, and Egyptian records count 6,500 Libyans and 2,500 sea-raiders dead. However, from the records it appears that the people of the K-W-SH were circumcised, which does not fit well with the theory that they were Achaioi. The origin of the attackers cannot be settled by the archaeological record, nor can the question of where they eventually settled. There was another attempted invasion of Egypt from Libya supported by sea-raiders in 1190 BC. Ramases III repulsed an advanced guard and then defeated the main armies at land and at sea. Once again, Egyptian archery proved to be most effective defence. The Egyptians employed mercenaries called the Shardana, who are also identified as part of the sea-peoples. It is possible that these people came from Sardinia. Among the sea people are also listed the D-n-y-n, possibly the Danaoi, another name used in Homer for the Achaioi. Also included at the P-l-s-t, the Philistines, who it has been argued were originally Mycenaean Greeks. After these sea-raids records of contact between the Aegean and the east come to an end; Mycenae declines.
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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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