greece - Index of

Mycenaean Death Mask
Large amounts of
worked gold were
discovered at
wealthy Mycenae,
the city of
Agamemnon.
Masks like this
were laid over the
faces of the dead.
Forested hills
MINOAN SEA SCENE
The wall paintings on the island of
Santoríni were preserved by the volcanic
eruption at the end of the 16th century BC.
This section shows ships departing from a
coastal town. In contrast to the warlike
Mycenaeans, Minoan art reflects a more
stable community which dominated the
Aegean through trade, not conquest.
1750–1700
Start of Second
Palace period
and golden age
of Minoan
culture in Crete
1730 Destruction of
Minoan palaces; end
of First Palace period
1600 Beginning of high period of
Mycenaean prosperity and dominance
THE HISTORY OF GREECE 27
1525 Volcanic eruption
on Santoríni devastates
the region
The
inhabitants
are on
friendly
terms with
the visitors.
Cyclopean Walls
Mycenaean citadels, such
as this one at Tiryns, were
encircled by walls of
stone so large that later
civilizations believed they
had been built by giants.
It is unclear whether the
walls were used for defence
or just to impress.
Oared sailing ships
1250–1200 Probable destruction of Troy,
after abduction of Helen (see p54)
1450 Mycenaeans
take over Knosós;
use of Linear B script
Minoan
figurine of a
snake goddess,
1500 BC
WHERE TO SEE
PREHISTORIC GREECE
The Museum of Cycladic Art
in Athens (see pp74–5) has
Greece’s leading collection
of Cycladic figurines. The
remains at Mycenae are extensive
(pp178–80) and the
museum at Náfplio (p182)
displays finds from this and
other Mycenaean sites, as does
the National Archaeological
Museum, Athens (pp68–71).
Excavations at Nestor’s Palace
(p201) uncovered tablets written
in Linear B script. These
earliest examples of Greek
language can be seen in the
museum at nearby Chóra,
together with frescoes and
pottery from the palace.
Mycenaean
Octopus Jar
This 14thcentury
BC
vase’s decoration
follows
the shape of the
pot. Restrained
and symmetrical, it
contrasts with relaxed
Minoan prototypes.
Helen of
Troy
1800 BC 1600 BC 1400 BC 1200 BC
1200 Collapse of
Mycenaean culture
1370–50 Palace of Knosós on
Crete destroyed for second time