0
, The Homeric World, Classical Civilisations
Contents
Topic 1- Key Homeric Sites
2- The Cities of the Mycenean Age
3- Mycenae
4- The Lion gate and Cyclopean Walls of Mycenae
5- Tiryns
6- Troy
7- Topic 1 Practice Questions
Topic 2- Life in the Mycenean Age
8- Palaces
9- Hunting and Clothing
10- Armour and Weapons
11- Trade
12- The Linear B Tablets
13- Topic 2 Practice Questions
Topic 3- Decorative Arts
14- Frescoes and Jewellery
15- Pottery and Clay Figures
16- Topic 3 Practice Questions
Topic 4- Tombs and Burial
17- Tombs and Burial
18- Grave Circles A and B
19- Topic 4 Practice Questions
Topic 5- The Odyssey
20- Homer and a General Overview of the Poem
21- Themes in the Odyssey
22- Further Themes in the Odyssey (and Exam technique)
23- Odysseus and Telemachus
24- The Suitors and Slaves
25- The Crew, Polyphemus, Circe, and Penelope
26- Homeric Techniques in the Odyssey
27- Topic 5 Practice Questions (1-2 marks)
28- Topic 5 practice Questions (4-15 marks)
1
, The Homeric World Topic 1- Key Homeric Sites
The Cities of the Mycenean Age
In Ancient Greece the Bronze Age began in 3500 BC with the birth of the Minoan Civilisation. Based on
Crete the Minoans built the palace at Knossos and used a script that we call today ‘Linear A.’
In 1600 BC the power of the Minoans was on the decline and a new civilisation known as the
Mycenaeans were becoming more powerful.
Dating the Mycenean age can be difficult however it is done by looking a pottery and comparing it with
that of the Egyptians. Another way of dating objects is through radio carbon dating for objects such as
wood.
1600 BC
Early Period- characterised by shaft burials.
1400 BC
Palatial Period- the great palaces reached their peak, and many Tholos tombs are dated to.
1250 BC
Later Period- palaces seem to have been attacked and are finally abandoned.
1150 BC
The city of Mycenae is built on a hill above several plains. A citadel (city with walls on a hill top) was
strategically advantageous as the defenders of Mycenae could see attackers coming from miles around.
Around the citadel were many plains over which it is thought Mycenae would control, this gave them
access to farmland, a very precious resource in the rocky landscape of Greece.
In myth, the hero Perseus was said to have found the city of Mycenae and that he built it with he help
of the Cyclopes (giants who the hero Odysseus encounters.) Many centuries later the great King
Agamemnon ruled Mycenae. After Helen was captured by Paris, Agamemnon prepared to sail for Troy
where Paris was prince. Yet as he had killed a sacred deer, Agamemnon was forced to sacrifice his
daughter, Iphigenia to Artemis before he can leave for Troy. Upon his return his wife, Clytaemnestra
has found a new lover, Aegisthus who kills Agamemnon. Eventually the two lovers were killed by
Agamemnon’s son Orestes. Mycenae was excavated by a man fascinated with these mythological
figures, Heinrich Schliemann.
The nearby city of Tiryns was closer to the sea than Mycenae giving it a tactical advantage in that
respect. There is little evidence of hostility between the two cities, and this is reflected in the
foundation stories. Tiryns, thought as of being the older city, was founded by Perseus’ great uncle,
Proitos. Tiryns served in myth as the birthplace of Herakles sometimes after its foundation.
The final major city to study is Troy. Located in Northwest Turkey, Troy’s story is not as simple as that
of Mycenae and Tiryns. The city appears to have been destroyed and rebuilt several times, having 9
layers. The difficulty is which layer was the Homeric Troy where the famous Trojan War may have taken
place.
2
, The Homeric World, Classical Civilisations
Contents
Topic 1- Key Homeric Sites
2- The Cities of the Mycenean Age
3- Mycenae
4- The Lion gate and Cyclopean Walls of Mycenae
5- Tiryns
6- Troy
7- Topic 1 Practice Questions
Topic 2- Life in the Mycenean Age
8- Palaces
9- Hunting and Clothing
10- Armour and Weapons
11- Trade
12- The Linear B Tablets
13- Topic 2 Practice Questions
Topic 3- Decorative Arts
14- Frescoes and Jewellery
15- Pottery and Clay Figures
16- Topic 3 Practice Questions
Topic 4- Tombs and Burial
17- Tombs and Burial
18- Grave Circles A and B
19- Topic 4 Practice Questions
Topic 5- The Odyssey
20- Homer and a General Overview of the Poem
21- Themes in the Odyssey
22- Further Themes in the Odyssey (and Exam technique)
23- Odysseus and Telemachus
24- The Suitors and Slaves
25- The Crew, Polyphemus, Circe, and Penelope
26- Homeric Techniques in the Odyssey
27- Topic 5 Practice Questions (1-2 marks)
28- Topic 5 practice Questions (4-15 marks)
1
, The Homeric World Topic 1- Key Homeric Sites
The Cities of the Mycenean Age
In Ancient Greece the Bronze Age began in 3500 BC with the birth of the Minoan Civilisation. Based on
Crete the Minoans built the palace at Knossos and used a script that we call today ‘Linear A.’
In 1600 BC the power of the Minoans was on the decline and a new civilisation known as the
Mycenaeans were becoming more powerful.
Dating the Mycenean age can be difficult however it is done by looking a pottery and comparing it with
that of the Egyptians. Another way of dating objects is through radio carbon dating for objects such as
wood.
1600 BC
Early Period- characterised by shaft burials.
1400 BC
Palatial Period- the great palaces reached their peak, and many Tholos tombs are dated to.
1250 BC
Later Period- palaces seem to have been attacked and are finally abandoned.
1150 BC
The city of Mycenae is built on a hill above several plains. A citadel (city with walls on a hill top) was
strategically advantageous as the defenders of Mycenae could see attackers coming from miles around.
Around the citadel were many plains over which it is thought Mycenae would control, this gave them
access to farmland, a very precious resource in the rocky landscape of Greece.
In myth, the hero Perseus was said to have found the city of Mycenae and that he built it with he help
of the Cyclopes (giants who the hero Odysseus encounters.) Many centuries later the great King
Agamemnon ruled Mycenae. After Helen was captured by Paris, Agamemnon prepared to sail for Troy
where Paris was prince. Yet as he had killed a sacred deer, Agamemnon was forced to sacrifice his
daughter, Iphigenia to Artemis before he can leave for Troy. Upon his return his wife, Clytaemnestra
has found a new lover, Aegisthus who kills Agamemnon. Eventually the two lovers were killed by
Agamemnon’s son Orestes. Mycenae was excavated by a man fascinated with these mythological
figures, Heinrich Schliemann.
The nearby city of Tiryns was closer to the sea than Mycenae giving it a tactical advantage in that
respect. There is little evidence of hostility between the two cities, and this is reflected in the
foundation stories. Tiryns, thought as of being the older city, was founded by Perseus’ great uncle,
Proitos. Tiryns served in myth as the birthplace of Herakles sometimes after its foundation.
The final major city to study is Troy. Located in Northwest Turkey, Troy’s story is not as simple as that
of Mycenae and Tiryns. The city appears to have been destroyed and rebuilt several times, having 9
layers. The difficulty is which layer was the Homeric Troy where the famous Trojan War may have taken
place.
2
