Mycenae history of the study of the lion gate. Where does the Lion Gate in Mycenae lead - history and legends about the ancient structure

When planning a trip to Greece, be sure to set aside a few days for a trip to Mycenae. It is not without reason that this ancient city is called the cradle of Hellas. It is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of ancient heroes performing feats in the name of the gods of Olympus, and with unprecedented luxury, which all the kingdoms of the world could envy.

Myths about the appearance of Mycenae

The birth of Mycenae goes back far into history. Archaeologists believe that the city was formed in the sixteenth century BC. Located in the west of the Peloponnese peninsula, it became the most influential city Ancient Greece and marked the beginning of an entire era called the Mycenaean era.

Greek legends say that the city was founded by the great hero Perseus, the son of Zeus, with the help of giants and Cyclopes. Indeed, the city itself, the palace and the fortress walls were built from huge blocks of stone, perfectly fitted to each other without the use of mortar. Some blocks weigh about one hundred tons, and the walls themselves rise to a height of thirteen meters. This method of building walls was called “cyclopean masonry.” Most of the buildings in Mycenae were built using this technique. It is difficult to imagine how these blocks moved during construction.

Founders of Mycenae

Historians believe that the founders of the city can be considered the ancient Achaeans, whose main activity was military campaigns against nearby states. Homer in his famous poems praised Mycenae and its warlike founders. Strategically, Mycenae was very conveniently located - the city, surrounded by well-fortified walls, was located on the top of a hill. The plain stretching around made it impossible for enemies to approach the city unnoticed. Gradually he grew stronger and flourished.

History of Mycenae: heyday

The Mycenaeans carefully guarded the approaches to their city, and by the thirteenth century BC they had extended their influence over the entire peninsula. The townspeople were actively engaged in trade and developed their city. Mycenaean culture came to replace Minoan civilization, which was practically destroyed after the eruption of the Santorini volcano. The Mycenaeans settled the island of Crete, archaeologists have found evidence of their culture in the ruins of the Minos Palace. Several centuries of Mycenaean rule left a huge imprint on the entire history of Ancient Greece.

According to myths, Mycenae set off from this city on a multi-year campaign against Troy. The fall of Troy was a gift to the great king from the gods for his fulfilled promise to sacrifice his own daughter Iphigenia. A few days after his enchanting return to Mycenae, the king was killed by his own wife, Clytamestra, who was distraught after the death of her daughter. To this day, in Greece, her name means “husband killer.”

During their heyday, the Mycenaeans built many cities and decorated their city with majestic structures such as royal palace, For example. The difference between poor and rich townspeople was very significant. The Mycenaeans strictly divided society into classes, giving privileges to traders and military leaders.

Fall of Mycenae

Several centuries of the power of the Mycenaean civilization ended after the invasion of the Peloponnese in one thousand two hundred BC by the warlike tribes of the Dorians. They destroyed most major cities peninsulas, including Mycenae. Troy also fell under their onslaught, which did not have enough time to recover from the triumphant victory of Agamemnon. The inhabitants of Mycenae still tried to revive the city, but gradually left the Peleponnese for Asia and the islands. For many centuries, Mycenae was forgotten.

Discovery of Mycenae: excavations by Heinrich Schliemann

Mycenae owes its new birth to the famous Heinrich Schliemann. A persistent archaeologist, keen on the search for the legendary Troy, quite unexpectedly came across one of the burial grounds in the vicinity of Mycenae, which stunned the archaeologist with unprecedented wealth. Jewelry, parts of military armor, figurines and household items - all of this was made of gold. From several burial grounds, Schliemann managed to recover more than thirty kilograms of precious metal items. The gold found is of particular value to archaeologists. Initially, scientists attributed it to the period of the legendary king Agamemnon, but after a long study they dated it to the sixteenth century BC. The treasures found in the city were the most significant archaeological find of the late nineteenth century. Mycenae personifies everything that this majestic and mysterious city has given the world; it amazes the tourist’s imagination with the power of the palace walls, unique royal burials and the barbaric luxury of the artifacts found.

Attractions Mycenae

Excavations in Mycenae continued for many years, revealing new treasures of this amazing city to the world. Each discovery proved that Mycenae had such a powerful influence on the Peloponnese, which Ancient Greece had never experienced before. The sights of Mycenae are now a huge complex with the ruins of the royal palace, burial grounds and fortress walls. You can wander around this for hours. A special place among archaeological finds is occupied by the Lion Gate and shaft tombs at Mycenae. Scientists have not been able to come to a consensus about their origin to this day. An excursion tour to Mycenae can be purchased directly in Athens. Two hours spent on the road is a very small price to pay for the stunning sight that will appear before the eyes of the tourist.

Lion Gate in Mycenae: description

To enter the well-fortified fortress of the city, it was necessary to pass the Lion Gate. They themselves are composed of four monolithic blocks, each of which weighs about twenty tons. Archaeologists believe that these blocks were carved from amygdalite rock. The blocks are carefully processed and adjusted to each other. After many years of study, archaeologists discovered that the blocks were processed with a tool similar to a circular saw. The jagged marks on the stones are still clearly visible. This is one of the first mysteries that the Lion Gate at Mycenae provided to scientists and historians. The type of construction of the gate is identical to the fortress wall - monolithic masonry. According to scientists, the bas-relief of lions was installed above the gate much later than the construction of the fortress wall. The date of its foundation dates back to approximately the thirteenth century BC. Lions are a very common heraldic symbol in Europe. Many royal dynasties were proud of their image on their coat of arms.

The bas-relief is made of three blocks and depicts two powerful animals standing on their hind legs, leaning on a column. The blocks are cut from solid limestone rock. Unfortunately, the heads of the animals were not preserved, but archaeologists claim that they were cast from gold and turned towards the entering people. According to some assumptions, lions were a symbol of one of the ruling dynasties of Mycenae. According to another version, this monumental bas-relief was dedicated to the patroness of the entire animal kingdom - the goddess Potnia. Many historians see the similarity of the bas-relief with ancient Celtic motifs. In their culture, lions occupied a special place, but until today scientists have not figured out the meaning of the majestic image.

Myths about the origin of the Lion Gate

The Lion Gate in Mycenae is a unique structure, the like of which has not been built during the entire heyday of Mycenaean culture. The manner of construction and the carefully crafted bas-relief depicting a column in the Cretan style made scientists recall the most ancient Hellenic myths.

Myths say that the Hellenes were the descendants of the powerful Atlantean gods, who came to the land of Ancient Greece from their lost land. Indeed, many stone structures, which archaeologists attribute to the period of the Cretan-Minoan civilization and the Mycenaean civilization that replaced it, leave many questions. How could huge blocks of stone be mined and delivered to the construction site? Why do some of them show traces of processing with tools similar to modern ones? Why is the bas-relief of the gate so closely intertwined with images in other cultures? None of the questions were answered.

The Mystery of the Lion Gate

If we consider that the Lion Gate in Mycenae was erected as a defensive structure, then another mystery of this appears before scientists. mysterious place- all the treasures that Schliemann found in his time were in burial grounds located actually under the base of the gate. In the same place, the famous archaeologist managed to find the tomb of Agamemnon himself, filled to the brim with gold and silver artifacts. Neither earlier nor in a later period did the Greeks make such burials.

Archaeologists believe that the entrance to the citadel through the Lion Gate was not available to every person. This is evidenced by the road leading to the gate - along it are located the famous shaft tombs, which became sacred to the Mycenaeans. An outsider could not be allowed into the place of worship. This revealed fact emphasizes the special significance of the Lion Gate as religious building the heyday of Mycenaean culture.

Why did the Mycenaeans make such burials? And why did they place their treasures at the entrance to the city? The scientific world has not yet put forward a worthy hypothesis. The Lion Gate in Mycenae carefully guards the secrets of its creators

Royal Palace

Tourists shopping sightseeing tour in Mycenae, can be seen by others historical monuments of this once richest city. Directly from the Lion Gate the road led to the royal palace. The ruins of this structure even now delight tourists. In the center of the building there was a huge rectangular hall with a hearth - a megaron. The hearth was carefully decorated and decorated with ornate designs; at the four corners of the hearth there were massive columns supporting the vault. The walls of the main hall were decorated with drawings in the Cretan style. Homer called this hall “shining” in his poems. It should be noted that the Minoans were excellent engineers and architects. The entire structure was built on different levels, connected by a string of corridors and halls. Under the palace there was a system of communications and water supply for the city. Many buildings within Mycenae were built on two or three floors, which speaks not only of the financial viability of the townspeople, but also of the skill of the builders.

The palace itself supposedly housed an ancient sanctuary. Archaeologists have found several sculptures of goddesses and a child. Scientists know absolutely nothing about who the Mycenaeans worshiped. Just as their funeral rites are not known or understood by historians.

Mine Tombs

Mine tombs no less unique place than the Lion Gate at Mycenae. Two burial circles, converted into a sanctuary in a later period, were the resting places of noble Mycenaeans. Scientists still cannot explain why the townspeople buried their loved ones sitting in narrow shaft-shaped burial grounds. This phenomenon is in no way connected with all previously known Hellenic rituals. Each burial ground was filled with decorations and household items. It should be noted that all items were made of precious metals. Bronze items were occasionally found. After Schliemann's discovery of the shaft tombs, Mycenae began to be called “gold-abundant.”

The monumental Lion Gate, luxurious gold jewelry and myths, legends and mysteries - all this was given to the world by the “gold-rich” Mycenae. Greece is capable of bewitching any tourist who will definitely want to once again touch its history, permeated with thousands of years.

Troy (Turkish Truva), second name - Ilion, is an ancient city in the north-west of Asia Minor, off the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was known thanks to the ancient Greek epics and was discovered in the 1870s. during G. Schliemann's excavations of the Hissarlik hill. The city gained particular fame thanks to the myths about the Trojan War and the events described in Homer’s poem “The Iliad,” according to which the 10-year war of the coalition of Achaean kings led by Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, against Troy ended with the fall of the fortress city. The people who inhabited Troy are called Teucrians in ancient Greek sources.

Troy is a mythical city. For many centuries, the reality of Troy's existence was questioned - it existed like a city from legend. But there have always been people looking for a reflection in the events of the Iliad real story. However, serious search attempts ancient city were undertaken only in the 19th century. In 1870, Heinrich Schliemann, while excavating the mountain village of Gissrlik on the Turkish coast, came across the ruins of an ancient city. Continuing excavations to a depth of 15 meters, he unearthed treasures that belonged to an ancient and highly developed civilization. These were the ruins of Homer's famous Troy. It is worth noting that Schliemann excavated a city that was built earlier (1000 years before the Trojan War); further research showed that he simply walked right through Troy, since it was built on the ruins of the ancient city he found.

Troy and Atlantis are one and the same. In 1992, Eberhard Zangger suggested that Troy and Atlantis are the same city. He based his theory on the similarity of the descriptions of cities in ancient legends. However, this assumption did not have a widespread and scientific basis. This hypothesis did not receive widespread support.

The Trojan War broke out because of a woman. According to Greek legend, the Trojan War broke out because one of the 50 sons of King Priam, Paris, kidnapped the beautiful Helen, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. The Greeks sent troops precisely to take Helen away. However, according to some historians, this is most likely only the peak of the conflict, that is, the last straw that gave rise to the war. Before this, there were supposedly many trade wars between the Greeks and the Trojans, who controlled trade along the entire coast of the Dardanelles.

Troy survived for 10 years thanks to outside help. According to available sources, Agamemnon's army camped in front of the city on the seashore, without besieging the fortress from all sides. King Priam of Troy took advantage of this, establishing close ties with Caria, Lydia and other regions of Asia Minor, which provided him with assistance during the war. As a result, the war turned out to be very protracted.

The Trojan horse actually existed. This is one of the few episodes of that war that has never found its archaeological and historical confirmation. Moreover, there is not a word about the horse in the Iliad, but Homer describes it in detail in his Odyssey. And all the events associated with the Trojan horse and their details were described by the Roman poet Virgil in the Aeneid, 1st century. BC, i.e. almost 1200 years later. Some historians suggest that the Trojan horse meant some kind of weapon, for example, a ram. Others claim that Homer called the Greeks that way. sea ​​vessels. It is possible that there was no horse at all, and Homer used it in his poem as a symbol of the death of the gullible Trojans.

The Trojan horse got into the city thanks to a cunning trick by the Greeks. According to legend, the Greeks spread a rumor that there was a prophecy that if a wooden horse stood within the walls of Troy, it could forever defend the city from Greek raids. Most of the city's residents were inclined to believe that the horse should be brought into the city. However, there were also opponents. The priest Laocoon suggested burning the horse or throwing it off a cliff. He even threw a spear at the horse, and everyone heard that the horse was empty inside. Soon a Greek named Sinon was captured and told Priam that the Greeks had built a horse in honor of the goddess Athena to atone for many years of bloodshed. Tragic events followed: during a sacrifice to the god of the sea Poseidon, two huge snakes swam out of the water and strangled the priest and his sons. Seeing this as an omen from above, the Trojans decided to roll the horse into the city. He was so huge that he couldn’t fit through the gate and part of the wall had to be dismantled.

The Trojan Horse caused the fall of Troy. According to legend, on the night after the horse entered the city, Sinon released the warriors hiding inside from its belly, who quickly killed the guards and opened the city gates. The city, which had fallen asleep after the riotous festivities, did not even offer strong resistance. Several Trojan soldiers led by Aeneas tried to save the palace and the king. According to ancient Greek myths, the palace fell thanks to the giant Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, who smashed the front door with his ax and killed King Priam.

Heinrich Schliemann, who found Troy and amassed a huge fortune during his life, was born into a poor family. He was born in 1822 into the family of a rural pastor. His homeland is a small German village near Polish border. His mother died when he was 9 years old. My father was a harsh, unpredictable and self-centered man who loved women very much (for which he lost his position). At the age of 14, Heinrich was separated from his first love, the girl Minna. When Heinrich was 25 years old and already becoming a famous businessman, he finally asked Minna's hand from her father in a letter. The answer said that Minna married a farmer. This message completely broke his heart. A passion for Ancient Greece appeared in the boy’s soul thanks to his father, who read the Iliad to the children in the evenings, and then gave his son a book on world history with illustrations. In 1840, after a long and grueling job in a grocery store that almost cost him his life, Henry boarded a ship bound for Venezuela. On December 12, 1841, the ship was caught in a storm and Schliemann was thrown into the icy sea; he was saved from death by a barrel, which he held on to until he was rescued. During his life, he learned 17 languages ​​and made a large fortune. However, the peak of his career was the excavation of the great Troy.

Heinrich Schliemann undertook the excavations of Troy due to unsettled personal life. This is not excluded. In 1852, Heinrich Schliemann, who had many affairs in St. Petersburg, married Ekaterina Lyzhina. This marriage lasted 17 years and turned out to be completely empty for him. Being a passionate man by nature, he married a sensible woman who was cold towards him. As a result, he almost found himself on the verge of madness. The unhappy couple had three children, but this did not bring happiness to Schliemann. Out of desperation, he made another fortune by selling indigo dye. In addition, he took up the Greek language closely. An inexorable thirst for travel appeared in him. In 1868, he decided to go to Ithaca and organize his first expedition. Then he went towards Constantinople, to the places where Troy was located according to the Iliad and began excavations on the Hissarlik hill. This was his first step on the path to the great Troy.

Schliemann tried on jewelry from Helen of Troy for his second wife. Heinrich was introduced to his second wife by his old friend, 17-year-old Greek Sofia Engastromenos. According to some sources, when Schliemann found the famous treasures of Troy (10,000 gold objects) in 1873, he moved them upstairs with the help of his second wife, whom he loved immensely. Among them were two luxurious tiaras. Having placed one of them on Sophia’s head, Henry said: “The jewel that Helen of Troy wore now adorns my wife.” One of the photographs actually shows her wearing magnificent antique jewelry.

The Trojan treasures were lost. There is a deal of truth in it. The Schliemanns donated 12,000 objects to the Berlin Museum. During World War II, this priceless treasure was moved to a bunker from which it disappeared in 1945. Part of the treasury unexpectedly appeared in 1993 in Moscow. There is still no answer to the question: “Was it really the gold of Troy?”

During excavations at Hisarlik, several layers of cities from different times were discovered. Archaeologists have identified 9 layers that belong to different years. Everyone calls them Troy. Only two towers have survived from Troy I. Troy II was explored by Schliemann, considering it the true Troy of King Priam. Troy VI was highest point development of the city, its inhabitants traded profitably with the Greeks, but this city seems to have been severely destroyed by an earthquake. Modern scientists believe that the found Troy VII is the true city of Homer's Iliad. According to historians, the city fell in 1184 BC, being burned by the Greeks. Troy VIII was restored by Greek colonists, who also built the temple of Athena here. Troy IX already belongs to the Roman Empire. I would like to note that excavations have shown that Homeric descriptions very accurately describe the city.

The ancient Greeks were convinced: Mycenae was built by Perseus, and thick, high walls of huge stone slabs were erected by his order by the Cyclopes - one-eyed giant monsters. Otherwise explain how in the second millennium BC it was possible to build such grandiose building, they simply couldn't.

The ruins of Mycenae are located on the Peloponnese peninsula, on the eastern side of a rocky ridge, 2 km from the small town of Mycenes, 90 km southwest of the capital of Greece, Athens, 32 kilometers north of the Gulf of Argolikos. On geographical map this ancient Greek city can be calculated using the following coordinates: 37° 43′ 50″ N. latitude, 22° 45′ 22″ e. d.

Mycenae and Troy were discovered by the German amateur archaeologist, Schliemann. He found these unique monuments Bronze Age in a rather interesting way, using Homer’s Iliad instead of a guidebook: first he found the famous Troy, and after a short period of time - Mycenae.

The heyday of the ancient Mycenaean civilization dates back to the end of the Bronze Age and dates back to 1600 - 1100. BC. Legends claim that Mycenae was built by King Perseus, but historians are inclined to conclude that the founders of the ancient city were the Achaeans, warlike representatives of one of the ancient Greek tribes.

Udachnoe geographical position and the wealth of the city (the Mycenaeans conducted active trade throughout the Mediterranean) led to the fact that by the beginning of the 13th century. ancient Mycenae turned out to be one of the most powerful and influential states located on the territory of mainland Greece.

The power of the rulers of Mycenae extended to the entire nearby territory and, according to scientists, even covered the entire north of the Peloponnese (researchers suggest that the kings of the city could well have led the confederation of the Peloponnesian kingdoms).

It is not surprising that the city of Mycenae had well-fortified walls designed to protect against enemy attacks: they tried to capture it more than once, and often quite successfully (this is evidenced by numerous myths of that period, whose plot was intricately mixed with real events, evidence of which was discovered by archaeologists ).

The Mycenaeans themselves were quite warlike: King Agamemnon organized a campaign against Troy, which competed with the Mycenaeans for dominance in the region, and after a ten-year siege achieved a major victory. According to one legend, victory was granted to him by the gods because, having fulfilled the command of the Oracle, he sacrificed his daughter, Iphigenia (this later caused the death of the king: Agamemnon’s wife, who did not accept the death of her daughter, organized a conspiracy against him).

It should be noted that the Greeks were not able to take advantage of the fruits of the long-awaited victory: around 1200 BC. Dorian tribes invaded the territory of Greece, destroying almost all the cities of the Peloponnese, among which were also Mycenae and Troy (the latter did not even have time to recover from the defeat and just experienced a strong earthquake). Residents of the cities did not leave their territory for some time, hiding in the mountains, but later were forced to leave their lands - some moved to the islands, others moved to Asia Minor.

What the city looked like

Most of the population of Mycenae lived outside the fortress, at the foot of the hill. Excavations carried out by archaeologists showed that before getting to the citadel, it was necessary to pass a cemetery located outside the city walls and residential buildings. Discovered buildings within the city showed that within its boundaries there was a palace, living quarters, temple buildings, warehouses and shaft tombs in which representatives of the ruling dynasties were buried.

Like most ancient cities, Mycenae was a well-fortified fortress and was built on a rocky hill about 280 meters high.

The city was surrounded by a fortress wall made of huge boulders, about 900 meters long, at least 6 meters wide, and in some places the height exceeded 7 meters, while the weight of some stone blocks exceeded 10 tons.

front gate

You could get into the fortress along a stone-paved road through the Lion Gate, the width and depth of which was about three meters.

The Lion Gate was built in Mycenae in the thirteenth century BC during the expansion of the fortress wall. They were erected from three huge, lightly processed limestone blocks, and were closed with two wooden doors (this is evidenced by the recesses located inside the side walls).

The upper horizontal lintel was wider than the pillars on which it was placed - this was done so that a triangular-shaped limestone pediment slab with two depicted lions could be installed on top.

According to one hypothesis, the bas-relief crowning the Lion Gate is the coat of arms of the Atrid dynasty, which ruled the city at that time. According to another, it is dedicated to the goddess Potnia, who is the patroness of all animals.

These lions are turned towards each other and, standing on their hind legs, their front legs rest on two altars, between which a column is depicted. Unfortunately, the heads of the animals have not survived to this day, but after carefully studying the bas-relief, scientists came to the conclusion that they were made of a different material (possibly ivory) and most likely looked at the people who entered the citadel through the Lion Gate .

As a result, an empty space was formed above the lintel, where a slab with a bas-relief was installed, which is considered the earliest monumental sculpture of the Mycenaean period (before Mycenae was discovered, only figurines 50 cm high were found).

Castle

Immediately after the Lion Gate, the road rises up, and then on the left side it ends at a staircase, along which one could climb to the palace, located on the top of the cliff (according to experts, the castle was built in the 14th century BC, and some found fragments in it refer to an earlier period).

The staircase ends in a rectangular courtyard, which could be reached from the throne room, passing the reception room and the portico with two columns. The throne room was rectangular in shape, its roof was supported by four columns, and the walls were decorated with frescoes depicting war chariots, horses and women.

The living quarters were located on the north side of the castle, many of them were two-story. Most likely, they could be accessed from the palace lobby. There was also a temple with round altars, near which a sculptural composition of two goddesses and a child was discovered made of ivory.

It is interesting that during excavations, clay tablets with inscriptions were found in the palace, which turned out to be financial reports of military expenses, as well as lists of people working for the Mycenaean rulers: it was a list of slaves, oarsmen, and artisans. This gives scientists reason to assume that Mycenae was a rather bureaucratic state.

Mine tombs

On the right side of the Lion Gate there were shaft tombs surrounded by a stone fence in which kings were buried. These were burial rooms carved into a rectangular rock, going to a depth of one and a half to five meters. Now at the site of ancient burials there are stone slabs placed on edge, marking their location. In these tombs, archaeologists found real treasures - coins, jewelry, rings, bowls, daggers, swords made of gold, silver and bronze.

Dome and chamber tombs

Before building the fortress, the Mycenaeans buried their rulers in so-called domed tombs, which were shaped like huge domes. In total, archaeologists discovered nine such tombs dating back to the XV-XIV centuries. BC. The tombs were underground structures with a high, tapering dome that rose above the ground. After the funeral, the tomb was closed, and the corridor leading to the burial pit was covered with earth.

One of the most famous tombs of this type is the tomb of Atreus (XIV century), which could be reached through a long corridor, the dromos. The burial pit was underground and was 13 meters high and 14 meters wide (unfortunately, finding out what exactly the king took with him in afterworld, it was not possible to establish, since the grave was plundered in ancient times). A nine-meter square slab was installed above the entrance to the burial room. How exactly the ancient masters were able to establish it, scientists still have not figured out.

Aristocrats and representatives of their families were buried in chamber tombs located nearby. These were basically family crypts carved into the mountainside, into which you can walk along the dromos.

How to get to Mycenae

Those who want to see one of the most famous monuments Bronze Age, you should take into account that it is located on the territory of the Mycenae archaeological park, and therefore entrance to its territory is paid (a ticket costs about 8 euros).

The best way to get to the city of Mycenae from the capital of Greece is by regular bus; the journey in this case will take about two hours, and the ticket will cost 12 euros.

You can also use a car and a map - first drive to the city of Argo, passing the Corinth Canal, and from there go to Mycenes.

Long before Greece was called ancient, around 1600 BC, the Eastern Mediterranean was inhabited by a civilization of traders and conquerors. These were the times of myths and legends.

The gods at that time often descended from, and mortals were ruled by their offspring. It was then that the well-known Perseus, the son of Zeus and the daughter of the Argive king, being the ruler of nearby Tiryns, founded the ancient city of Mycenae. The city has become so great importance

that the last prehistoric period of Greek civilization is called “Mycenaean”.

A little history

Some legends claim that Perseus chose this place because he lost the tip of his sword here (mykes), others that Perseus found a mushroom (mykes in Greek) and, to escape thirst, drank water from it.

A more prosaic legend says that Mycenae was founded by the Achaeans, an ancient warlike tribe.
Be that as it may, the city is located in a strategically convenient location. They laid it at the foot of one of the mountains in the northeast.

The first mention of Mycenae as a “gold-abundant” or “filled with gold” city was made by Homer in his epic.

Later, the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, during the excavations of Mycenae, found an explanation for this. The tombs and tombs on its territory were filled with gold jewelry and simply trinkets of very skillful work.

All this testified to the fabulous wealth of the rulers and nobility. Their remains were buried under a pile of gold items. Interestingly, not a single iron object was discovered.

Among the gold items found by archaeologists were: tiaras, finely crafted bracelets, copper cauldrons with elegant gold buttons, gold bowls and jugs, many gold animal figurines, death masks, the most famous of which is the mask of Agamemnon, as well as many bronze swords.

The archaeological finds discovered in the tombs became the largest treasure in the world, not only in quantity (more than 30 kg of gold items were found), but also in artistic and historical significance. Later they were surpassed only by the finds found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

All artifacts were transferred to Archaeological Museum Athens and the Archaeological Museum of Mycenae.

The favorable geographical position of Mycenae facilitated the trade of the inhabitants.
Wine, perfume, fabrics, bronze, gold and amber products were exported.

Wealth grew rapidly and the state prospered. Mycenae became very influential, and according to scientists, controlled the entire Mediterranean. Their rulers even led the confederation of Peloponnesian kingdoms.

The culture, weapons and even fashion of Mycenae spread throughout known world. This was the reason for repeated attacks on the city. However, the Mycenaeans themselves were warlike.

During its existence, Mycenae and the Mycenaean state left a solid mark on history. The rulers of the city are heroes of legends and myths. The history of Mycenae is associated with many tragic and heroic events.

For example, the legendary Trojan War was unleashed by the Mycenaean king Agamemnon. We will not go into the details of the divine civil strife associated with the apple of discord and the struggle of the Olympic beauties for the title of “most beautiful,” in which King Menelaus and his wife Helen the Beautiful were involved, which led to the fall of Troy.

Historians are still inclined to a more realistic version that it was the ruler of Mycenae Agamemnon who went to war against the city, since Troy competed with them for dominance in the region. The siege of the city lasted for a decade.

Researchers attribute these events to the 13th–12th centuries. BC e., but the date is controversial. Victory was granted by the gods to the king of Mycenae because he sacrificed his daughter, for which later, according to one legend, he was killed by his wife, who did not forgive him for the murder of her child.

According to another legend, during the long absence of her husband, Clytemnestra took a lover - Agamemnon's cousin. And when the legitimate spouse returned from the war, they simply killed him, expelled the children - the legal heirs of the throne, and began to rule Mycenae.

The rapid development of the Mycenaean civilization is as inexplicable as its sudden disappearance. It is not established exactly how and why their state fell. Historians have put forward various hypotheses according to which the destruction of the city and the death of the state could have occurred as a result of inter-class clashes.

According to other theories, a series of earthquakes and the destruction of trade routes caused the rapid fall of civilization. It is possible that this was ultimately facilitated by the invasion Sea people- Dorians. But it is known for sure that the death of the Mycenaean civilization coincided with the end of the Bronze Age.

The “Bronze Collapse” was accompanied by the fall of states and the destruction of large cities. Writing and traditions were lost, trade came to naught. The Eastern Mediterranean has plunged into darkness.

How to get to Mycenae

Time is inexorable, and now we can only see the ruins of a once powerful city. This is all that has reached us.

Mycenae is one of the greatest monuments of the Bronze Age.
The city is located in the east of the rocky ridge of the Peloponnese Peninsula.

The landmark is the town of Mykenes, located 2 km away. Geographical coordinates ancient city: 37° 43? 50? With. sh., 22° 45? 22? V. d. From the capital of Greece - approximately 90 km to the southwest of the peninsula, or 32 km to the north from the Gulf of Argolikos.

You can get to Mycenae by regular bus from Athens from the KTEL Athenon bus station in about two hours, the ticket costs about 12 euros. But you can get to Mycenae on your own, armed with a navigator or map. You must first drive to the city of Argo, and from there go to Mycenes, passing another one - the Corinth Canal.

The ruins are located on the territory of the Mycenae archaeological park. Entrance to the park is paid. Tickets are sold at the entrance and cost 8 euros, and children under 18 do not need to purchase tickets. By presenting your ticket, you will be able to see the Mycenaean Acropolis, the Archaeological Museum and the Treasury of Atreus.

When booking an excursion to Mycenae via the Internet or in hotels, check if there is a Russian-speaking guide. As a rule, a visit to Mycenae in such excursions is planned along with other attractions, so the cost depends on the type of transport, the number of places visited and the category of excursion.

What to see

Like many cities, Mycenae had its own ruler, respectively a royal palace and a well-fortified citadel.

The city is surrounded by a 900-meter wall made of huge stones. The construction was carried out, no more, no less, by the giants Cyclops.

Otherwise, how else can one explain the origin of such a powerful defensive structure. The stones are fitted so tightly to each other that there is a feeling of solidity of the walls. Such masonry was commonly called cyclopean. The weight of some stones reaches 10 tons.

The Royal Palace was built on the top of a small hill at the foot of the mountain. This is the so-called upper city - the acropolis.

Not only the reigning dynasty lived here, but also other nobility and aristocracy. This is the center of political governance of the city-state. The territory also contained temples, warehouses and burial places of deceased rulers.

The center of the Royal Palace is a rectangular room with columns and a fireplace in the floor - the royal reception room.

The so-called Megaron served administrative center city ​​and meetings, conferences and courts were held in it.
Megaron also housed the symbol of royal power - the throne. In our time, only the foundation of the structure has been preserved.

The royal chambers are located on the northern side of the palace. A temple with round altars was also erected here, near which an ivory sculpture depicting two goddesses and a child was discovered.

Ordinary people lived outside the walls of the fortress at the foot of the hill. It is interesting that the buildings had a trapezoidal shape, with a short base directed towards the acropolis. Because of this, the entire city from above resembled a fan. The most famous buildings are the House of the Sphinx, the House of the Wine Merchant, the House of Shields and the House of the Oil Trader.

It was possible to get to the fortress only along the road through. This is the most famous architectural landmark of Mycenae.

The gate is built from four powerful limestone slabs. Their span is a square, the side of which is about 3 meters. They were most likely closed with wooden doors, which have not survived to this day.

Their existence can be judged by the indentations on the side walls. The pediment is decorated with a bas-relief depicting two lions, which were a symbol of the royal dynasty and personified its power.

Lions stand on their hind legs and lean them on a column. Their heads have not survived, and according to different versions they were made of either ivory or gold. This is the oldest sculptural composition in Europe.

A large staircase leads to the royal palace, starting from the courtyard at the Lion Gate. It is interesting that bureaucracy already existed then. Clay tablets found during excavations in the palace turned out to be financial reports, lists of slaves and artisans.

Mycenae had the greatest treasure for all fortresses - underground sources water.

The inhabitants dug a deep tunnel to a spring known as the Perseus Fountain. This fountain is huge defensive wall helped them withstand long sieges.

Behind the walls of the citadel, archaeologists discovered giant domes - tombs of kings and nobles, built from powerful stone slabs. The tombs were camouflaged with a mound, and a long corridor, the dromos, led inside.

The corridor, through a high, up to 7 meters high, monumental entrance, led to an internal vaulted chamber. After the funeral, the tomb was closed, and all entrances were covered with earth. The most famous and well-preserved is the treasury or tomb of Atreus, the father of Agamemnon.

But the tomb was looted long before archaeologists found it.

On the territory of the fortress itself, as a result of excavations, royal graves were discovered, immediately behind the Lion Gate.

Heinrich Schliemann excavated five royal burials here. They contained the remains of nineteen dead, buried under piles of gold jewelry. The most famous find was the golden death mask.

According to Heinrich Schliemann, the mask belonged to Agamemnon himself. Later it turned out that the burials were made several centuries earlier than the time of the legendary Trojan War.
In 1999, the ruins of Mycenae were listed World Heritage UNESCO.

Despite the fact that time has not been kind to the city, visiting it is very informative and interesting.

Background

Due to constant internal wars, the cultural, economic and political life of the Achaean state entities was concentrated around the palace-citadel, which makes this civilization similar to the Cretan-Minoan culture , although the latter was much less militant in nature. One of the largest citadels was located in the Mycenaean region, thanks to the rich archaeological finds in this area associated with the Achaeans, their civilization was called Mycenaean.

Around the 14th century. BC. the mass migration of the Achaeans to the Asia Minor peninsula (the territory of modern Turkey) began . This historical period is reflected in the work of the ancient poet Homer “Iliad”, which tells about the united campaign of the Achaeans under the leadership of King Agamemnon against Troy, the epic tells us about the ten-year siege of this settlement, which ended with its plunder. It can be argued that the Iliad tells us about the military confrontation between the Achaeans and the inhabitants of Asia Minor, which ended in the victory of the former, as evidenced by the many Achaean settlements in this region, the creation of which corresponds to approximately the 13th century. BC.

At the turn of the XIII and XII centuries, the Balkan Peninsula was overwhelmed new wave migrations: less culturally and economically developed than the Achaeans, but successful militarily (this is due to the development of the production of iron weapons), the Dorians quickly captured the Mycenaean citadels and subjugated their owners. The Dorian conquest of Greece is considered to be the end of the Mycenaean civilization.

Participants

Conclusion

The Mycenaean civilization left behind a rich cultural heritage, she also contributed to the formation of the civilization of classical Greece, and the famous “Iliad” and “Odyssey”, telling about the Mycenaean era, became the most significant works for the ancient world.

After the death of the Cretan civilization, the Mycenaean culture began to flourish. We learn about this period of Greek history from the myths about the Trojan War, information from which is confirmed by archaeological finds. The self-taught German scientist Heinrich Schliemann devoted his entire life to the search for the mysterious Troy; it was to him that the honor of discovering ancient Troy and Mycenae belongs. In today's lesson, we will follow Schliemann to visit the ruins of ancient Mycenae and Troy, learn about the mythological and historical reasons for the outbreak of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans.

Mycenae was located in Southern Greece, on a rocky hill. The city was surrounded by a fortress wall 900 meters long and 6 meters wide. The entrance to the fortress, made of huge stone blocks, passed through the Lion Gate (Fig. 1). The entrance opening from the gate has been preserved. Near the Lion Gate, archaeologists excavated royal graves. Numerous precious jewelry was found in the tombs. From the golden masks lying on the faces of the buried, one can imagine the appearance of the Mycenaean rulers. They had stern faces with beards and mustaches.

Rice. 1. Lion Gate ()

During excavations of royal palaces in ancient Greek cities, hundreds of clay tablets with inscriptions were found. These inscriptions have been read. They contain lists of female slaves, rowers on ships, and artisans who worked for the king. Many inscriptions talk about preparations for war. The Mycenaean kings, greedy for other people's wealth, undertook long campaigns for booty.

Around 1200 BC e. Greek cities united under the leadership of the king of Mycenae and opposed Troy - the rich trading city on the coast of Asia Minor. The siege of the city lasted 10 years and ended with the fall of Troy.

The Greeks failed to take advantage of the victory. Warlike tribes invaded Greece from the north. Long-haired, wearing animal skins, they devastated the south of the country, destroying Pylos, Mycenae and other cities. The population hid in the mountains and moved to the islands of the Aegean Sea and Asia Minor. There was a decline in the economy, and writing was forgotten.

Among the newcomers were Greek tribes related to those who lived in Greece before their invasion. They settled in deserted lands.

From generation to generation, the Greeks passed on myths about their gods, ancient heroes and the war with the Trojans. One day the gods arranged a luxurious feast. The goddess of quarrels and discord was not called upon him. However, she appeared uninvited and quietly threw a golden apple among the feasters with the inscription: “To the most beautiful.” Three goddesses argued over an apple. One was Hera, the eldest of the goddesses (the Greeks portrayed her as a beautiful and majestic woman). The other is the warrior Athena. Despite her menacing appearance, she was just as attractive. The third is Aphrodite, the eternally young goddess of beauty and love. Each of the goddesses believed that the apple was destined for her. They turned to the god of thunder and lightning, Zeus, asking him to judge them. But Zeus, although he was the main god, did not want to interfere in the quarrel, because Hera was his wife, and Athena and Aphrodite were his daughters. He ordered them to turn to the Trojan prince Paris so that he would resolve the dispute about the golden apple (Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. Judgment of Paris ()

The three goddesses flew across the Aegean Sea and appeared before Paris. “Award the apple to me,” said Hera, “and I will make you the ruler of all Asia.” “If you award the apple to me,” Athena intervened, “I will help you accomplish great feats and become famous.” Aphrodite said: “Give me the apple, and I will find you the most beautiful woman in the world to marry.” Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite. From then on, she began to help him in everything, and Hera and Athena hated Paris and all the Trojans.

Elena was considered the most beautiful of women (Fig. 3). She lived in greek city Sparta and was the wife of King Menelaus who ruled there. It was as if Paris came to visit him. He was received kindly and cordially. But when the king left for several days on business, Aphrodite inspired Helen to love Paris. She forgot her husband and agreed to flee to Troy. Returning home, the king of Sparta Menelaus became furious and began to call all the kings of Greece to war against Troy. They agreed to participate in the campaign.

Rice. 3. Beautiful Elena ()

The Greeks crossed the sea on hundreds of ships and landed near Troy. Having pulled the ships ashore, they set up a camp, protecting it with a wall. Fighting began on the plain between the camp and Troy. For many years the Greeks unsuccessfully besieged Troy. The Trojan War was Mycenae's last venture. According to myths, Troy was defeated and captured by the Greeks. In reality, the city was destroyed by an earthquake around 1300 BC. e. The long war exhausted the strength of Greek cities, including Mycenae, after which their decline began.

Bibliography

1. A.A. Vigasin, G.I. Goder, I.S. Sventsitskaya. Ancient world history. 5th grade - M.: Education, 2006.
2. Nemirovsky A.I. History reading book ancient world. - M.: Education, 1991.

1. Antiquites.academic.ru ()
2. Bibliotekar.ru ()
3. Mify.org()

Homework

1. What archaeological finds indicate that Mycenae was one of the most powerful Greek cities?
2. Name the mythical and historical reasons for the start of the Trojan War.
3. Why did Mycenaean culture decline after the Trojan War?
4. How did the catchphrase “apple of discord” come about?