2.4 The Contents Of The Grave Of Grave Circle A And Grave Circle B At Mycane

Question 1

Which grave circle had more impressive things ?

Answer 1

Grave circle A although B did contain some spectacular pieces

Question 2

What where two different types of things found at grave circle A

Answer 2

Two gold death masks
Gold cup with Repousse spirals
Gold necklace
Bronze dagger with blade inlaid with gold spirals

Question 3

What is the most important death mask ? Where as it found

Answer 3

Gold death mask of Agamemnon
Found at grave circle A, Shaft grave V in Mycenae

Question 4

Give some key pints for the mask of Agamemnon such as the materials and techniques used

Answer 4

Materials- sheets of gold
Technique- Repousse and hammering
Significance- shows techniques in metal working and burial customs
Due to the extreme quality of the mask it definitely belonged to a ruler maybe not Agamemnon tho

Question 5

What might the holes on the side of the mask indicate ?

Answer 5

A price of twine would be used to fix the mask to the deceased

Question 6

What is the size and weight of the mask and what does this indicate ?

Answer 6

Size 17 cm height by 25cm width
Weighing 168g
Indicates the thinness of the gold and the expert level craftsmanship required to put such detail on a mask

Question 7

What did grave circle B contain ?

Answer 7

A rock crystal vessel with a handle
- most likely from Crete as many similar objects have been found from Minoan times
- beautifully intricate with a duck shaped handle and a wide base the artist has captured a truly stunning amount of detail on such a price