mycenae's grave sites

Question 1

Describe grace circle A

Answer 1

-In the south west of the city
-28m in diameter
-Surrounded by a low wall
-Royal burial site
-Contained 6 shaft graves
-Deeper shaft graves than grace circle B

Question 2

Describe grave circle B

Answer 2

-2oom west of the city walls
-Contains 24 graves
-Enclosed within a stone wall
-Part of the tomb to clytemnestra was built over grave circle B

Question 3

Describe a cist grave

Answer 3

-Around 0.6m deep
-Sides were covered in slabs of stone
-Bodies were laid out in a curved position
-Most basic type of burial
-Began before mycenae age
-Originally for single usage
-Mound of earth (tumulus) on top
-Mound was reopened when needed to be used again

Question 4

Describe a shaft grave

Answer 4

-Around 2.5m deep
-Low rubble walls
-Bodies were laid on their backs
-Multiple burials were common
-Steeles would mark the grave
-Grave goods were put with the bodies

Question 5

Describe a tholos tomb

Answer 5

-Dug into a hill
-Dromos (passageway)
-Body buried in a shallow pit in a chamber with grave goods
-Highly decorated inside
-Tomb was covered with tumulus
-Dromos was filled in after burial

Question 6

Describe a chamber tomb

Answer 6

-Multiple bodies in chamber
-Dromos
-Dug out of earth
-Made for families

Question 7

What are the differences between a chamber tomb and a tholos tomb?

Answer 7

-Chamber tones do not use stones
-Tholos tombs were used between 14-13BC wheres chamber tombs were used from 14BC to the end of the era

Question 8

Describe the tombs of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus

Answer 8

-Built around 14th century BC
-West of the city]-13m diameter
-Tholos tombs
-Clytemnestra was King Agamemnon’s wife
-Aegisthus was her second husband aftr he killed Agamemnon
-Tombs had been robbed in ancient times

Question 9

Describe mycenaean burial customs

Answer 9

-Libations were left for the gods outside tholos tombs
-Wealthy bodies were clothed and adorned with jewellery
-A meal + sacrifice took place in honour of the dead
-A raised mound and steele would be placed on the grave for visibility
-Women were depicted near the body in elaborate clothing and raising their arms in grief
-People were buried in clay caskets which were painted