The Mycenaean Civilization 🏺
The golden mask of the Mycenaean king Agamemnon
Civilization _ Mycenaean Mycenas —the earliest archaeological site of this civilization to be excavated—was an important Bronze Age civilization that developed from southern mainland Greece between 1650 and 1100 BC. JC. They are, with the Minoan civilization (2700-1200 BC), what could be considered as the ancestors of classical Greek civilization .
A civilization which existed at the time of the heroes, of the Iliad of Homer, of Troy, of Agamemnon or even of Hector and Achilles. But who was the civilization Myc enienne?
A civilization which existed at the time of the heroes, of the Iliad of Homer, of Troy, of Agamemnon or even of Hector and Achilles. But who was the civilization Myc enienne?
The Gate of the Lionesses in Mycenae (1250 BC)
Greece and the Aegean Sea in the Bronze Age (2700-900 BC), was dominated by three cultural areas:
During the first half of the second millennium BC. JC, the Helladic cultural air appears as less complex and developed than the other two.
Nevertheless, this began to change over the centuries and with an important demographic, economic, political and cultural development, from 1700/1650 BC. JC.
A development which will herald the emergence of the Mycenaean civilization and important cities such as Mycenae , Thebes or Pylos (whose mythical king Nestor appears in the Iliad and The Odyssey of Homer ).
- The Cycladic culture , located in the Cyclades (3200-1050 BC)
- The Minoan culture , in Crete, where the civilization Minoan (2700-1200 BC)
- The Helladic culture , sometimes called the Age Enian Myc , located in the southern part of mainland Greece (3000-1050 BC)
During the first half of the second millennium BC. JC, the Helladic cultural air appears as less complex and developed than the other two.
Nevertheless, this began to change over the centuries and with an important demographic, economic, political and cultural development, from 1700/1650 BC. JC.
A development which will herald the emergence of the Mycenaean civilization and important cities such as Mycenae , Thebes or Pylos (whose mythical king Nestor appears in the Iliad and The Odyssey of Homer ).
The capture of Troy, Jean Maublanc (1582-1628).
Little by little, the Mycians thus extended their influence throughout mainland Greece, then to the Cyclades, Crete and the Aegean Sea.
Indeed, the Mycians settled in Crete, at the heart of civilization Minoan , in 1450 BC. JC. The Minoan civilization from which they will draw much inspiration during the following centuries. Indeed, following this installation, the Minoan civilization will gradually disappear in favor of the civilization Myc énienne, but its culture will remain and will be integrated into the culture of the Myc éniens.
Minoan art, architecture, and religious practices were thus assimilated into the Mycian culture .
From 1400 to 1200 BC. JC, civilization Myc énienne is then at its peak. An era that will remain engraved in the Greeks of the archaic and classical periods that will succeed them, through for example the famous epics of Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey) and the Trojan War .
The legendary kings Agamemnon and Menelaus or the famous heroes Achilles and Ulysses are thus Mycenaean Greeks . And it is the latter who will conquer Troy.
Indeed, the Mycians settled in Crete, at the heart of civilization Minoan , in 1450 BC. JC. The Minoan civilization from which they will draw much inspiration during the following centuries. Indeed, following this installation, the Minoan civilization will gradually disappear in favor of the civilization Myc énienne, but its culture will remain and will be integrated into the culture of the Myc éniens.
Minoan art, architecture, and religious practices were thus assimilated into the Mycian culture .
From 1400 to 1200 BC. JC, civilization Myc énienne is then at its peak. An era that will remain engraved in the Greeks of the archaic and classical periods that will succeed them, through for example the famous epics of Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey) and the Trojan War .
The legendary kings Agamemnon and Menelaus or the famous heroes Achilles and Ulysses are thus Mycenaean Greeks . And it is the latter who will conquer Troy.
Tomb of Agamemnon, Mycenae.
The Mycenaeans spoke archaic Greek, and also had a script, Linear B (related to the Minoan script, Linear A).
Then, from 1200 BC. JC, without anyone really knowing why, civilization Myc Enian began a period of decline with the gradual abandonment of these cities, and the disappearance of this civilization around 1100 BC. JC.
The explanation surely lies in a combination of multiple causes and natural, social and political factors.
Following this mysterious end of civilization Aenean Mycosis and the Bronze Age, in ancient Greece then began a period of decline which was called the “ Dark Ages ” (the dark centuries). A period that goes from 1100 BC. JC to 750 BC. JC, and from which will be born the Greek civilization in its “classical” form.
The explanation surely lies in a combination of multiple causes and natural, social and political factors.
Following this mysterious end of civilization Aenean Mycosis and the Bronze Age, in ancient Greece then began a period of decline which was called the “ Dark Ages ” (the dark centuries). A period that goes from 1100 BC. JC to 750 BC. JC, and from which will be born the Greek civilization in its “classical” form.
