Mycenaean Art

1. Period and Location: Mycenaean Art

This lesson covers the time from around 1900 to 1100 BCE, a period of about 800 years. The ancient city of Mycenae lies southwest of Athens and northwest of the island of Crete.

2. Ashlar Masonry and Corbel Vaulting

Let’s start with some key terms. Ashlar masonry consists of large, rectangular cut stones fitted together. It’s important to note that these are assembled dry, without using any kind of mortar. These enormous stones were thought to be only movable by the mythical race of Cyclops, which is why this type of construction is called cyclopean construction.

Corbel vaults are a progressive narrowing of step-like elements until they meet at the very top. While it’s a sturdy type of construction, the large blocks are cantilevered inward as the corbeling itself isn’t self-supportive like a true arch would be.

The image shown here, from a tomb of Clytemnestra in the city of Mycenae, is one of many possible variations of a corbel vault.

terms to know

Ashlar Masonry

Stonework made of large, rectangular cut stones.

Cyclopean Construction

Construction done with masonry, consisting of blocks so large that they appeared to have been built by Cyclops (a huge, one-eyed, humanoid monster).

Corbel Vault

The simplest type of vault, involving step support elements.

3. Mycenaean Art vs. Minoan Art

Unlike the palatial architecture seen on Crete, Mycenaean architecture used very thick, sturdy, fortress-like structures, differentiating it from Minoan culture.

The Lion Gate (shown below), so-called because of the carving of the two opposed lions within the corbel vault at the top, rests upon a large post and lintel opening. It was constructed for a specific purpose, as it was part of the fortification serving to funnel any attackers into the narrow space where they would be at a real disadvantage, exposed to the soldiers protecting the fortress from the top of the walls. The gate is made of cut stone and dates from around 1250 BCE.

Here is a close-up of the lion carving at the section where the corbel vaulting was used:

The next image is of another corbel vault from Tiryns, which was constructed between 1400 and 1200 BCE.

The images you’ve seen of corbeled vaults are from two different Mycenaean art structures. Notice the qualities associated with Mycenaean architecture.

Now compare them with the ruins of the palace complex at Knossos, Crete, below. There’s definitely a sense of airiness and delicacy that isn’t evident in Mycenaean architecture. This reflects the cultural disposition of Minoans as a more peaceful civilization.

4. Mycenaean Art and Tombs

The architectural elements that we see in Mycenaean royal residences are carried over into their tombs as well. Similar in some ways to Egyptian burials, Mycenaean royals were buried in large tombs with many treasures.

Take a look at the image below of an exterior view of the doorway to a tomb, the so-called Treasury of Atreus.

This structure was built between 1300 and 1200 BCE, and it was mistakenly thought to house the treasury of the King Atreus, the legendary father of the kings Agamemnon and Menelaus, who were brothers.

did you know

According to the Greek writer Homer, the abduction of Menelaus’s wife, Helen, and her supposed elopement with the Trojan prince Paris sparked the Trojan War, which Homer describes in his epic poem The Iliad.

Here is the interior of the treasury:

The interior of the treasury is actually a corbel vault buried under a mound of earth. Because of their shape, tombs such as this are referred to as beehive tombs.

For reference, here is a cross-section drawing of the tomb:

term to know

Beehive Tombs

Large, round rooms found at Mycenae.

5. Mycenaean Funerary Artwork

According to Homer, the Mycenaeans were known to be rich in gold, and we know that many artists of this time began to work with gold. An example of this is the funerary mask of Agamemnon, shown here. This type of metalwork is called repoussé.

This gold mask, made between 1600 and 1550 BCE, is an example of Mycenaean funerary artwork commonly laid over the deceased’s body. Although this piece is commonly referred to as the mask of Agamemnon, who was thought to be the king of Mycenae during the Trojan War, its true owner is a mystery. It is not possible that it belongs to Agamemnon, because it dates between 1600 and 1550 BCE, which predates the Trojan War by several hundred years.

The mask does, however, depict some interesting stylistic elements:

• Scroll-shaped ears
• Leaf-shaped shut eyes
• Thin lips and mustache
• Possible (highly stylized) representation of an actual person

big idea

The aggressive, fortress-like qualities of Mycenaean architecture are sharply contrasted with the palatial qualities of Minoan architecture.