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Mycenae (Greek:
Μυκῆναι Mykēnai or Μυκήνη Mykēnē) is an archaeological site in Greece, located
about 90 kilometres southwest of Athens, in the north-eastern Peloponnese.
Argos is 11 kilometres to the south; Corinth, 48 kilometres to the north. From
the hill on which the palace was located, one can see across the Argolid to the
Saronic Gulf. In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centres
of Greek civilisation, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern
Greece. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is
called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel
and lower town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares.
The Lion Gate was the main entrance of the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae. It was erected during the 13th century BC in the northwest side of the acropolis and is named after the relief sculpture of two lionesses in a heraldic pose that stands above the entrance. The Lion Gate is the sole surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean sculpture, as well as the largest sculpture in the prehistoric Aegean.
The Lion Gate is a massive and imposing construction, standing 3.10 m wide and 2.95 m high at the threshold. It narrows as it rises, measuring 2.78 m below the lintel. The opening was closed by a double door mortised to a vertical beam that acted as a pivot around which the door revolved. The gate itself consists of two great monoliths capped with a huge lintel that measures 4.5×2.0×0.8 m. Above the lintel, the masonry courses form a corbelled arch, leaving an opening that lightens the weight carried by the lintel. This relieving triangle is a great limestone slab on which two confronted lionesses carved in high relief stand on either sides of a central pillar. The heads of the animals were fashioned separately and are missing. The pillar, specifically, is a Minoan-type column that is placed on top of an altar-like platform that the lionesses rest their front legs on.
Beyond the gate and inside the citadel was a covered court with a small chamber, which probably functioned as a guard post. On the right, adjacent to the wall, was a building that has been identified as a granary because of the pithoi found there containing carbonised wheat.
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.
Please link your entry using the Linky tool below:
The Lion Gate was the main entrance of the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae. It was erected during the 13th century BC in the northwest side of the acropolis and is named after the relief sculpture of two lionesses in a heraldic pose that stands above the entrance. The Lion Gate is the sole surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean sculpture, as well as the largest sculpture in the prehistoric Aegean.
The Lion Gate is a massive and imposing construction, standing 3.10 m wide and 2.95 m high at the threshold. It narrows as it rises, measuring 2.78 m below the lintel. The opening was closed by a double door mortised to a vertical beam that acted as a pivot around which the door revolved. The gate itself consists of two great monoliths capped with a huge lintel that measures 4.5×2.0×0.8 m. Above the lintel, the masonry courses form a corbelled arch, leaving an opening that lightens the weight carried by the lintel. This relieving triangle is a great limestone slab on which two confronted lionesses carved in high relief stand on either sides of a central pillar. The heads of the animals were fashioned separately and are missing. The pillar, specifically, is a Minoan-type column that is placed on top of an altar-like platform that the lionesses rest their front legs on.
Beyond the gate and inside the citadel was a covered court with a small chamber, which probably functioned as a guard post. On the right, adjacent to the wall, was a building that has been identified as a granary because of the pithoi found there containing carbonised wheat.
This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.
Please link your entry using the Linky tool below:
...so you shared light! P.
ReplyDeleteCan imagine that in those times 30.000 was considered a city! Am in awe of the size of the stones in the wall.
ReplyDeleteFascinating. TFS!
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the mystery beautifully of what might lie the other side of the gate.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photo! Always knew of this city from Homer's "Iliad". Wonderful to see it has survived so many centuries later.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how well the wall and carvings have stood up to the test of the time. Great photo.
ReplyDelete