The most famous Minoan myth is that of Theseus and the Minotaur. Is the story completely made up, a fabrication? Or is it possible that there might be an element of truth in the story?
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Year 9
Unit 1 - Bronze Age Greece
Lesson 1 - Minoan Civilisation
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100 years ago the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans conducted the first extensive archaeological excavation of Knossos of the island of Crete and uncovered evidence of Europe’s oldest civilised community. He called the civilisation ‘Minoan’, after a legendary Cretan king called Minos.
Minoan civilisation lasted from approximately 2700 to 1450 B.C. This period was during the Aegean Bronze Age. Bronze Age is regarded as the second part of a three-age system for prehistoric societies. (Stone Age comes before and Iron Age after). People had learned to mix copper with a little tin to make a metal called bronze. Sharper and stronger tools could be made with bronze. This made farming and building easier and better than ever before. |
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The farmers in Crete soon began to produce much more food than they needed for themselves. This meant that they could exchange surplus food for other things produced by other people. There was no need now for everyone to produce food for a living. Some people began to work as craftsmen or builders or artists. Trade developed with other lands. Towns and palaces were built and fine arts and crafts were produced.
In the late 1960s, BBC television invited the scientist Jacob Bronowski to explain the history the stages of human development in a series of documentaries. The following two short extracts provide an excellent introduction to the neolithic farming revolution and the importance of the Bronze age.
In the late 1960s, BBC television invited the scientist Jacob Bronowski to explain the history the stages of human development in a series of documentaries. The following two short extracts provide an excellent introduction to the neolithic farming revolution and the importance of the Bronze age.
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Written Language
The Minoans were the first ‘historical’ people of Europe because they developed a form of writing. This system is known as Linear A because the symbols consist of lines rather than pictures. Linear A was written on clay tablets which were then left in the Sun to dry. (See right) They were reusable - adding water would soften the clay allowing the tablet to be erased. Luckily for us, some tablets were in buildings which burnt down. The fire hardened the tablets so that they survived, although we don't know what they mean. Other Evidence Since organic evidence has generally decomposed over time, the most important surviving Minoan art is in ceramics (pottery), architecture with frescos (paintings on plaster) that include landscapes, and stone carvings. We know from ancient wall paintings how the Minoans dressed. The men seem to have worn short kilts which were probably made of wool or linen. |
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Women dressed more elaborately in brightly-coloured long dresses with tight tops (perhaps the first fitted garments in history) or they were open to the navel allowing their breasts to be left exposed, perhaps during ceremonial occasions (see below). It must be remembered that other forms of dress may have been worn for which we have no record.
Minoan Religion
The Minoans seem to have been a very religious people. They believed in several Gods and Goddesses (female Gods) and the Goddesses appear to have been the more important. There were priests and priestesses to carry out sacred ceremonies. There were sacred symbols which the people regarded as important. One such symbol was the double-headed axe or ‘labrys’. (below) Another was the image of a bull's horns. The bull was a sacred animal to the Minoans.
The Minoans seem to have been a very religious people. They believed in several Gods and Goddesses (female Gods) and the Goddesses appear to have been the more important. There were priests and priestesses to carry out sacred ceremonies. There were sacred symbols which the people regarded as important. One such symbol was the double-headed axe or ‘labrys’. (below) Another was the image of a bull's horns. The bull was a sacred animal to the Minoans.
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One amazing Minoan activity was bull-leaping. This appears to have been a mixture of a very dangerous sport and a religious ceremony. Young men and women would grasp the horns of a bull as it charged towards them. They would then leap over the head of the bull, on to its back and then on to the ground.
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Activities
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Lesson 2 - Minoan Myths
A myth is a sacred story or narrative explaining how the world and humankind came to be in their present form. More generally the word myth can refer to any traditional story. The main characters in myths are usually gods or supernatural heroes. In the society in which it is told, a myth is usually regarded as a true account of the far distant past. They explain how the world gained its current form and how customs and institutions were established. In some ways therefore myths are similar to history. But they are also very different. Unlike history, myths need not be based on historical evidence of established facts. One of the most famous Greek myths concerns Theseus and the Minotaur
Once upon a time, King Minos of Crete refused to sacrifice a special bull to the Gods. This made the Gods furious. To get revenge on Minos, they made his wife give birth to a baby which was part human and part bull - a monster which was called a Minotaur. To make things worse, the little beast would eat nothing but humans. Poor Minos did not know quite what to do about this rapidly growing (and very hungry) son. So beneath his palace he built a dark maze called a labyrinth. There the terrible Minotaur was hidden away from the world.
Minos had another son who was a great athlete and who went off to Athens to take part in the games there. He won many prizes, but this did not do him much good. The nasty Athenian athletes were so jealous that they had the poor fellow murdered. When Minos heard of this he went crazy with rage (who could blame him - one son dead and the other a monster!) and sent a mighty army to Athens to seek revenge. He defeated the Athenians and then forced the King of Athens - Aegeus - to send him seven young men and seven young women every nine years. These poor teenagers were locked up in the maze where they were hunted, killed and eaten by the hungry minotaur.
Aegeus (the Athenian king) had a son called Theseus, who is the hero of our story. Theseus seems to have been very brave or else completely crazy- He persuaded his father to let him be taken to the labyrinth in Crete, where he promised he would kill the minotaur. Poor Aegeus was very upset, but he could not stop his son. Theseus promised that, if he succeeded in killing the Minotaur, he would return to Athens with white sails on his ship instead of the usual black ones. Aegeas said he would wait eagerly for the sight of these white sails.
When Theseus arrived at Knossos, everyone was impressed by his princely appearance. The daughter of the King of Crete, a princess called Ariadne, did what most princesses do in such stories: she fell instantly in love with Theseus. That evening, she drugged the soldiers guarding him and gave him a long and a short sword. She also gave him a coil of thread, (a clew) which would help him to find his way out of the 'labyrinth'.
Then she led him to the entrance of the maze, opened the door and let him in. Theseus tied one end of the thread to the entrance door of the labyrinth and made his way through the gloomy maze. The floor was covered in human bones -the remains of the many people eaten by the Minotaur. Heavy footsteps approached. Theseus hid and waited. Suddenly a huge, roaring giant appeared. He had the body of a man, the head of a bull and the long sharp teeth of a lion. Theseus was terrified, but he rushed out suddenly and slashed the back of the Minotaur's knees with the short sword. The monster collapsed to the ground in agony. Theseus stuck his long sword into the unfortunate Minotaur s heart, killing him instantly. He then began to hack the Minotaur' head from his body.
Theseus followed the thread to return to the entrance of the labyrinth. From there, Ariadne brought him to Minos and Theseus threw the head at the king's feet. The King was so impressed with Theseus' bravery that he allowed him to marry Ariadne and return with her to Athens. You might think that the story ended there with the happy couple sailing into the sunset. But no!
On the way to Athens, they visited the island of Naxos, where the princess mysteriously disappeared. Theseus left Naxos in such a state of shock that he completely forgot his promise to his father to change the sails in his ship to white ones. Old Aegeus was waiting on the sea cliffs, when he saw in the distance his son's returning ship. Its sails were black! With a terrible scream of despair, Aegeas threw himself from the rocky cliff.
Minos had another son who was a great athlete and who went off to Athens to take part in the games there. He won many prizes, but this did not do him much good. The nasty Athenian athletes were so jealous that they had the poor fellow murdered. When Minos heard of this he went crazy with rage (who could blame him - one son dead and the other a monster!) and sent a mighty army to Athens to seek revenge. He defeated the Athenians and then forced the King of Athens - Aegeus - to send him seven young men and seven young women every nine years. These poor teenagers were locked up in the maze where they were hunted, killed and eaten by the hungry minotaur.
Aegeus (the Athenian king) had a son called Theseus, who is the hero of our story. Theseus seems to have been very brave or else completely crazy- He persuaded his father to let him be taken to the labyrinth in Crete, where he promised he would kill the minotaur. Poor Aegeus was very upset, but he could not stop his son. Theseus promised that, if he succeeded in killing the Minotaur, he would return to Athens with white sails on his ship instead of the usual black ones. Aegeas said he would wait eagerly for the sight of these white sails.
When Theseus arrived at Knossos, everyone was impressed by his princely appearance. The daughter of the King of Crete, a princess called Ariadne, did what most princesses do in such stories: she fell instantly in love with Theseus. That evening, she drugged the soldiers guarding him and gave him a long and a short sword. She also gave him a coil of thread, (a clew) which would help him to find his way out of the 'labyrinth'.
Then she led him to the entrance of the maze, opened the door and let him in. Theseus tied one end of the thread to the entrance door of the labyrinth and made his way through the gloomy maze. The floor was covered in human bones -the remains of the many people eaten by the Minotaur. Heavy footsteps approached. Theseus hid and waited. Suddenly a huge, roaring giant appeared. He had the body of a man, the head of a bull and the long sharp teeth of a lion. Theseus was terrified, but he rushed out suddenly and slashed the back of the Minotaur's knees with the short sword. The monster collapsed to the ground in agony. Theseus stuck his long sword into the unfortunate Minotaur s heart, killing him instantly. He then began to hack the Minotaur' head from his body.
Theseus followed the thread to return to the entrance of the labyrinth. From there, Ariadne brought him to Minos and Theseus threw the head at the king's feet. The King was so impressed with Theseus' bravery that he allowed him to marry Ariadne and return with her to Athens. You might think that the story ended there with the happy couple sailing into the sunset. But no!
On the way to Athens, they visited the island of Naxos, where the princess mysteriously disappeared. Theseus left Naxos in such a state of shock that he completely forgot his promise to his father to change the sails in his ship to white ones. Old Aegeus was waiting on the sea cliffs, when he saw in the distance his son's returning ship. Its sails were black! With a terrible scream of despair, Aegeas threw himself from the rocky cliff.
Can there be any truth in the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur?
Where the word 'Minoan' came from, myths and history.
King Minos was associated in Greek myth with the labyrinth, the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans identified Minos with the site at Knossos. We do not know for certain if there was actually such a person as Minos or if all Cretan kings were called ‘Minos’ (just as all the ancient Egyptian rulers were called ‘Pharaoh’). The legend or myth below tells how Minos came to be born. Of course it is not true. But, like most legends, it makes interesting reading.
King Minos was associated in Greek myth with the labyrinth, the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans identified Minos with the site at Knossos. We do not know for certain if there was actually such a person as Minos or if all Cretan kings were called ‘Minos’ (just as all the ancient Egyptian rulers were called ‘Pharaoh’). The legend or myth below tells how Minos came to be born. Of course it is not true. But, like most legends, it makes interesting reading.
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The Legend of Minos' birth
Long, long ago there lived a princess called Europa. She was so beautiful that Zeus, the leader of all the Gods, fell madly in love with her. Zeus was already married to a Goddess. But that did not stop him having love affairs with anyone he fancied- So the God turned himself into a big bull and carried Europa away. With the princess clinging to his back, he swam all the way across the sea from mainland Greece to Crete. Zeus and Europa later had three sons. One of these was Minos. |
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Three facts:
Bulls were very important to Minoan culture and many images and statues of bull’s heads have been found. The palace at Knossos contained so many rooms and passages that it must have been easy to get lost. The palace was decorated with images of the double-headed axe or labrys . Therefore the palace could be called ‘the palace of the labrys’ or labyrinth. |
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Activities
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Lesson 3 - Minoan Demise
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In about 1450 BC the Minoan civilisation came to a sudden end. Historians do not know for certain what caused the sudden collapse and there are a number of different interpretations.
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Theory 1 – Volcanic eruption
The Minoan eruption on the island of Thira occurred at a similar time to that of the Minoan decline. Thira is the present-day island Santorini which is a caldera about 100 km from Crete with an area of approximately 73 km2. This eruption was the second largest volcanic explosion in the history of civilization, ejecting approximately 60 km3 of material. Ash from the volcano fell on Crete and choked off plant life, causing the starvation of the local population. The ash also possibly caused a dramatic change in the climate which made the crops fail. Theory 2 – Earthquake Terrible earthquakes took place under the sea to the north of Crete. They flattened or seriously damaged the Minoan palaces and towns. The earthquakes also helped to cause huge tsunamis or tidal waves, which swept southwards across the sea to the coast of Crete. The huge waves smashed houses, flooded farms and drowned people and cattle. |
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Two of the earth's crustal plates collide under the Mediterranean and that the heavier African Plate moves slowly under the lighter Eurasian Plate. It was this plate-movement which caused the earthquakes to take place (it also caused the island of Thira to be wrecked by a volcanic explosion). The earthquakes and volcanic explosion then caused the tidal waves. Some historians believe this is the origin of the myth of the city of Atlantis.
Theory 3 – Invasion
The historian Sinclair Hood argued that the destruction of the Minoans was most likely due to an invading force of soldiers. Archaeological evidence suggests that the destruction of the island appears to be a result of fire damage. Hood notes that the palace at Knossos appears to have experienced less damage than other sites along the island of Crete. Because natural disasters do not choose targets, it is most likely that the destruction was a product of invaders, for these people would have seen the usefulness of a palace centre like Knossos.
Whatever the reasons, Crete had lost its power. Instead, people on the Greek mainland became powerful. These mainland people are often referred to generally as Mycenaeans. We will learn about those people in our next lesson.
The historian Sinclair Hood argued that the destruction of the Minoans was most likely due to an invading force of soldiers. Archaeological evidence suggests that the destruction of the island appears to be a result of fire damage. Hood notes that the palace at Knossos appears to have experienced less damage than other sites along the island of Crete. Because natural disasters do not choose targets, it is most likely that the destruction was a product of invaders, for these people would have seen the usefulness of a palace centre like Knossos.
Whatever the reasons, Crete had lost its power. Instead, people on the Greek mainland became powerful. These mainland people are often referred to generally as Mycenaeans. We will learn about those people in our next lesson.
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Activities
1. Explain what is meant by ‘historical interpretation’. 2. Explain the volcanic eruption theory for Minoan demise. As part of your explanation draw a map of the island Thira, of how you imagine it may have looked before and after the eruption. 3. Explain the earthquake theory for Minoan demise. As part of your explanation draw a diagram to show how the movement of continental plates causes earthquakes in the region. 4. Explain the invasion theory for Minoan demise. Explain why archaeologists believe Minoan demise is not explained by earthquakes and volcanoes alone. Extension activity Watch this longer film 'Atlantis' that explains in more detail the most recent thinking about Minoan demise. |
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Lesson 4 - The Mycenaeans
From about 1600 to 1200 BC, Greece was dominated by people known as the Mycenaeans. Unlike the Minoans, these people came from the mainland of what is now Greece and Turkey. Most Mycenaeans had similar religious beliefs and customs and they all spoke an early form of the Greek language. But they were not all ruled by the same leader or the same government. They lived in many small, separate kingdoms, each of which was centred on a city. The first of these cities to be re-discovered was Mycenae. That is why these people are referred to generally as Mycenaeans.
Mycenaean cities
The Mycenaeans were careful where they built their cities. They usually built them on or around hills, so that they could be easily defended in times of war. This type of city was known as an acropolis ‘high city’. The city of Mycenae was surrounded by a defensive stone wall which was up to seven metres thick.
Each Mycenaean city contained many houses, craftsmen's workshops and even tombs. It also contained storerooms where agricultural produce from the surrounding countryside was kept. But the most important building in each city would be the royal palace, where the king and his family lived. The palace might contain several separate buildings around a central courtyard. It would be brightly painted and its walls would contain many frescoes. Each palace would have a large hall called a megaron. From here, the king would rule his little kingdom.
The Mycenaeans were careful where they built their cities. They usually built them on or around hills, so that they could be easily defended in times of war. This type of city was known as an acropolis ‘high city’. The city of Mycenae was surrounded by a defensive stone wall which was up to seven metres thick.
Each Mycenaean city contained many houses, craftsmen's workshops and even tombs. It also contained storerooms where agricultural produce from the surrounding countryside was kept. But the most important building in each city would be the royal palace, where the king and his family lived. The palace might contain several separate buildings around a central courtyard. It would be brightly painted and its walls would contain many frescoes. Each palace would have a large hall called a megaron. From here, the king would rule his little kingdom.
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To the left the acropolis of Midea as seen in an example of aerial archaeology and to the right an artist's reconstruction.
Warriors
Quite unlike the Minoans, whose society benefited from trade, the Mycenaeans advanced through conquest. The Mycenaeans seem to have been a very warlike people and Mycenaean states frequently fought with each other. The ruler of each state had to supply his soldiers with food, housing and even slaves. Many warriors lived within the royal palace. Archaeologists have found the remains of the armour and weapons in the tombs of kings and important warriors. Most soldiers wore leather helmets. The helmets were fastened under the chin and protected the cheeks as well as the head. Ordinary soldiers wore leather tunics to protect themselves. Soldiers carried shields, which were made of a wooden frame with leather stretched over it. Soldiers were usually armed with spears. Richer and more important soldiers wore bronze helmets and armour and sometimes fought from chariots with specially trained drivers.
Quite unlike the Minoans, whose society benefited from trade, the Mycenaeans advanced through conquest. The Mycenaeans seem to have been a very warlike people and Mycenaean states frequently fought with each other. The ruler of each state had to supply his soldiers with food, housing and even slaves. Many warriors lived within the royal palace. Archaeologists have found the remains of the armour and weapons in the tombs of kings and important warriors. Most soldiers wore leather helmets. The helmets were fastened under the chin and protected the cheeks as well as the head. Ordinary soldiers wore leather tunics to protect themselves. Soldiers carried shields, which were made of a wooden frame with leather stretched over it. Soldiers were usually armed with spears. Richer and more important soldiers wore bronze helmets and armour and sometimes fought from chariots with specially trained drivers.
Above, Mycenaean soldiers as shown in pottery from the time. To the right, a modern artist's model reconstruction.
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Religion
The Mycenaeans certainly believed in life after death. They buried their leaders in very elaborate tombs and placed many of their belongings with them for use in the afterlife. Some royal tombs contained so many valuable goods that later historians first thought that they were treasure stores. Like the Minoans of old, they had several gods and goddesses. Like the Minoans, they seem to have believed that the goddesses were the more important.
This image comes from a gold death mask found in a royal Mycenaean tomb. The 'Mask of Agamemnon' is an artefact discovered in Mycenae in 1876 by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (see next lesson). This mask is made of pure gold and would have been placed over the face of the dead king and would have been a sort of portrait of the king's face. What clues does the mask give us about the appearance of Mycenaean men? Archaeologists now believe that this is not the mask of King Agamemnon, but dates from an earlier era.
The Mycenaeans certainly believed in life after death. They buried their leaders in very elaborate tombs and placed many of their belongings with them for use in the afterlife. Some royal tombs contained so many valuable goods that later historians first thought that they were treasure stores. Like the Minoans of old, they had several gods and goddesses. Like the Minoans, they seem to have believed that the goddesses were the more important.
This image comes from a gold death mask found in a royal Mycenaean tomb. The 'Mask of Agamemnon' is an artefact discovered in Mycenae in 1876 by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (see next lesson). This mask is made of pure gold and would have been placed over the face of the dead king and would have been a sort of portrait of the king's face. What clues does the mask give us about the appearance of Mycenaean men? Archaeologists now believe that this is not the mask of King Agamemnon, but dates from an earlier era.
Activities
- Explain what is meant by the words in bold: acropolis, megaron, slaves, tombs and death mask.
- What were Mycenaean cities like? What evidence is there that these cities were designed to protect the inhabitants?
- How did Mycenaean’s civilisation contrast with the Minoan? What evidence is there that the Mycenaeans were a ‘war like’ people?
- What evidence do we have that Mycenaeans were a religious people?
Lesson 5 - Troy
There are many Greek legends about the ancient Mycenaeans. Perhaps the most famous of these tells of how the love-life of a beautiful princess resulted in a terrible war between Mycenae and the city state of Troy.
There was once a very, very beautiful princess called Helen of Sparta. She was married to Menelaus, the brother of King Agamemnon of Mycenae and they lived together quite happily in Menelaus palace.
All the trouble began when Paris, a prince from Troy, came to visit the palace. He was madly in love with the beautiful Helen, who had been 'promised' to him by the Goddess of love (whose name was Aphrodite), as a reward for having chosen Aphrodite as the most beautiful of all goddesses during a 'Miss Goddess' contest. One day, while Menelaus was away from home, Paris and Helen sneaked off together and sailed away to live in Paris' city of Troy. Menelaus was furious when he learned that his wife had gone off with the treacherous Paris, Menelaus' brother, the King, was equally furious. Together they organised a great army of Mycenaeans and other mainland Greeks and set off for Troy. They were determined to get Helen back and to teach the Trojans a lesson that they would never forget.
Troy - a well defended city with tall, thick walls -could not be easily captured. So the Greeks laid siege to the city. They surrounded it in the hope that they could eventually make it surrender. For ten long years the siege went on. Many battles were fought outside its walls. Deeds of great bravery (and of great savagery) were carried out by both sides. But, no matter what they did, the Greeks could not capture the city. Then a Greek called Odysseus thought of a trick...
All the trouble began when Paris, a prince from Troy, came to visit the palace. He was madly in love with the beautiful Helen, who had been 'promised' to him by the Goddess of love (whose name was Aphrodite), as a reward for having chosen Aphrodite as the most beautiful of all goddesses during a 'Miss Goddess' contest. One day, while Menelaus was away from home, Paris and Helen sneaked off together and sailed away to live in Paris' city of Troy. Menelaus was furious when he learned that his wife had gone off with the treacherous Paris, Menelaus' brother, the King, was equally furious. Together they organised a great army of Mycenaeans and other mainland Greeks and set off for Troy. They were determined to get Helen back and to teach the Trojans a lesson that they would never forget.
Troy - a well defended city with tall, thick walls -could not be easily captured. So the Greeks laid siege to the city. They surrounded it in the hope that they could eventually make it surrender. For ten long years the siege went on. Many battles were fought outside its walls. Deeds of great bravery (and of great savagery) were carried out by both sides. But, no matter what they did, the Greeks could not capture the city. Then a Greek called Odysseus thought of a trick...
Troy rediscovered?
The story of the Trojan War was told in an ancient epic poem called The Iliad by a famous poet named Homer. Most people assumed that there was no truth at all in the old legend and that there had never been such a city at Troy. There was one nineteenth century German archaeologist, however, who was convinced that there was some truth in the story. The archaeologist's name was Heinrich Schliemann.
Guided by the descriptions in Homer's poem, Schliemann and his team began digging for Troy in AD 1870 in a place called Hisarlik in modern Turkey. This 'dig' was an archaeological excavation. Everyone was astonished when they found the remains of an ancient city. Schliemann was a pioneer archaeologist, but he was also an amateur. His work has been subject to criticism by modern professional archaeologists because his haste to find evidence of Troy led him to unintentionally destroy important archaeological evidence. However, was it not for Schliemann and more importantly his money, the site at Hisarlik may never have been uncovered.
The story of the Trojan War was told in an ancient epic poem called The Iliad by a famous poet named Homer. Most people assumed that there was no truth at all in the old legend and that there had never been such a city at Troy. There was one nineteenth century German archaeologist, however, who was convinced that there was some truth in the story. The archaeologist's name was Heinrich Schliemann.
Guided by the descriptions in Homer's poem, Schliemann and his team began digging for Troy in AD 1870 in a place called Hisarlik in modern Turkey. This 'dig' was an archaeological excavation. Everyone was astonished when they found the remains of an ancient city. Schliemann was a pioneer archaeologist, but he was also an amateur. His work has been subject to criticism by modern professional archaeologists because his haste to find evidence of Troy led him to unintentionally destroy important archaeological evidence. However, was it not for Schliemann and more importantly his money, the site at Hisarlik may never have been uncovered.
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Schliemann famously uncovered gold jewellery at the site and had his wife photographed wearing the ‘Jewels of Helen’ (right). It generated a lot of publicity but in reality, the gold came from a much earlier period. Part of what makes the excavation of Hisarlik difficult is that there are at least nine cities built on top of one another. This makes it difficult to distinguish one civilisation from the next. (see below)
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The most recent excavation began in 2006 and continues today (see the film below). Possible evidence of a battle was recently found in the form of arrowheads found in layers dated to the early 12th century BC, the time of the Trojan wars. Other corroborative evidence has also been found in the writings of the Hittites, an empire to the east of Hisarlik. Geophysical surveys also support the view that this was a large city.
It seems possible, therefore, that Troy really did exist and that it met a violent end. Whether or not there was a wooden horse, a Helen, a Paris or even a siege, we shall probably never know.
It seems possible, therefore, that Troy really did exist and that it met a violent end. Whether or not there was a wooden horse, a Helen, a Paris or even a siege, we shall probably never know.
The end of Mycenaean rule.
The break-up of Mycenaean culture and rule did not come suddenly as in the case of the Minoans. It happened gradually round the thirteenth century BC and seems to have been caused by several successive years of bad harvests. With the decline of the Mycenaean civilisation in the twelfth century BC, Greece entered into what has been called "the Dark Ages". This period lasted from about 1100 to about 800 BC. It is called the Dark Ages because historians are "in the dark’ (which means they know little) about what went on during this period. There are perhaps three reasons for this:
It seems clear that there was a general decline in Greek influence and civilisation during the Dark Ages. One reason for this was the frequent wars in which Greek tribes fought each other at this time. Farming communities were destroyed and entire tribes were driven from their homes to other parts of the country.
The break-up of Mycenaean culture and rule did not come suddenly as in the case of the Minoans. It happened gradually round the thirteenth century BC and seems to have been caused by several successive years of bad harvests. With the decline of the Mycenaean civilisation in the twelfth century BC, Greece entered into what has been called "the Dark Ages". This period lasted from about 1100 to about 800 BC. It is called the Dark Ages because historians are "in the dark’ (which means they know little) about what went on during this period. There are perhaps three reasons for this:
- The art of writing was lost among the Greeks during this time.
- During this time, few people built strong, stone buildings that lasted.
- Trade seems to have declined during the Dark Ages. We therefore know little about the Greeks from the records of their trading partners.
It seems clear that there was a general decline in Greek influence and civilisation during the Dark Ages. One reason for this was the frequent wars in which Greek tribes fought each other at this time. Farming communities were destroyed and entire tribes were driven from their homes to other parts of the country.
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Activities
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Extension
There is an exhibition currently at the British Museum about ancient Greece. This article in The Guardian is about the exhibition and focuses on Helen of Troy.
There is an exhibition currently at the British Museum about ancient Greece. This article in The Guardian is about the exhibition and focuses on Helen of Troy.
End of Unit Test
As we come to the end of the unit, it is time to test what you have understood. You will need to read through the lessons above and the questions you have been asked to make sure everything is understood. There is a quiz below to test you on what you know, but it won't work on an iPad.
Go to end of unit test 1
Go to end of unit test 1