ARTHIST 101D Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Atreus, Discharging Arch, Niello
10 May 2018
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Lecture 9: Mycenaean Art (Fortified militant culture, wide networks of trade, linear B of script)
January 30, 2015
Linear B tablet (1400-1600 BCE)
Excavated by Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890)
Tyrins (1400-1200 BCE)
Located on an elevated plateau
Fortified – much more militaristic culture
Highly controlled, many gates leading up to the megaron (center of the palace)
Megalithic walls with corbel vault (vault: stone-covered space covered by rock)
Cyclopean masonry – giant-ass rocks
Mycenae
Treasury of Atreus
The lion gate
Grave circle A (series of shaft graves enclosed by a stone wall)
Megaron shape in Mycenae is similar to megaton in Tyrins
The Lion Gate (1300-1250 BCE)
At Mycenae
Coursing (shaping rocks); ashlar masonry – uniform rock shapes and assemblage
o Ashlar vs. rubble
Work probably done by slaves
Post and lintel
Corbeling – pushing the rocks towards the center
Column reminiscent of the Knossos column
Tholos Tombs (1300-1250 BCE)
One of the more important Tholos Tombs: Treasury of Atreus
Mycenae
Corbel vault, relieving triangle, lintel
Inlaid dagger
Bronze, gold, silver, niello
The grave circle adjacent from Lion Gate
Funerary mask from grave circle A (1600-1500 BCE)
Repousse technique: molding gold over a wooden mold
Inlaid dagger, bronze, gold, silver, niello (a kind of metal alloy)
Representations of man seem to be similar to Minoan art – evidence of trade and influence
Think back to the skull covered with plaster in Jericho
The Vapheio Cups (1600-1500 BCE)
Technique may be hammering gold over a plaster or wood mold
Modeling of muscles, springiness and litheness
Ivory figurines from Mycenae (1400-1250 BCE)
Reminiscent of snake goddess from Crete
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Document Summary
Lecture 9: mycenaean art (fortified militant culture, wide networks of trade, linear b of script) Highly controlled, many gates leading up to the megaron (center of the palace) Megalithic walls with corbel vault (vault: stone-covered space covered by rock) Grave circle a (series of shaft graves enclosed by a stone wall) Megaron shape in mycenae is similar to megaton in tyrins. Coursing (shaping rocks); ashlar masonry uniform rock shapes and assemblage. Corbeling pushing the rocks towards the center. One of the more important tholos tombs: treasury of atreus. Inlaid dagger, bronze, gold, silver, niello (a kind of metal alloy) Funerary mask from grave circle a (1600-1500 bce) Repousse technique: molding gold over a wooden mold. Representations of man seem to be similar to minoan art evidence of trade and influence. Think back to the skull covered with plaster in jericho. Technique may be hammering gold over a plaster or wood mold. Importance of war and conquest in the society.
