Tombs, graves and burial

Welcome to the Mycenaean Afterlife!

In this chapter, we are going to explore how the people of the Homeric World (specifically the Mycenaeans) buried their dead. Why does this matter? Well, the Mycenaeans didn't leave us books or diaries, so their tombs are like "time capsules." Everything they buried with their loved ones—gold, weapons, and pottery—tells us exactly what they valued, how rich they were, and what they believed about the afterlife. Don't worry if the names of the tombs sound a bit strange at first; we will break them down into easy-to-remember shapes and sizes!

1. Simple Beginnings: Cist Graves

The earliest and simplest type of Mycenaean burial was the Cist Grave.
What it looks like: Imagine a shallow pit in the ground, lined with four stone slabs to make a box shape.
How it was used: Usually, only one person was buried inside. The body was often placed in a "crouched" or fetal position.
Analogy: Think of a Cist Grave like a small stone shoebox. It’s simple, compact, and was the "standard" version of a grave before things got fancy.

2. Going Deeper: Shaft Graves

As the Mycenaeans became more powerful and wealthy, they wanted bigger graves. This led to the Shaft Grave.
What it looks like: These are much deeper than cist graves (some are up to 4 meters deep!). A narrow "shaft" was dug down, a stone chamber was built at the bottom, and then it was filled back in with earth.
Key Feature: They often used a Stele (plural: stelai), which is a decorated stone slab used as a grave marker, similar to a modern headstone.
Memory Aid: Think of an elevator shaft. It goes deep down into the ground to reach a specific "floor" where the bodies are kept.

3. The "Luxury" Tombs: Tholos and Chamber Tombs

When you were a King or a very important noble, a hole in the ground wasn't enough. You needed a Tholos Tomb.
Tholos Tombs (Beehive Tombs):
• These are famous for their beehive shape.
• They were built above ground using a technique called corbelling (stacking stones slightly inward until they meet at a point at the top).
• They have a long entrance passage called a dromos and a massive doorway called a stomion.
• Example: The Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae is the most famous tholos tomb.
Chamber Tombs:
• These were the "middle-class" version of a Tholos.
• Instead of being built up like a beehive, they were cut into the side of a hill.
• Entire families would be buried together in these over many generations.

Quick Review: The Four Tomb Types

1. Cist: Small stone box for one person.
2. Shaft: Deep hole for the wealthy.
3. Tholos: Huge beehive dome for Kings.
4. Chamber: Rock-cut family rooms in hillsides.

4. The Famous Grave Circles at Mycenae

Archaeologists found two main areas where Shaft Graves were grouped together. They are called Grave Circle A and Grave Circle B.
Grave Circle B:
• The older of the two.
• Found outside the city walls of Mycenae.
• Contains about 26 graves. It was for the early "upper class."
Grave Circle A:
• The famous one found by Heinrich Schliemann.
• It is inside the city walls (near the Lion Gate).
• It contains 6 shaft graves with 19 bodies.
• This is where the serious treasure was found!

Did you know? Even though Grave Circle A was originally outside the city, the Mycenaeans later rebuilt their walls to include it. This shows they deeply respected their royal ancestors and wanted to keep them safe inside the fortress.

5. Funerary Objects: Taking it With You

The Mycenaeans believed you could take your wealth with you. They filled graves with funerary objects. Here are the key ones you need to know for your exam:
1. Gold Death Masks: The most famous is the Mask of Agamemnon. These were thin sheets of gold pressed over the face of the dead king.
2. Weapons: Swords and Dagger blades. Look out for the Dagger blade showing a hunting scene (lions being hunted by men). It shows how much they valued being warriors.
3. Jewellery and Vessels: Gold pyxis (small boxes for trinkets) and the Gold Rhyton (a drinking cup, often shaped like a lion's head).
4. Pottery: Thousands of clay vases were found, often used for pouring libations (liquid offerings like wine) to the dead.

6. Burial Customs: The Process

What actually happened when someone died?
Step 1: Preparation. The body was washed, oiled, and dressed.
Step 2: The Procession. The body was carried to the tomb.
Step 3: The Burial. The body was laid down with its treasures.
Step 4: The Feast and Offering. A meal was often eaten at the grave site, and animal sacrifices might be made. Cups were often smashed at the entrance to "seal" the deal.
Step 5: Filling the Grave. The dromos or shaft was filled with earth to protect the treasures from grave robbers (though many were still robbed in ancient times!).

Key Takeaway Summary

Burial = Status: The bigger and more complex the tomb, the higher the status of the person.
Warrior Culture: The inclusion of swords and hunting scenes on daggers proves the Mycenaeans were a militaristic society.
Ancestor Worship: By building walls around Grave Circle A and using family Chamber Tombs, they showed that family history was incredibly important.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Thinking Grave Circle A is older than B.
Correction: Even though "A" comes first in the alphabet, Grave Circle B is actually older!
Mistake 2: Thinking the Mask of Agamemnon actually belonged to the King Agamemnon from the Trojan War.
Correction: Archaeology shows the mask is about 300 years older than when the Trojan War would have happened. Schliemann just gave it a catchy name!

Quick Memory Trick: "The Beehive King"

If you see a picture of a tomb that looks like a Tall stone Thimble, it's a Tholos.
Tall Thimble = Tholos.