Introduction: The Glitz and Glamour of the Mycenaean World
Welcome to your study of Decorative Arts! While we often think of the Homeric world through epic battles and long journeys, the Mycenaeans were also incredible artists. In this chapter, we will look at how they decorated their homes, what kind of jewellery they wore, and the beautiful objects they used every day.
Understanding their art is important because it shows us what they valued (like hunting and nature) and how wealthy and connected they were to the rest of the world. Don't worry if some of the technical terms look a bit strange at first—we'll break them down step-by-step!
1. Frescoes: Painting on the Walls
A fresco is a type of wall painting. The Mycenaeans didn't just hang pictures; they painted directly onto the walls of their palaces to make them look grand.
How were they made? (The Technique)
The Mycenaeans used a technique called buon fresco (which means 'true fresco').
1. First, they applied thick lime plaster to the wall.
2. While the plaster was still wet, the artist painted on it.
3. As the plaster dried, the paint became a chemical part of the wall itself. This is why many have survived for thousands of years!
Analogy: It’s a bit like writing your name in wet concrete. Once it sets, it’s there forever, unlike drawing on the ground with chalk which washes away in the rain.
Colours and Designs
They used bright, bold colours made from natural minerals:
- Red and Yellow (from earth/ochre)
- Black (from carbon)
- Blue (this was very expensive and showed high status!)
Typical designs included nature (animals, flowers, marine life), processions of people, and scenes of war or hunting.
Quick Review Box:
- Fresco: Wall painting on wet plaster.
- Key Colours: Red, yellow, blue, black.
- Common Themes: Nature, hunting, and religious processions.
2. Mycenaean Jewellery: Wearing Wealth
If you were a wealthy Mycenaean, you wanted everyone to know it. Jewellery was the perfect way to show off.
Materials Used
The Mycenaeans were great traders. We know this because of the materials they used:
- Gold: Used for rings, necklaces, and even death masks.
- Amber: A golden-orange resin that they traded for from as far away as the Baltic (Northern Europe).
- Glass: Often used to make blue beads, imitating more expensive stones.
- Metalwork: They were experts at working with bronze and silver.
Technical Terms to Know
- Filigree: Twisting thin gold wires into beautiful patterns.
- Granulation: Dropping tiny 'grains' of gold onto a surface to create texture.
- Inlay: Cutting a shape into an object and filling it with a different material (like putting gold into a bronze dagger).
Did you know?
The Mycenaeans were so good at gold-working that Homer called the city of Mycenae 'rich in gold'!
3. Decorative Objects: Pots, Figurines, and Vessels
The Mycenaeans didn't just have plain bowls; even their storage jars were works of art.
Pottery and Vessels
- Storage Vessels: Huge jars (pithoi) used for oil and grain.
- Drinking Vessels: The Kylix was a popular long-stemmed wine cup (it looks a bit like a champagne coupe or a shallow wine glass).
- Rhyton: A special vessel used for pouring liquids during religious ceremonies (votive offerings). These were often shaped like animal heads, such as lions or bulls.
The "Alphabet" Figurines (Phi, Psi, and Tau)
Archaeologists have found hundreds of small terracotta female figures. We name them after Greek letters because of their shapes:
- Phi ($\Phi$): Round body with arms folded over the chest (looks like a circle with a line through it).
- Psi ($\Psi$): Arms raised up in the air (looks like a 'U' shape).
- Tau ($T$): Arms held close to the sides (looks like a 'T' shape).
Memory Trick: Think of Psi as "Praise!" because the arms are up to the sky!
Ivory Carving
The Mycenaeans carved ivory (from elephant tusks) to make small, delicate items like combs, mirror handles, and decorative plaques for furniture.
Key Takeaway: Mycenaean decorative art was a mix of function (it had a job to do, like holding wine) and status (showing how rich you were).
4. The Prescribed Sources (The "Must-Know" Objects)
For your exam, you need to be familiar with these specific items. These are your evidence!
The Gold Death Mask of Agamemnon
- What is it? A thin sheet of gold hammered into the shape of a face.
- Where was it found? Grave Circle A, Mycenae.
- Important Detail: Heinrich Schliemann (the man who found it) claimed it belonged to King Agamemnon, but it is actually about 300 years older than the Trojan War would have been!
- Common Mistake: Don't say it's definitely Agamemnon. In your exam, call it the so-called Mask of Agamemnon.
Dagger Blade (Hunting Scene)
- Technique: Gold and silver inlay on a bronze blade.
- Scene: Shows four hunters with shields and spears attacking a lion.
- Why it matters: It shows the Mycenaeans' love for hunting and their incredible skill in metalworking.
The Warrior Vase
- What is it? A large mixing bowl for wine and water.
- Scene: A line of soldiers (warriors) carrying spears and shields, with a woman waving them goodbye.
- Contrast: Unlike earlier art that loved nature (octopus, flowers), this vase is much more focused on warfare, which suggests it was made during a more violent time in history.
Fresco of a Mycenaean Lady
- Found in: The House of the Chief Priest, Mycenae.
- Details: She is holding a necklace. She wears a traditional Mycenaean dress that leaves the breasts exposed, has elaborate hair, and wears makeup.
- Significance: Shows us what high-status women looked like and how they dressed.
Quick Summary of Prescribed Sources:
1. Mask of Agamemnon: Gold, funerary, shows status.
2. Dagger Blade: Inlay technique, shows hunting/bravery.
3. Warrior Vase: Shift from nature to war themes.
4. Gold Pyxis: A small box for jewellery/valuables.
5. Gold Rhyton: Lion's head shape, used for religious pouring.
Final Summary: Why does this matter?
Decorative arts tell us that the Mycenaean world was sophisticated. They weren't just "brutes"; they were skilled craftsmen who loved beauty, traded across the sea for luxury materials, and used art to worship their gods and honour their dead.
When you write about these in your exam, try to mention the materials (like gold or ivory) and what the themes (like hunting or soldiers) tell us about their culture.