The Mycenaen Age: Homer's Heroic Age

History on the Greek mainland before the Mycenaean culture, can be divided up into three main eras, the Neolithic period, which was predominantly a peasant culture, the Early Helladic period (3,000-2,000 BC), a rich and important phase of development which lasted 1000 years, and the Middle Helladic (2,000-1550 BC), which appers to been a period of migration and decline. This began to change in the middle of the Sixteenth Century with the rise of the Mycenaean culture, the other great civilization that flourished during the Greek Bronze Age.

The Mycenaean or Late Helladic culture, is distinguished by the earlier Helladic periods by the wealthy and facinating shaft graves that can be found at Mycenae. These are considered to reflect a sudden rise of a more developed civilization. It is likely that the Indo Europeans or Achaeans began to assert themselves over the Aegean or pre-Indo Europeans, as the ruling class in this time period.

The Mycenaean culture is considered to be a 'heroic period' which had very little in common with the Minoan culture. We can see that this was a warrior culture by their ownership of fine bronze weapons, war chariots, and strong fortesses. The central feature of their architecture was the central hall or megaron, which was built in palaces and houses. Here, in contrast to the small movable braziers of the Minoans, was a rounded fixed hearth. At this hearth the traveller was welcomed by the host under the protection of Zeus. We can see by their structures that the Mycenaens built enduring palaces, located within walls of strong stone, high on the mountains.

The Mycenaeans are also know for their immnse vaulted tombs, sometimes called either tholos or beehive tombs, which replaced the shaft graves at the turn of the sixteenth century. Along with the Lion Gate at Mycenae, there was nothing comparable to these Mycenaean wonders. Their art, while originally showing some Minoan influence, showed an odd focus on the equipment at the expense of the people in the works and in general lacked the spontenity of the Minoans. Pottery, while well made, was dull and uninspired in its decoration. Ivory culture, another Minoan inheritance, was a Mycenaean specialty, and included boxes, idols, inlay for furniture. It was their metal work that was of especially good quality. inlaid daggers, gold masks, gold, silver and bronze were all mycenaean specialties. Mycenaean objects have been found in the Cyclades, Rhodes, Syria, Italy, Sicily and Egypt, show extensive trade, but no significant colony, except for Cyprus, yet existed before 1400 BC. It was at this point that the Minoan experienced their final overthrow, and the Mycenaeans became the new maters of the Aegean.

Historians have not come to an agreement about what caused the decline of the Mycenaean civilization around the year 1050 BC. Some believe that the Dorians, another Greek speaking people from eastern Europe invaded the area and increased the expansion of Greek peoples to the islands and Asia Minor. Others disagree with this theory, arguing that the lack of Dorian artifacts indicates that they were not involved in the destruction of the Mycenaean culture. Instead they believe that other cultures, climatic changes or internal disputes likely destroyed the Mycenaean culture before the Dorians arrived and blended with the Myceanaeans. Despite the migration and upheaval, the Mycenaean culture shows a strong continuity with the Hellenic religion and culture, and its decline marks a period of 150 years known as the Dark Ages of Greek culture.