Mycenae
A Narrative of Researches and Discoveries at Mycenae and Tiryns

Heinrich Schliemann's account of his archaeological excavations which revealed the existence of the ancient Greek cities of Mycenae and Tiryns.

Heinrich Schliemann (Author), W. E. Gladstone (Preface by)

9781108016926, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 July 2010

516 pages, 571 b/w illus. 4 colour illus. 8 maps
21.6 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.65 kg

Heinrich Schliemann (1822–1890) published Mycenae, an account of his archaeological excavations of the ancient Greek cities of Mycenae and Tiryns, in 1878. Schliemann's astonishing finds revealed that the cities had a historical reality outside Homeric epic. His excavations uncovered many priceless treasures, most famously the 'death mask of Agamemnon' and the shaft graves, filled with pottery, carved stones, skeletons, gold, jewellery and weaponry. He also uncovered much about the layout and architecture of the two lost cities. The volume is generously illustrated with images of artefacts, maps and charts. It is introduced by W. E. Gladstone, who gave Schliemann the political assistance necessary for the excavations to take place. Schliemann's discoveries were met with wild enthusiasm, and while today his methods of excavation are deplored and many of his conclusions thought to be ill-founded, he is rightly credited with the discovery of the lost and ancient Mycenaean civilisation.

Preface W. E. Gladstone
Dr. Schliemann's account of a tomb at Spata, in Attica
The Fall of Mycenae, as described by Diodorus Siculus
Table of French and English measures
List of illustrations
1. Excavations at Tiryns
2. Topography of Mycenae. Gate of the Lions and Treasury of Atreus
3. History of Mycenae and the family of Pelops. The Sepulchres of Agamemnon and his companions
4. Excavations in the citadel of Mycenae continued
5. Excavations in and near the Acropolis continued. The Lions' Gate and the Agora
6. The Second Great Treasury, Acropolis, and Cyclopean remains in the neighbourhood of Mycenae
7. The first, second, and third tombs in the Acropolis
8. The fourth tomb in the Acropolis of Mycenae
9. The fifth sepulchre, and the first again
10. Connection of the five tombs with the royal house of Pelops, and date of the Agora
11. Treasure of the tomb south of the Agora
Analysis of Mycenaean metals
Index.

Subject Areas: Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]