Archaeology and Ancient Societies

Archaeology has provided substantial support to the Homeric poems version of the Bronze Age. Archaeology has provided substantial support to the Homeric poems version of the Bronze Age. Schliemann in his excavations at Mycenae found himself looking at representations of boar’s-tusk helmets and tower shields, and handling silver-studded swords: a “real” connection seemed to have been demonstrated. Schliemann in his excavations at Mycenae found himself looking at representations of boar’s-tusk helmets and tower shields, and handling silver-studded swords: a “real” connection seemed to have been demonstrated.

Soon enough the palace at Tiryns presented an image of a Bronze-Age royal establishment which again bore clear resemblance to the Homeric megaron. Soon enough the palace at Tiryns presented an image of a Bronze-Age royal establishment which again bore clear resemblance to the Homeric megaron. At Tiryns the ascent up the ramp to the main entrance, flanked on the right by an immense tower of Cyclopean (gigantic) stone, and on the left by corbelled galleries to give covering fire; the massive entrance passage leading to the main gate must have looked a lot like the lion gate did at Mycenae; At Tiryns the ascent up the ramp to the main entrance, flanked on the right by an immense tower of Cyclopean (gigantic) stone, and on the left by corbelled galleries to give covering fire; the massive entrance passage leading to the main gate must have looked a lot like the lion gate did at Mycenae;

then the colonnaded outer hall and courtyard which led into a magnificent columned inner court facing the royal hall, the megaron (royal hall) with its porch, anteroom and throne room itself with a large circular hearth in the centre, its walls decorated with alabaster and inlaid with bordering of blue glass paste (just as Homer mentions); then the colonnaded outer hall and courtyard which led into a magnificent columned inner court facing the royal hall, the megaron (royal hall) with its porch, anteroom and throne room itself with a large circular hearth in the centre, its walls decorated with alabaster and inlaid with bordering of blue glass paste (just as Homer mentions);

all this could be recovered from the foundations and debris which lay only inches below the modern buildings foundations. Fragments of frescos show battle and hunting scenes, and one of a young youth leaping a bull. all this could be recovered from the foundations and debris which lay only inches below the modern buildings foundations. Fragments of frescos show battle and hunting scenes, and one of a young youth leaping a bull.

The layout of the palace, the hearth, the bathroom, the blue glass, all seemed reflected in Homer’s portrayal of the Heroic Age. The layout of the palace, the hearth, the bathroom, the blue glass, all seemed reflected in Homer’s portrayal of the Heroic Age.

Archaeology was also suggesting that the places Homer identified as being important in the Bronze Age were indeed so, even if insignificant afterwards. The decisive discovery was Dorpfeld’s unearthing of the Mycenaean-period citadel on Hisarlik, since this suggested for the first time that the central tale of the Iliad was indeed based on a real Bronze- Age place and real events. Archaeology was also suggesting that the places Homer identified as being important in the Bronze Age were indeed so, even if insignificant afterwards. The decisive discovery was Dorpfeld’s unearthing of the Mycenaean-period citadel on Hisarlik, since this suggested for the first time that the central tale of the Iliad was indeed based on a real Bronze- Age place and real events.

Archaeology has continued to build on these impressions over the last century, impressions both tantalisingly evocative of Homer and at other points utterly divergent. But the assumption of a strong connection remains, and given a degree of critical scepticism seems justified. Archaeology has continued to build on these impressions over the last century, impressions both tantalisingly evocative of Homer and at other points utterly divergent. But the assumption of a strong connection remains, and given a degree of critical scepticism seems justified.