mycenae - smirky funeral mask - a photo on Flickriver

            Shaft Grave IV, Grave Circle A, Mycenae. 1600-1500 BC.
National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

Gold male death-mask made of sheet metal with repoussé details portraying the deceased's eyes opened, the only one in Shaft Grave IV.

Once part of a large cemetery outside the acropolis walls, Grave Circle A was discovered within the Mycenaean citadel by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876 under the supervision of the Greek Ephor of Antiquities Panagiotis Stamatakis. 

The tombs in Grave Circle A contained a total of nineteen burials: nine males, eight females and two infants. With the exception of Grave II, which contained a single burial, all of the other graves contained between two and five inhumations. 

The amazing wealth of the grave gifts reveals both the high social rank and the martial spirit of the deceased: gold jewelry and vases, a large number of decorated swords and other bronze objects, and artefacts made of imported materials, such as amber, lapis lazuli, faience and ostrich eggs. All of these, together with a small but characteristic group of pottery vessels, confirm Mycenae's importance during this period, and justify Homer's designation of Mycenae as 'rich in gold.'

Shaft Grave IV is conspicuous by its wealth and size. It contained three male and two female inhumations. Two of the deceased were placed on a north-south axis, contrary to the more common east-west axis. The three gold death-masks are the par excellence male burial accoutrements. One male burial also had a gold breastplate. This grave contained precious gold, silver and stone vases, ritual rhytons (libation vases), either with intricate decoration, or in the shape of animals, large bronze vessels and numerous weapons, including a beautiful dagger with an inlaid lion hunt scene. The deceased were adorned with gold diadems, numerous pieces of gold jewelry, a variety of cut-out foil ornaments, and belts or straps.

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Taken in: Ελλάδα / Attica / Athens / Exarhia (show map)

Taken on: December 20, 2010

Tags:

Europe

Greece

december

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Greek

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history

National Archaeological

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Mycenaean

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Panasonic LX2 « less

Sets appears in: • National Archaeological Museum

Groups appears in: • Museum • Archaeology Travel Photos more » • Ancient • The Ancient World • At the museum • Ελληνικά / Greek / Greece • History Directory • Ancient Greek and Roman Art • ΕΛΛΑΔΑ • Your Museum Images « less

Camera: Panasonic DMC-LX2, f/3.6, 1/8 sec, 6.3mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-LX2
Aperture:	f/3.6
Exposure Time:	0.125 sec (1/8)
Focal Length:	6.3mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Tungsten (Incandescent)
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS Macintosh
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