Learning about Egyptian Tombs and Mycenaean Tombs

Mycenaean Tombs

The Mycenaean civilization flourished in ancient Greece from 1600 to 1100 b.c. The Mycenaean's culture, craftsmanship, engineering and architecture was depicted in their tombs called Tholos. The tombs were a final resting place or burial of the royal family with their most possessed belongings. The earliest tombs of the Helladic culture were called Shaft graves. These carried the royal dead's with treasures and weapons. The "Treasury of Atreus" is largest and most magnificent tomb of this century. This splendid tomb belonged to the father of the king Agamemnon built between 1350 and 1250 bc (Cavanagh and Laxton 109-140). The archaeologist believe that is it undoubtedly one of the masterpieces created by the engineers of the Mycenaean lineage. Its elevation and drawing present an extraordinary insight to the Mycenaean architecture. The famous mask of Agamemnon was also discovered in 1876.

The spectacular tomb is an artistic creation of the bronze age masons. The majestic entrance of the monument is 25 meter long and 6 m wide and the complete monument is attired with exquisite stones. The architectural excellence is depicted in making the backyard waterproof by layering the stones with clay. The main door opening has a chrematistic triangular lining. The entrance of the tomb is ornately decorated. The columns are half in size made of green limestone and engraved with zigzag motifs. The entrance has half-columns in green limestone with zigzag motifs. This tomb is bigger, more prominent than the any other existing ones to prove the power, wealth and grandeur of the reigning kings (Diana 27-28). Even the site chosen to built the tomb depicted the kings intention to express his status and kingdom to a more extended land. The treasury was constructed at a widely visible site to remind the visitors the immense achievements of the king.

Egyptian Tombs

In early Egypt the first tombs created to bury kings and kings family were flat topped one story building called Mastaba (Lesko and Leonard 4-5). Many Mastabas grouped together to form a Necropolis or city of dead. Later mastabas gave way to pyramids were burial was not under the ground. The great pyramids of Giza were erected in the fourth dynasty between 2575 to 2450 B.C (Premier). These pyramids were initially made from thick veneer of polished limestone and granite that gave height to the apex to almost 481 feet. There were three pyramids namely Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu, Khafre is slightly smaller than the other two. The pyramids have angled sides that basically depicted the slanting sun rays. The inscriptions give the effect of the deceased kings joining the sun gods from the pyramid. The tombs were pleasantly decorated with paintings of religious meanings (Bleiberg and Edward 74-77). The tombs thus are a storehouse of extensive information of the lost dynasties. The tomb of an official called Ti depicts paintings of hippo hunt. Egyptians Used very strong material to make tombs than houses as archaeological excavations revealed most of the tombs but scanty remains of the dwellings. The Egyptians developed funerary practices to provide the soul or ka a mummified body to live in forever.

Both the Myreceans and Egyptians had strong belief in afterlife and thus built massive tombs. The tombs were thoughtful, sculptured and constructed well in advance.. The tombs are architecturally a mirror of the craftsmanship of their period. The materials used depict the flamboyance and wealth of the king. The Mycenaean's cremated in tombs but Egyptians followed intensified science for mummification. The Mycenaean's tombs were more artistic in decoration whereas Egyptians were more representational. Egyptians tombs had a lot of spiritual value attached as they believed in aligning the dead with stars for a better afterlife. Mycenaean's though believed in making tomb as a ritual to provide magnificent burial.

"Work Cited"

Bleiberg, Edward. To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasure from the Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY: Brooklyn Museum. pp. 74-77.

K.A. and Diana Wardle, Cities of Legend, The Mycenaean World, London 2000, 27-28.

Lesko, Leonard H. "Religion And The Afterlife." Calliope 12.1 (2001): pp. 4-5. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 8 May 2012."Mummies - Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt." Mummies - Death and the Afterlife in Ancient

W. Cavanagh and C. Mee, A Private Place: Death in Prehistoric Greece [SIMA 125] (Jonsered 1998).

W. G. Cavanagh and R. R. Laxton, "The Structural Mechanics of the Mycenaean Tholos Tomb," Annual of the British School at Athens 76(1981)109-140