ancientart: The Mycenaean tholos tomb (fancifully) named...

ancientart:

The Mycenaean tholos tomb (fancifully) named the ‘Treasury of Atreus’, located in Mycenae, Greece.

This tomb dates to ca. 1300-1250 BC. Elite Mycenaean families who lived around this era, perhaps not too long before the presumed date of the Trojan War, buried their dead in beehive-like tombs which were covered by huge earthen mounds. There are about 9 such known examples in Mycenae, but there are much more elsewhere. This example is the most famous and best preserved of these tombs, with a 43-foot high dome. It was unfortunately robbed -we have no information regarding its burials or accompanying grave goods. Except for the elite status of the Mycenaean, we are thus left essentially clueless as to whom this tomb was owned by. 

Photos taken by Klearchos Kapoutsis & Michael Clarke.

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