Review: Ancestors: a Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials by Alice Roberts

★★★★☆.5 | Book 16 of 2024 — one for all my archaeology enthusiasts and those interested in what our bones can tell us.

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Ancestors: a Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials is a focused yet detailed look at the prehistory of Britain, and particularly what burials, skeletons, ancient DNA and human remains can reveal about the long-spanning time from the Palaeolithic right up to the Iron Age. Professor Alice Roberts is an osteoarchaeologist and physical anthropologist, and she brings her expertise in all things skeletal to the fore in this book. Roberts takes the reader on a journey through time and around the United Kingdom, from the Red Lady of Paviland Cave dating to the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic ‘Tomb of the Otters’, to visiting Rushmore Estate and essentially doing archaeology of archaeology, and exploring the possibilities of modern technologies and ancient DNA.
Alice Roberts has included so much information in this one book, analysing seven burials from Britain’s prehistory, but going far beyond just the skeletons and remains themselves, it’s quite astonishing. The author doesn’t simply explain the remains, the person likely buried and what we can learn from them, but goes beyond this to consider wider themes such as sex and gender, burial rites and customs, and cultural beliefs. Various modern archaeological techniques are explained and utilised including isotopic analysis, radiocarbon dating, and ancient DNA and genome testing.

Beyond this, Roberts highlights issues related to each of these burials, including preservation bias and explanations of different taphonomic processes affecting remains and the archaeological record more broadly, issues of confirmation bias and those biases archaeologists of the 19th and 20th centuries brought to their works and analyses, as well as the simple fact that often, we can ever truly be sure of many things when it comes to archaeology, and the importance of delving into each potential explanation.

As someone not from Britain, I personally got a bit lost with the whereabouts of cities, areas, and sites mentioned, but perhaps there are maps in the physical copy that supplement this. Further, the only detraction for listening to the audiobook is not having any sort of imagery to help illustrate points made by Roberts, but overall I would still recommend the audiobook. Roberts has such a great way of narrating that makes you feel like she’s bringing you along for the ride! Additionally, the book begins at the Crick Institute in May 2019 and spends the first chapter discussing the exciting new ancient DNA works with the sequencing of a thousand ancient genomes. However, because of COVID-19, the project was placed on hold which meant that the new DNA information was perhaps not available for this book - here’s hoping the second book Buried includes some of what I am sure will be fascinating discoveries!

When reading through this book, you not only get incredible archaeological and historical information about these burials, but you also get a firm understanding of the modern context of the remains (i.e. where they are kept, if there is modern research happening on them etc.), as well as their historical context. This includes who initially found the remains, how they were excavated and handled, and broad contextual information about the find site, essentially bridging between their discovery, and this book.

Roberts’ self-aware and detailed discussion and analysis of the burials, the associated grave goods, culture and history (both ancient and modern) coalesce into a detailed, informative and enjoyable book that all lovers of prehistory and archaeology should read.

Review: The Slavic Myths by Noah Charney and Svetlana Slapšak

★★★★☆.5 — I was provided a finished hardback copy from Thames and Hudson — thankyou!

Keep your eyes out for my interview with Noah and Svetlana that will be going up on YouTube with World History Encyclopedia very soon!

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The Slavic Myths by historian Noah Charney and anthropologist and historian Svetlana Slapšak is a wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated book delving into various Slavic myths, gods, and supernatural figures and the history behind them. The Slavic Myths is structured in eight chapters, including the introduction to the book, and the Slav Epic. Each chapter includes a new retelling of a myth, reimagined by Noah and Svetlana, followed by a section on the history of the myth and numerous important features within it. This is not a compilation of everything we know about Slavic mythology, but instead, seven hand-picked stories accompanied by accessible academic analysis, allowing the reader, whether they be well versed in Slavic myth or brand new to the corpus of tales, to enjoy the stories, and if they wish, develop their understanding of the myths and history further. Readers of The Slavic Myths can read the book from cover to cover, or they can jump in and just read a chapter at a time — they can just stick to the compelling reimaginings of the chosen myths, or they can dive into the historical analysis of each section. Either way, with the book being a combination of retelling and non-fiction, it can be enjoyed by all!

Slavic mythology is not as clear cut as classical Greek and Roman mythology, there is no equating the Greek king of the gods Zeus with any king of the gods figure in Slavic traditions. Noah and Svetlana had a huge task ahead of them with this book, with Slavic mythology originating first as an oral tradition, and then only being written down in the 19th century, but with specific goals for lending authority and adding history to new cities, and overlain with Christian morals and motifs. As mentioned in the book, a ninth-century Slav would not necessarily recognise their myths today in the form they now take — however, Noah and Svetlana have essentially added a new layer to this ever-developing and rich corpus of stories, deities, and creatures.

This book was a wonderful introduction to Slavic mythology. Upon picking it up, I had a vague familiarity with Baba Yaga, her house with chicken legs, and the creatures of firebirds. Beyond that, I was completely unfamiliar with the Slavic pantheon, or the history behind the myths and tales. What really captured my attention (beyond the stunning woodcut imagery throughout the book), was the first creature, the vampire, which has its roots in Slavic myth. And not only that but in Slavic tradition, the vampire and the werewolf were intrinsically linked creatures! I learnt so much about the history and development of Slavic myths, and particularly enjoyed the analysis of folklore versus fairytales versus mythology, and the creation of myths with ‘mythurgy.’ I was intrigued to find parallels with classical Greek tales such as Jason and the Argonauts, to find hints of well-known fairytales such as Cinderella and her horrible stepmother and stepsisters, and aspects of Ovid’s Metamorphosis with the trials Venus has Psyche complete, all solidly within the world of Slavic mythology. I didn’t know that throwing a coin over my shoulder into a fountain or body of water originated as a Slavic ritual in fear of the dead — did you?

I could not recommend this book enough for those looking to dip their toe into some new myths, or for those who are looking to read a new version of their old favourite Slavic myth.

Review: Lost Cities of the Ancient World by Philip 'Maty' Matyszak

★★★★☆.5 | — I was provided a finished hardback copy from Thames and Hudson — thankyou!

You can also watch my interview with Maty all about this book on YouTube with World History Encyclopedia!

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Lost Cities of the Ancient World by Dr Philip ‘Maty’ Matyszak compiles lost cities from around Europe, the Middle East and Asia into one volume, linking cities thousands of years and thousands of kilometres apart with the simple fact that in some way or another, they are or once were, lost. Following on from his earlier book Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World, Maty introduces and reacquaints his readers with cities that were abandoned, sunk or destroyed many years ago, and he does so in an engaging and exciting way. This book, aimed at the general history enthusiast, still includes pieces of fascinating history that those acquainted with the sites might not know. Despite being familiar with many of the sites explored in the book, I not only learnt something new about many of them, but was also introduced to various sites I had never heard of. Of particular fascination to me are the submerged cities of antiquity, lost to us beneath the waves and rising seas, which made learning about Thonis in Egypt one of the highlights of this book.

Lost Cities is a book that is so wonderfully accessible, so vibrant and full of incredible imagery, but also informative and a joy to read. The book is split up into general time periods ranging from the Neolithic and oldest cities of Çatalhöyük and Skara Brae to cities within and on the edges of the Roman world. This book could be read from beginning to end, travelling in time and space, or you could just as easily dip in and out, reading of Troy one day, and Palmyra the next. With that in mind, it would be difficult for this book not to capture everyone’s interest in some way or another, with the wide range of sites and civilisations discussed.

Considering the geographical and temporal range of the book, each city is presented drawing on a range of available evidence. Each place is shown on a map, and followed by the introduction of archaeological, and where possible, textual evidence of the city. For example, when discussing the infamous city of Troy, Maty draws upon the Iliad to discuss the mythological importance of the city, and for the city of Persepolis, texts composed by Darius the Great highlight the city's political importance. Overall, the interconnectivity of the ancient world runs as an undercurrent to the book with an emphasis on the trade and movement of people, things, and ideas.

Much like Egyptian Mythology - A Travelers Guide from Aswan to Alexander by Garry Shaw, Maty not only introduces the history of a city, its humble beginnings, times of strength and its descent into obscurity, but he also includes the city today. Great for those who want to know if these cities are still physically lost, or may want to visit them one day to check for sure that they really have been found, Maty divulges the current state of the city, and what a tourist today could expect to see when on a visit. This book does a wonderful job of introducing the most important sites in the relevant regions that have been lost in some way or another, and brings them back into the public consciousness. I thought this was a wonderful book introducing numerous important cities from the ancient world and would recommend it to those who love the ancient world, and those who love a book with incredible imagery.

Review: Egyptian Mythology - A Travelers Guide from Aswan to Alexandria by Garry J. Shaw

★★★★☆ I was provided a hardback edition of this book by Thames and Hudson.

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What is the book about?

Egyptian Mythology: A Travelers Guide from Aswan to Alexandria by Egyptologist Garry Shaw takes you on a journey up the Nile as if on a tour of Egypt’s most historically rich and important sites. This tour up the Nile transports you to Ancient Egypt with evocative imagery and descriptions of what the landscape once looked like. Shaw has gone to great lengths to synthesise the fragments of texts, the wall paintings, and the surviving archaeology to present the gods, goddesses, myths and legends of each of the main sites on his tour. This includes different versions myths, the layout of building and temples long since ruined and how these deities were worshipped and praised. At the end of each chapter, after delving into the mythological history and the way it shaped the lives of the sites population, Shaw provides a quick overview of the history of the site, and what you can expect to find today. This section gives tips on what to see when visiting the ruins today.

All the best tales are fluid, reshaped again and again by storytellers for their readers or listeners.

My thoughts about the book

As with every single non fiction book I read, it took me a bit to get into the flow of it, but once I got used to it, I was hooked. Shaw has completed a monumental task, and he has done a superb job of it. He begins the book with the section titled Preparing for a Journey Along the Nile, in which he proceeds not only to describe the journey you are about to take, but takes you through terminology and chronology that you will help in your reading journey. Written as if you are about to truly set sail down the Nile River, Shaw’s poignant writing style truly makes you feel as if you’re about to embark on a great adventure through Egypt’s long history.

Each chapter begins with a snapshot into the site as it is today, with beautiful descriptive language describing what you would hear, smell and feel if you were standing at the site right now. Shaw then delves into the history of the site, Pharaoh’s who ruled, and the main gods venerated. He explores the multitudes of myths associated with the site as well as the main gods and goddesses venerated at the site. He doesn’t settle with just the main myth, no. Shaw goes on to describe fragments of myths, variations of well known tales and ways in which the central deities of this site were viewed, worshipped and developed throughout the history of the site, and Egypt. Of course, many myths and sites overlap, and notes in the text linking the stories to other chapters makes it easy to cross between the two sections. At the end of each chapter not only is each site looked at in history and today with a whistlestop rundown of the overall history of the site, but Shaw gives you handy tips for visiting the site today. This includes things to see, how long it takes to get places and things to look out for. On top of all of that, there is also a handy table at the end of each chapter which highlights the key dates and remains of the site.

Every stone, hill, temple and town that you pass as you fly over the land has a meaning, tied to the actions of divine forces.

I absolutely loved reading this book. Not only is it incredibly in depth with it’s stories of myths and tales from each site, but Shaw has written it in such an accessible and intriguing way. As you read it, you get hilarious comments from Shaw as if he were giving you a tour of the site, or telling you the myth in person. It makes the book all the more enjoyable, and a bunch of times his commentary was exactly what I was thinking! Egyptian Mythology is far less structured than that of Greece or Rome, gods turn into other gods, and they change and develop throughout time. Shaw has made Egyptian Mythology incredibly digestible, whilst linking it all to present-day Egypt in a unique and entertaining way. Any lover of Egyptian Mythology or travel (or both if you’re like me) needs to get their hands on this book. Not to mention it’s absolutely beautiful with both the dust cover and naked (and the paper is really good quality which might seem like a weird thing to add, but honestly, I love when the paper is think and good quality).

Review: Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes

★★★★☆.5 I am only now getting into reading non-fiction books for fun, and not for uni or work so I’m still working on how I feel about rating them. With that being said, overall I really enjoyed reading this book.

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What's the book about?

Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes is a light, easy read which follows the history of the goddess best known as Venus or Aphrodite, from her beginnings to the modern reception of the goddess. Using archaeological evidence with textual sources and more recent artworks and literature, Bettany traces the origins of the goddess of love, and both her movements and developments through history.

As some will know, Aphrodite is the Ancient Greek goddess of love, desire, beauty and sexuality, and Venus is the Roman counterpart to Aphrodite, and held dominion over fertility, prostitution and victory. However, as Bettany delves into in the first few chapters of her book, Aphrodite didn’t just appear in the artwork and literature of Ancient Greece suddenly, but evolved from both the Cypriot spirit of procreation and fertility, as well as the Near Eastern goddesses of war Inanna, Astarte and Ishtar. Beginning from both the mythological beginnings of Aphrodite (with the castration of Ouranos, and the goddess emerging from the sea foam caused by the god’s genitals falling into the ocean), as well as the archaeological beginnings, and moving all the way through the renaissance depictions and the morphing of her dominions and depictions through to the modern-day, Bettany has provided an accessible and easy to read guide to the goddess and her history.

“A potent idea, given a name and a face across five millennia, this deity is the incarnation of fear as well as love, of pain as well as pleasure, of the agony and ecstasy of desire”

thoughts and feelings

From the very first page, I knew this was going to be a far easier read than I was initially anticipating. Bettany has written this book as if she was just chatting to a mate, and honestly, I loved that. Although it initially caught me off guard, it made it so much more appealing, and tempted me to pick it up more often knowing that the language used was easygoing. The colloquial language, however, doesn’t take away from the importance of this goddess, and her significance throughout history, especially in ancient civilisations. What Bettany has done, is a thorough investigation on the goddess, and then turned that hard evidence into a book that is easily understood and accessible to anyone. Bettany has achieved the goal of bringing archaeological and historical facts into the world in an easy to read and enjoyable book, and I love it! Her addition of images throughout the book, both in black and white dispersed through the book, and in the middle which is full of coloured images, makes it all the more interesting, especially in the discussions around the changes in the physical depictions of the goddess.

“It [desire] is the life force that spurs us on to do, to be, to think.”

I love that it was a short, easy read. It means that there’s a far better chance that more people will pick it up (and I love the idea that the ancient world is becoming something more open and available). But, some points Bettany made, I felt like I wanted more evidence that backed up her conclusion. I am sure that she has done her research, and I don’t doubt any of the statements or conclusions she has come to in this fascinating history, but I would have loved just a bit more depth into some of the evidence (whether it be archaeological or textual), that she has used to form her conclusions. In saying that, I always want more out of my books, and I commend her for making this book so full of information, and yet so easy to read.

I definitely feel like the goddess Aphrodite/Venus has been simplified into the goddess of sex and desire with little substance, and this book is out here to remind the world that she is so much more. Bettany explores the goddesses roots in the war-goddesses of the Near East (Inanna, Ishtar and Astarte), and brings to the forefront the seemingly contradictory beginnings of this goddess through love, desire and war. This book details just how much the attitudes towards the goddess has developed throughout the millennia, and what her body and her symbols have meant throughout the years. The complexities of Aphrodite/Venus have been written and painted out of history in the last thousand years, and this book is bringing back the intricacy of this goddess, which will hopefully culminate in the respect and adoration she deserves.

Have you read Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes? What did you think of it? I would love to chat about this book, either in the comments below, or find me over on Instagram @kell_read.

So you want to learn about Greek Mythology?

Hey friends, and welcome to a different kind of post! I recently made a video for work called The 12 Olympians: The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greek Mythology and for me, I had so much fun writing and filming it, and it was probably because I was already really familiar with the stories from Greek Mythology. I thought to myself, this would be a good place to start for people who are just starting to get into the wealth of stories that Greek mythology has to offer, but where should they go from there? So, this is a little post with some book recommendations for people who want to learn about Greek mythology but have no idea where to start, or are a bit overwhelmed with the number of books out there! I am absolutely going to be drawing on my own experiences from learning about Greek mythology, so if you have any suggestions or helpful tips for those people who want to learn more, please leave a comment down below!!

Books to Read (Fiction!)

I know this may sound weird, but the place I started on my journey to learning about Greek mythology and becoming completely obsessed with it was Percy Jackson. Unlike many other people, I didn’t read this until I was about 15 or16, and honestly, I wish I had read it sooner. Not because I thought that it was too young for me (I still adore it), but because it meant I would have been exposed to the world of Greek myths far sooner. The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is the place I’d start for anyone wanting to dip their toe into Greek mythology. It’s a 5 book series but they’re all pretty short, easy to read and very entertaining. But, while you’re reading about Percy, Annabeth and Grover go on quests, you’re actually being exposed to a lot of the core gods, monsters and myths of Greek mythology. So much of these books were inspired by myths, and once you finish this series, you will be familiar with the basic family tree of the Greek gods (well, as familiar as a person could be with that incestuous mess), as well as key monsters and stories which you will find in the ancient sources such as the Odyssey by Homer and Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days. If you’re looking for more of a Young Adult book with a bit of action, then I would recommend giving Lore by Aexandra Bracken a read. It isn’t as full of Greek stories as the Percy Jackson series is, but you do still get a good glimpse into some of the beliefs of the ancient greeks, and specifically the myths of the goddess Athena. Along these same lines would be A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair (definitely more of an adult book), which is a re-imagining of the myth of Hades and Persephone, but it’s set in an alternate, urban setting. These books are fun, but also dive into a bunch of different myths concerning the goddess Persephone, the god Hades and a bunch others!

Online resources (Articles, Videos and Podcasts!)

This is the part of this blog post where I’m just going to hype up the company I have the pleasure to work for, as well as some of my friends who are doing an amazing job bringing Greek mythology and history to a modern audience, and making it accessible! Online resources are so handy, especially since they’re easily accessible and more often than not, they’re free! If you’d prefer to read some stuff, then I would recommend World History Encyclopedia (I am biased because I work for them, but they also do amazing work.) You can find an introductory article here on Greek Mythology which is such a great place to start, and from there you can find articles on all the main gods, goddesses, myths and legends! If you’re more of a video lover, then you’re in luck because we publish youtube videos twice a week, and so far we have published this video on the 12 Olympians, a video all about Hermes, a video on Artemis, and a bunch more! If you’re looking for some fun videos that combine cute makeup looks with greek myths, then you should definitely check out Hannah’s videos on YouTube! I LOVE her videos on the myths of Persephone and Hades, and Echo and Narcissus, they’re short and sweet, easy to follow and end up with a super cute makeup look! Finally, your one-stop-shop for videos on mythology, ancient history, philosophers, as well as interviews and book reviews is Erica’s incredible website Moan Inc. You can find Erica and Moan on Instagram, Youtube, podcasts and via her website, and she’s working so hard to bring the ancient world to a modern audience in an engaging and fun way!

Where to Next? Ancient Epics, Texts and Retellings!

Looking for something a bit more challenging? Already know the basics and you’re ready to dive in deeper? I would definitely recommend beginning with Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days. It’s a really short read, and although it’s an ancient text, it’s easy to read and is a great intro to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks. If you want to know a bit more about Theogony and Works and Days you can have a look at my review here! From here, I would then recommend The Library of Greek Mythology (also known as Bibliotheca) by Pseudo-Apollodorus. It reads very similarly to Theogony and Works and Days, but it’s a bit longer and delves deeper into the stories and myths of Greek Mythology, and you will find the stories of heroes such as Heracles, Theseus and Jason. Then, of course, you have the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer! I would personally recommend the E.V. Rieu translation of these two which are written in prose but still keep their poetic roots, and they’re super easy to read for stories that are over 2000 years old. You can read my thoughts on the Iliad here! Just remember, every translation is different, so if you’re not clicking with the first translation you try, pick up a different one! If you’re a fan of theatre, then reading Ancient Greek theatre is an awesome way to become familiar with some of the important figures and stories from Greek myths, and even though only a handful survive from what would have been hundreds of plays, we still have plays about some of the most interesting figures from Greek mythology such as Medea, Jason, Antigone, Oedipus, Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Orestes and Electra (just to name a few!) They’re definitely easier to read than something like Shakespeare, and many editions now give you fantastic commentary and background info on the plays! My favourites are Medea by Euripides, Antigone by Sophocles and the Oresteia by Aeschylus. One thing I’ve noticed particularly in the past year or so is a HUGE boom in retellings, especially feminist retellings or retellings from female points of view. This surge in retellings seems to have been pioneered by Madeline Miller with her books The Song of Achilles and Circe, which are both brilliant, but if you’re just starting to dip your toe into Greek mythology, give Stephen Fry’s books Mythos, Heroes and Troy a go! Fry has such an entertaining way of retelling the myths but making them feel new - and, his somewhat linear narrative of the foundational Greek myths in Mythos is truly a massive feat. I would definitely recommend Mythos as an easy and enjoyable first step in learning about Greek mythology. If you’re interested in reading Classical Greek stories from a females point of view, I have a bunch on my TBR pile which include Natalie Haynes’ A Thousand Ships, Pandora’s Jar and The Children of Jocasta, as well as Pat Barker’s Silence of the Girls and Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne. I haven’t read some of these yet, but I can only assume it would be helpful to come into them with a bit of a basis for the original stories and texts, so maybe hit these types of books once you’re nice and familiar with the core gods, goddesses, myths and monsters of Greek mythology.

Hopefully I have given you everything you could possibly need to start your journey with Greek mythology! As noted, this is from my personal experience, so if you have any book recommendations or tips on getting familiar with Greek mythology then please, leave a comment below or reach out on instagram where you can find me at @kell_read!

Bite Sized Ancient History - The Mycenaeans

Recently, I did a poll on my Instagram (@kell_read), asking all of you what you would like to see more of on this blog other than my non-spoiler reviews. From this poll, the two most requested types of posts were book recommendations and Ancient History/Educational posts. So, here we are! This is going to be the first of many ‘Bite-Sized Ancient History with Kelly’ posts, starting with an introduction to one of my favourite cultures, the Mycenaeans. if you have any requests for cultures/ events/ art/ people from the ancient world then please let me know either in the comments below or on my Instagram!

Who were the Mycenaeans?

The Mycenaeans were a culture that flourished on mainland Greece between c. 1700 - 1100 BCE. They had numerous centres on Mainland Greece which appear to have functioned in both the religious sphere, and the administrative, due to the discovery of storage jars, rooms used as workshops and administrative records at these sites. The most famous of these sites are Mycenae, Tiryns and Pylos, with Mycenae and Tiryns being World Heritage Listed even though Pylos is the best-preserved site (don’t even get me started!). Many Mycenaean sites (excluding Pylos), were surrounded by Cyclopean walls which are so-called because they are so large that it was believed that only the race of giant, one-eyed cyclops could have possibly built them! The Mycenaeans constructed monumental palatial structures, with one of the most famous architectural feats being the Lions Gate at Mycenae, along with their tholos tombs made of corbelled roofs which were used for elite burials.

The texts that we have from the Mycenaean palatial sites are primarily administrative documents, and these texts, along with the archaeological evidence have informed a lot about our understanding of the function of the centres, and the trade which was taking place between each Mycenaean site and, to an extent, other cultures. The Mycenaeans are known as the more violent and war-driven predecessors of the initial Bronze Age Aegean influential power, the Minoans, who were (and still sometimes are) considered a more peaceful culture who lived on Crete and Santorini. This perception of the Mycenaeans being more inclined to partake in violence and warfare comes from both the remaining art and the archeological record uncovered in palatial sites and burials. They are known for their depiction of figures on pottery, often wearing boars teeth helmets (of which multiple have been uncovered intact or in fragments), and their frescoes showing figure of eight shields. Most famously recognisable is the so-called ‘Mask of Agamemnon,’ named by Heinrich Schliemann who was insistent upon his discovery of the burial of the legendary king of Mycenae, Agamemnon (he was wrong since the body doesn’t date to the period of Agamemnon and the Trojan War). They have also produced beautiful inlaid daggers which have hunting scenes decorating them, and it is now believed that one of the two Vaphio cups (the one decorated with the violent scene), was actually made by a Mycenaean craftsman.

Why do we care about the Mycenaeans?

Well, when it comes to the Mycenaeans, they are pretty much considered the first Greeks, and they were very influential on the people who lived during the time of Classical Greece. For one thing, their language known as Linear B is considered the earliest form of the Greek language which developed from the script of the Phoenicians. From the extant tablets found in a number of Mycenaean palatial sites, the names of a number of gods venerated during the Classical Greek period including Poseidon, Hermes, Zeus, Apollo, and Athena to name a few have been deciphered. So, although there is what is often considered a ‘dark age’ between c. 1100- c. 800 BCE when the palatial sites regressed to smaller villages and writing ceased in Greece, many of the gods continued to be worshipped into the Classical Greek period from the Mycenaean age.

Another reason the Mycenaeans are such an important culture which still generates so much interest is that the Greek heroes from Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey date not to the Classical Greek period but to the Bronze Age. That’s right, your favourite guys Achilles, Patroclus, Nestor, Menelaus etc. were all Mycenaeans! Agamemnon was the legendary king of Mycenae, and Nestor was the legendary king of Pylos (my favourite Mycenaean site). In Greek mythology, prior to Agamemnon being the king of Mycenae, the hero Perseus (son of Zeus and Danae) was the first king and founder of the city and the Perseid dynasty.

The Mycenaeans are a culture which is still providing new information and new archaeological finds. Most recently, the works on the mortuary landscape at Pylos in the last 6-7 years has provided a new shaft grave, two new tholos (or beehive) tombs, and hundreds of precious grave goods, two of which provide evidence for earlier contact with the Near East and Egypt than initially believed. Most interestingly is the shaft grave which was mere metres from Tholos III and Tholos IV, tombs which were excavated by Carl Blegen and his team in the 1950s and 60s. This single burial consists of one body, a male who died between the ages of 30-35 years and dates to c. 1500s BCE or LH IIA. This grave, excavated by Jack Davis and Sharon Stocker in May 2015, has provided us with the most amazing sealstone depicting a battle scene, known as the Combat Agate, four gold signet rings with Minoan religious iconography, a gold necklace and hundreds of sealstones. Preservation work is still being conducted on the finds of this burial, but its discovery has prompted some questions; who was this man? Why wasn’t he buried in the tholos tomb which was in use when he was interred and why was he buried with so many artefacts either made by a Minoan craftsman, influenced by the Minoan culture or depicting Minoan religious scenes? If you can’t already tell, I’m so obsessed with Pylos and the Griffin Warrior burial and I can’t wait for more information that the artefacts may provide! There is other evidence for cross-cultural transmission between the Minoans and Mycenaeans, but this being such a new discovery brings the conversation about the extent of the relationship and communication between these groups back to the forefront of discussions! I will never tire of writing about the Mycenaeans, but if you’re interested in reading a piece I’ve written comparing the Minoans and Mycenaeans, you can find it on World History Encyclopedia here.

Books I recommend to learn about the Mycenaeans!

There is SO much out there about the Mycenaeans, but here I’ll recommend some that I have used during my own research, and I’ll link each of the books to their Goodreads page if you wanted to have a better look at them! One of the best ones I have encountered has been The Mycenaeans by Louise Schofield, which gives a wonderful overview of the culture (with heaps of images). Along those same lines is Lord William Taylour’s book by the same name. I could never recommend a book more than I do The Oxford Handbook of the Aegean Bronze Age edited by Eric Cline. I love these handbooks because you get such a huge range of topics, and by a range of scholars. This one isn’t just the Mycenaeans but the Aegean Bronze Age in general, and I’m sure you’ll see me recommend this one again! One that I absolutely loved about the trade, commerce, and identity in Mycenaean Greece is Mycenaean Greece, Mediterranean Commerce, and the Formation of Identity by Bryan Burns. If you’re more interested in the art of the Mycenaeans (and also the Minoans) then I would definitely recommend Minoan and Mycenaean Art by Reynold Higgins. This one is another really easy-to-read book that has heaps of visual aids and also makes some great comparisons between the cultures. Obviously, our number one text about Mycenaean heroes is The Iliad by Homer, since the Greek heroes featuring in this epic tale are from the Mycenaean period, and I would highly recommend it! I read the translation by E.V. Rieu and I thought it was wonderful! If you’re more an online learner and want to learn more about the Mycenaeans without purchasing books, then I’d re commend checking out World History Encyclopedia, who I have been working for for a few years now! I have a super fun video on them which you can find here, and if you click here, you will be redirected to our main article on the culture!

Is there a specific part of the Mycenaeans you’d like to know more about, whether it be art, architecture, trade, burial practices or something else? Let me know! This is just a small snapshot of the fascinating culture of the Mycenaeans, I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you learnt something!