Palace of Nestor – An Ancient Mycenaean Palace
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The Mycenaean Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization in Ancient Greece that achieved a remarkable amount of growth. They came shortly after the Minoan Civilization had reached its peak, and many believe that the Mycenaeans invaded the Minoans during this time. Many of the heroic stories that were told later on during the Golden Age of Greece originated during this time. This is the first civilization in Greece that truly thrived and what they accomplished set the tone for the growth of future Greek civilizations. During this time, the language formed the basis for our Modern Greek language and the
What is the Palace of Nestor?
In famous written works that came out of the Golden Age, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, we are introduced to a past age in Greece filled with heroes, noble acts, and grand cities. Places like the Palace of Nestor came from the time that these writers were so enthralled with, and the palace itself is dated to around the time of the Trojan War. Despite the fact that the Trojan War is often looked as a mythological story, there is some evidence that the war itself really did take place. The discovery of this palace has been a topic of discussion amongst scholars since it was found. Myths aside, the palace is considered to be one of the buildings that is at the center of this once-great civilization and it is also a remarkably well preserved building that gives us a first-hand glimpse of what life was like back then.
The Palace is a an Example of a Mycenaean Palace
In analyzing the palace and the archaeological dig sites at the palace and the surrounding areas, it is possible to form a picture of what the Mycenaean Civilization was really like. The Mycenaeans also used large pottery storage jars for storing things like wine and olive oil. Many of these jars were found in fragments and have since been reconstructed. Linear B tablets, which bore the language that the Mycenaeans spoke and is looked at as a precursor to the Greek language, were also found with the palace.
Through analyzing the palace, researchers gained insights into the way the Mycenaeans lived. They found rooms such as a storage magazine, where important items like wine, barley, and olive oil were stored. It is also possible that the items in storage were more than just used by the people – they also could have been exported. Much of the living quarters were intact in the palace, including the bathrooms, which held tubs for bathing.
After analyzing the palace, King Nestor, who was mentioned in one of Homer’s works, is credited for having built it. This is one of the discoveries that has led researchers to not only understand how the people lived back in the Mycenaean age, but to also help them realize that the so-called “myths” may have an element of truth. Today, the Palace of Nestor is actually open for visitors so people can see what life in the Mycenaeans was really like.
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Categorized in: Ancient Greek History
This post was written by Greek Boston
