Mycenaean Greeks: modern name for the first phase of Greek history, the Late Bronze Age, from about 1600 to 1050 BCE
History
Statuette of a Mycenaean woman (Sparta)
At an unknown moment, speakers of an Indo-European language settle in Greece
Greek prehistory is commonly divided into three periods, called Early, Middle, and Late Helladic; the Late Helladic phase can also be called Mycenaean. The exact chronology is much debated.
Late Helladic I (c.1650-c.1550)
Late Helladic II (c.1550-c.1425): appearance of Linear B: a syllabic script to render the Greek language
Late Helladic IIIA1 (c.1425-c.1380): trade with the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea; "Tomb of Atreus" in Mycene; early palaces built (Mycene, Tiryns, Menelaion in Sparta, Pylos, Thebes) ("cyclopean walls")
Late Helladic IIIA2 (c.1380-c.1310): Mycene, walls of the citadel; sanctuary of Phylakopi
Late Helladic IIIB1 (c.1310-c.1250): Troy VI destroyed by an earthquake; Thebes: destruction of the Kadmeia; many towns fortified; the Lion Gate of Mycene; destruction of Mycene's lower city; Knossos destroyed
Late Helladic IIIB2 (c.1250-c.1190): Mycene destroyed, Tiryns destroyed, end of the sanctuary of Phylakopi
Late Helladic IIIC (c.1190-c.1050): Troy VIIa, Pylos, and all other Mycenaean settlements destroyed or abandoned
Mycene, Tomb of Atreus
Arkadiko, Mycenaean Bridge
Troy VI, Eastern wall
Pylos, Mycenaean tomb
Marathon, Mycenaean funeral mound
Maa, Mycenaean Wall, Late Mycenaean gate
Gla, Mycenean Gate
Mycene, Lion Gate
Mycenaean dagger
The cause of the collapse is unclear. Mycenaean Greeks migrated to Cyprus (Maa-Palaiokastro) and were almost certainly involved in the Sea People movement
Mycenaean Greek was the ancestor of several Greek dialects, spoken in the Archaic and Classical Age. Dorian, however, cannot be a descendant of Mycenaean Greek, although Mycenaean and Dorian share an ancestor.
Mycene, Wall painting of a griffin with a warrior
Mycene, House of the Warrior Krater, Warrior Krater
Ephesus, Ayasoluk, Mycenaean pottery
Mycene, Wall painting ("La Parisienne")
Mycene, Boar's tusk helmet
Delphi, Temple of Athena Pronaia, Depot, Mycenaean "psi" figurine
