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Megaron

A megaron (Ancient Greek: μέγαρον, romanized: mégaron, lit. 'great hall') is a distinctive architectural form from the Bronze Age, characterized by a large rectangular hall with a central hearth, often preceded by a porch and vestibule, serving as the core reception and ceremonial space in Mycenaean palaces and elite residences.^[1] This structure typically featured four flanking columns around the hearth, a throne along one wall, and an opening in the roof for smoke ventilation, constructed using stone foundations, mud-brick walls, and wooden elements.^[2] Precursors to the megaron appear in Neolithic settlements of the Near East and Greece from the 6th millennium BCE onward, with developed examples in Anatolia by the 3rd millennium BCE, such as House 102 at Troy (ca. 2500 BCE), before its prominence in Mycenaean architecture during the Late Helladic period (ca. 1550–1050 BCE), becoming canonical in palatial complexes by the 14th century BCE.^[3]^[4] The megaron's tripartite layout—a porch with two columns, an anteroom or vestibule, and the main hall—reflected both functional and symbolic roles, likely tied to feasting, administration, and possibly religious rituals centered on the hearth as a sacred focal point.^[2] Palaces incorporating megara, such as those at Mycenae, Tiryns, and Pylos, were fortified citadels with surrounding courts, storerooms, and workshops, showcasing Mycenaean engineering with cyclopean masonry and frescoed interiors.^[5] These structures evolved from Middle Helladic domestic traditions and Minoan influences, such as central courts, but emphasized axial symmetry and monumental scale unique to mainland Greece.^[1] The megaron's legacy extended into later Greek architecture, influencing the plan of classical temples with their porches, cellas, and hearths, as seen in the evolution from Mycenaean palaces to Doric and Ionic designs. Excavations since the 19th century, including those by Heinrich Schliemann at Mycenae and Tiryns, have revealed over a dozen major examples, underscoring the megaron's role in the Mycenaean palatial economy and the transition to the Greek Dark Ages.^[5] Smaller megaron-like buildings in non-palatial contexts, such as at Menelaion or Gla, suggest broader adoption in elite and cultic settings across the Aegean.^[2]

Historical Development

Origins in Prehistory

The megaron, defined as a rectangular hall featuring an axial entry and often a central hearth, represents an architectural form that evolved from simpler single-room dwellings in prehistoric Greece.^[6] This evolution reflects gradual adaptations in domestic and communal structures, transitioning from basic enclosures to more complex layouts that emphasized spatial organization around a focal hearth area. While originating in the Near East around the 7th millennium BCE and appearing in Anatolia by the 3rd millennium BCE (e.g., House 102 at Troy), the form was adapted in Greek prehistory.^[7] The earliest precursors of the megaron appear in Neolithic Thessaly, particularly at sites like Sesklo and Dimini, dating to approximately 6000–5000 BCE. These settlements featured large rectangular buildings, often serving as central structures within communities, with prominent central hearths used for heating, lighting, and communal activities.^[8] Excavations at Sesklo revealed such houses with stone foundations and mudbrick walls, indicating early experimentation with rectilinear plans that prioritized internal functional zoning. Similarly, at Dimini, comparable central-hearth huts demonstrated planned layouts, foreshadowing the megaron's emphasis on axial access and hearth-centered space.^[9] By the Early Helladic II period (ca. 2850–2200 BCE), the megaron form advanced with "megaroid" houses at sites such as Lerna in the Argolid, where structures incorporated porch additions and developed into multi-room complexes.^[10] At Lerna's House of the Tiles, a notable example included a rectangular main room with a circular central hearth, alongside corridors and storage areas, marking a shift toward more elaborate, freestanding units with enhanced structural supports. These developments suggest increasing social complexity, as porches provided transitional spaces for entry, evolving the single-room prototype into proto-palatial designs.^[10] The transition to the Middle Helladic period (ca. 2000–1600 BCE) saw apsidal houses, characterized by rounded rear walls, coexist with and influence emerging rectilinear forms, bridging earlier curvilinear traditions toward the standardized megaron.^[11] At Lerna, Middle Helladic structures retained rectangular or apsidal plans with axial entrances and shallow porches formed by projecting antae, adapting Neolithic and Early Helladic elements into more durable, mudbrick-on-stone-socle constructions often attached to enclosed yards.^[11] This phase highlights a synthesis of apsidal and rectilinear layouts, laying groundwork for the megaron's prominence in later Bronze Age architecture.^[12] Valentin Müller identified 32 megaron types across Greece and Europe in his seminal analysis, with Types 1–10 encompassing prehistoric variants that illustrate the form's diversity, from basic single-room plans to extended configurations with porches and rear chambers.^[6] For instance, Type 1 represents rudimentary single-room structures akin to those at Neolithic Sesklo, while later prehistoric types incorporate multi-room extensions seen in Early Helladic contexts, demonstrating migratory and cultural influences on architectural standardization.^[6]

Role in Mycenaean Palaces

The megaron emerged as the central architectural and functional core of Mycenaean palaces during the Late Helladic IIIA–B periods (ca. 1400–1200 BCE), functioning primarily as a throne room, audience hall, and ritual space for the wanax, the Mycenaean ruler.^[5] This rectangular structure, typically featuring a porch, vestibule, and main hall with a central hearth, served as the focal point for elite gatherings and displays of authority within palatial complexes on the Greek mainland. Recent excavations at Iklaina (ongoing as of 2025) have uncovered an early LH IIIA1 megaron complex (ca. 1350 BCE), shedding light on pre-palatial transitions.^[13] Unlike the open central courts of Minoan palaces, the enclosed megaron emphasized hierarchical access and symbolic seclusion, reinforcing the wanax's centralized power.^[2] Linear B tablets from sites like Pylos and Knossos provide evidence of the megaron's multifaceted uses, encompassing administrative oversight, religious ceremonies, feasting, animal sacrifices, and possibly divinations.^[14] Documents such as the Ta series from Pylos detail inventories of ritual vessels and fire implements linked to sacrificial activities in the palace, indicating the megaron's role in organized cultic practices that supported palatial legitimacy.^[15] These texts also reveal economic integration, with the space facilitating redistributive feasts that bolstered social and political alliances under the wanax's patronage.^[16] Symbolically, the megaron represented the "house of the king," embodying the wanax's dual secular and priestly authority while intertwining political, economic, and cultic functions in a single locus of power.^[17] Its central hearth and throne arrangement underscored the ruler's role as mediator between the divine and human realms, with frescoes depicting processions, banquets, and sacrifices further enhancing its prestige as a site of elite identity and governance.^[18] This integration highlighted the megaron's significance in Mycenaean statecraft, where ritual performance reinforced hierarchical control over resources and labor.^[19] Scholarly debates persist regarding gender dynamics within the megaron, particularly the potential involvement of female priestesses (i-je-re-ja) in rituals, as attested in Linear B records naming women in religious roles alongside male priests.^[20] Iconographic evidence, such as frescoes showing women in processional or enthroned contexts, suggests priestesses may have participated in ceremonies, challenging assumptions of exclusively male dominance and indicating more fluid gender participation in cultic activities.^[21] These interpretations draw from broader evidence of gender variability in Mycenaean society, though direct megaron-specific attestations remain limited.^[22] The Late Bronze Age collapse around 1200 BCE led to the widespread abandonment and destruction of megaron-centered palaces, marking the end of this institutional form amid systemic disruptions.^[23] Archaeological layers at sites like Pylos show evidence of hasty depositions and structural failures in megaron complexes, followed by disuse, reflecting broader societal breakdown and the loss of centralized palatial authority.^[24] This decline contributed to a shift away from monumental palatial architecture, with megaron traditions persisting only in diminished, non-elite contexts during the subsequent Dark Age.^[25]

Later Adaptations and the Oikos

Following the collapse of Mycenaean palatial society around 1100 BCE, the grand megaron structures of the Bronze Age were reworked into simpler domestic units during the Sub-Mycenaean and Protogeometric periods (ca. 1100–900 BCE), reflecting a broader societal shift toward decentralized, smaller-scale settlements.^[26] Archaeological evidence indicates that these adaptations involved reducing the megaron's scale and complexity, often transforming it from a multi-room elite hall into single-room or modestly extended family dwellings with curvilinear plans, occasionally incorporating a basic porch for added functionality.^[26] This simplification aligned with the economic and social fragmentation of the period, where monumental architecture gave way to practical, self-sufficient housing suited to village life.^[27] By the Geometric period (ca. 900–700 BCE), the megaron further evolved into the oikos, the fundamental household unit of ancient Greek society, characterized by a courtyard-centered layout that emphasized functional segmentation and privacy.^[28] In literary sources, this transformation is vividly depicted in the Homeric epics, particularly the Odyssey, where Odysseus' hall is portrayed as a megaron-like space serving as the heart of the oikos, hosting communal feasting, assemblies, and rituals while integrating elements like a central hearth for social cohesion.^[29] The term "megaron" in these texts retains its architectural connotation as the principal room, underscoring the continuity of the form as a symbol of household authority and elite identity within the narrative's idealized world.^[29] Continuity of megaron-like halls persisted in Dark Age villages, particularly as markers of elite residences, as seen at Lefkandi on Euboea around 1000 BCE.^[27] Excavations there uncovered an apsidal structure with megaron-plan features, including a large central room and porch, interpreted as an elite mansion or heroön associated with high-status burials, demonstrating how such forms adapted for prominent families amid post-palatial recovery.^[27] These buildings, measuring up to 50 meters in length, highlight social differentiation in otherwise modest settlements, with the megaron's axial layout facilitating ceremonial activities.^[30] The megaron's axial plan also exerted influence on early Archaic temples (ca. 700–500 BCE), where its rectangular form and longitudinal access were adapted for religious architecture, shifting the focus from domestic to sacred functions.^[3] Temples at sites like Thermon and Eretria retained the megaron's porch-room sequence, with the cella echoing the inner hall, to house cult statues and rituals, marking a conceptual bridge between household and divine spaces.^[29] Scholars such as Michael Cosmopoulos (2025) explore how archaeological remains, including megaron structures, reflect a dynamic interplay between material culture and oral narratives in epic poetry, where such features symbolized continuity from Bronze Age elites to Iron Age bards.^[31] Evidence for these adaptations remains fragmentary due to limited Dark Age excavations, with sites like Nichoria in Messenia illustrating significant gaps; while Submycenaean and Protogeometric layers reveal simple huts rather than elaborate megarons, poor preservation from erosion and soil conditions has obscured potential elite structures, leaving room for future discoveries to clarify continuity.^[32]^[33]

Architectural Features

Overall Layout

The megaron exemplifies a tripartite spatial organization, comprising an open porch (stoa) supported by two columns, an anteroom or vestibule (prodomos) of comparable dimensions to the main space, and the principal hall (domos), which forms the core of the structure.^[1]^[34] This layout follows a rectilinear plan with axial alignment along a longitudinal axis, emphasizing a processional approach from the porch through the vestibule to the domos.^[35] Doorways connecting these spaces are typically positioned off-center, a design choice that enhanced security by complicating direct lines of sight and access.^[36] The main hall generally measures 10–15 meters in length, often approaching a near-square proportion within a 1:2 length-to-width ratio for the overall complex, though the vestibule and porch extend the total footprint.^[37]^[35] Structures were oriented toward the east or southeast, allowing morning sunlight to illuminate the interior while evoking symbolic associations with dawn and renewal.^[34] In palatial contexts, the megaron integrated into broader complexes via encircling corridors and open courts, isolating it for ceremonial or administrative use while connecting it to surrounding rooms.^[34] Scale varied significantly, with palatial examples reaching dimensions around 12 by 15 meters for the domos, as seen in major sites, contrasted by smaller rural or non-palatial forms adapted for domestic purposes.^[37] Archaeological plans from these sites reveal a consistent rectilinear form, underscoring the megaron's role as a standardized architectural module across Mycenaean settlements.^[1] Within the domos, a central hearth provided both functional light and a focal point for gatherings.^[1]

Interior Components

The interior of the megaron was characterized by a tripartite spatial arrangement that integrated key fixtures to emphasize centrality and hierarchy, with the main hall serving as the symbolic core. Dominating this space was a monumental circular hearth, typically measuring 3 to 4 meters in diameter, positioned at the center of the room and often coated in painted plaster for decorative effect.^[38]^[37] This hearth functioned as the primary source of light and warmth, while also holding ritual significance as the focal point for communal gatherings and ceremonies.^[39] Surrounding the hearth were four wooden columns, arranged in a square formation to frame it visually and structurally, often featuring fluted shafts painted in vibrant colors such as red to enhance their ornamental role.^[39]^[40] These columns not only supported the elevated roof structure above the hearth but also symbolized stability and royal authority within the space.^[34] Positioned along the right-hand wall, opposite the entrance to the main hall, was a raised throne or dais, constructed on a low platform to elevate the ruler and underscore their central role in palace proceedings.^[2]^[37] This seating area, sometimes flanked by benches, reinforced the megaron's function as an audience chamber through its strategic placement, aligning with the room's axial orientation.^[34] The walls were adorned with frescoes on plastered surfaces, depicting dynamic scenes such as hunts, griffins, and processional figures, which conveyed themes of power, mythology, and elite identity.^[41]^[42] These paintings, applied in vibrant pigments directly to wet plaster, transformed the interior into a visually imposing environment that amplified the symbolic weight of the space.^[43] In certain variants, such as at Pylos, shallow basins or channels adjacent to the throne facilitated libation rites, suggesting elements of purification or offering within the ritual framework of the hall.^[37] The flooring consisted of packed earth or pebbles, often finished with a layer of smooth stucco or plaster for durability and cleanliness, occasionally incorporating subtle drainage features to manage moisture.^[34]^[44] This practical yet understated surface complemented the more elaborate upper elements, grounding the megaron's interior in everyday functionality while preserving its ceremonial essence.^[45]

Typological Variations

The typological classification of megara in prehistoric Greece was first systematically outlined by Valentin Müller in 1944, who traced their evolution from a basic "long room" form—a rectangular structure with a door in one long wall—to more complex variants influenced by regional and cultural developments across the Aegean. Müller's framework emphasized changes in plan, such as the relocation of the entrance to a short wall, the addition of a vestibule or anteroom, and the incorporation of a porch, as well as modifications in size, roof type (from flat to pitched), and decorative elements like painted walls and floors. These variations reflect the megaron's adaptation from simple dwellings in early strata at Troy to larger, multifunctional halls in the Aegean during the Bronze Age, with attachments like internal partitions dividing the space into antechamber and main room.^[6] Regional differences further diversified megaron forms, with mainland Greek examples predominantly rectilinear and oriented toward the east or southeast to align with solar paths, as seen in Mycenaean palatial complexes. In contrast, Early Bronze Age sites in western Anatolia, such as Limantepe, exhibit hybrid megaron-apsidal plans where long walls terminate in curved ends, possibly reflecting local Anatolian building traditions or environmental adaptations for stability on uneven terrain. Cycladic islands show similar rectilinear types but with occasional apsidal influences from Anatolian exchanges, while potential Italian parallels in later periods suggest broader Mediterranean diffusion of apsidal-ended halls, though direct links remain tentative.^[46] Non-palatial megara, particularly in Late Helladic IIIC settlements, often appear as smaller-scale rural halls integrated into village layouts, lacking the grandeur of palatial versions but retaining core elements like a central hearth for communal activities. Examples include modest megaron structures at sites like Chalandritsa-Stavros, where LH IIIB–C buildings served local elite or communal functions amid the post-palatial collapse of centralized systems. Debates persist regarding the megaron's origins, with scholars questioning whether the mainland form derived independently from Anatolian prototypes or incorporated Minoan hall systems, evident in hybrid configurations at Knossos during the Late Bronze Age. At Knossos, the final palatial phase features megaron-like throne rooms blending Minoan pier-and-door arrangements with Mycenaean axial plans, suggesting cultural synthesis under Mycenaean influence after ca. 1450 BCE. Classification criteria typically include overall size (ranging from 10–15 m in simple forms to over 30 m in palatial ones), hearth position (central and circular in elite variants for ritual emphasis, offset in utilitarian types), and porch complexity (from open verandas to columned prostyle entrances enhancing ceremonial access). Recent studies, such as those reanalyzing Midea's megaron complex through stratigraphic and comparative plans, refine these typologies by highlighting transitional forms between LH IIIB and IIIC.^[47]

Construction Techniques

Wall and Foundation Methods

The foundations of Mycenaean megaron structures were primarily constructed using Cyclopean masonry, a technique involving massive, irregularly shaped limestone boulders roughly fitted together without mortar to ensure stability, especially in seismically active regions. These foundations formed a robust stone socle typically reaching heights of 1 to 1.5 meters, while the surrounding palace fortifications and approaches to the citadels at Mycenae and Tiryns featured much taller Cyclopean walls, up to 8 meters or more.^[38]^[48] The superstructure rose from this base using sun-dried mudbricks, typically measuring approximately 30 cm by 30 cm by 60 cm, laid on wooden frameworks for added reinforcement. Common methods included wattle-and-daub construction, with woven branches plastered over with clay for lightweight yet durable walls, or pisé techniques employing rammed earth compacted between temporary formwork to create solid, monolithic surfaces. Walls averaged 1 to 1.5 meters in thickness, incorporating offsets—vertical joints that shifted the alignment of courses.^[39]^[49]^[50] Doorways and windows featured wooden lintels to span the openings, supporting the load above while maintaining narrow widths—often less than 3 meters—for defensive purposes, restricting entry and enhancing security within the palace complex. These elements integrated seamlessly with the adjacent porch through aligned masonry courses, forming a cohesive barrier.^[51] Soil analyses from archaeological excavations confirm that clays for mudbricks were sourced locally, with geochemical profiling at Late Helladic sites like Kastrouli revealing compositional matches between building materials and nearby alluvial deposits, minimizing transport costs and ensuring material suitability.^[52] Preservation efforts contend with severe erosion of the mudbrick superstructures and weathering of the stone bases, exacerbated by exposure to rainfall and temperature fluctuations.

Roofing and Structural Supports

The structural framework of the megaron relied on a trabeated system, characterized by vertical posts supporting horizontal lintels, eschewing arched construction in favor of wooden beams and columns to distribute the roof's weight.^[39] At the core of this system were four wooden columns positioned around the central hearth, which bore the primary load of the roof through an entablature of beams spanning between them.^[34] These columns rested on circular stone bases, approximately 0.6 to 1 meter in diameter, providing stability against settling and uneven terrain; evidence from excavations at Pylos and Mycenae indicates that the bases were often finished with plaster and may have featured painted decoration on the capitals, though direct traces are scarce due to wood's perishability.^[53] The roof itself remains a subject of scholarly debate, with proposals ranging from a flat design to a low-pitched gabled form, due to the absence of intact superstructures and reliance on indirect evidence such as carbonized beam fragments and comparative models from earlier Helladic periods.^[54] Proponents of a flat roof cite baked clay fragments from Mycenae and Pylos, interpreted as remnants of a horizontal covering layered over wooden rafters, possibly sealed with mud or reeds for waterproofing, which aligns with Minoan influences observed in palace layouts.^[34] In contrast, advocates for a gabled roof draw on Homeric descriptions of smoke rising through roof openings and northern architectural traditions, suggesting timber trusses to span the wider spans without central sagging.^[54] A key feature in both interpretations is a central opening above the hearth, likely functioning as a clerestory or lantern to vent smoke and admit light, supported by the four columns and evidenced by terracotta chimney fragments at Pylos that imply a raised superstructure.^[39] This ventilation system would have facilitated hearth use while maintaining interior illumination, with models from contemporary sites reinforcing the notion of a louvered or screened aperture rather than a fully open hole.^[54] Recent three-dimensional reconstructions, such as those of the Pylos megaron, continue to explore these configurations, often favoring flat roofs based on structural simulations that prioritize load distribution via the column-entablature assembly, though the pitch debate persists without definitive archaeological resolution.^[39]

Notable Examples

Tiryns

The megaron at Tiryns occupies a prominent position on a low rocky hill in the fertile Argolid plain of the northeastern Peloponnese, Greece, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns, which highlight the Mycenaean civilization's architectural achievements.^[55] The site was first systematically excavated in the 1880s by Heinrich Schliemann, who uncovered major portions of the palace complex, with subsequent work by Wilhelm Dörpfeld and investigations by teams from the German Archaeological Institute, including a comprehensive topographical survey in 1980.^[56] Constructed around 1350 BCE during the Late Helladic IIIB period, the Tiryns megaron exemplifies the tripartite layout typical of Mycenaean palaces, consisting of a shallow 1.5 m-deep porch, an adjoining vestibule, and a rectangular main hall measuring 13 x 12 m.^[57] The main hall featured a central hearth surrounded by four wooden columns supporting the roof and an elevated throne platform along the right-hand (northern) wall, fragments of which survive as serpentine stone slabs now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.^[58] Walls were adorned with vibrant frescoes, including blue-painted scenes depicting boar hunts with dogs and spearmen, as well as motifs involving lions, reflecting elite hunting themes and artistic influences from Minoan Crete.^[59] These decorative elements, recovered in fragments from the palace debris, underscore the megaron's role as a ceremonial and administrative center within the palatial system, managing regional agriculture, trade, and resources.^[56] In Greek mythology, Tiryns is closely linked to Heracles, portrayed as the hero's residence during his Twelve Labors, particularly those imposed by King Eurystheus, establishing the site as a legendary seat of power.^[60] Excavations in the lower citadel have uncovered adjacent storage rooms and workshops filled with pithoi and tools, reinforcing the megaron's integration into an economic hub for provisioning the palace and supporting its administrative functions.^[61] The structure remains partially restored, with its massive cyclopean walls—up to 8 m thick and constructed from boulders weighing over a ton—standing largely intact despite earthquakes and later reuse, allowing visitors to appreciate the original scale and defensive integration of the upper citadel.^[56] Ongoing conservation by the Greek Ephorate of Antiquities focuses on stabilizing these fortifications while preserving the megaron's exposed foundations and drainage systems.^[56]

Mycenae

The megaron at Mycenae occupies a central position on the summit of the Acropolis hill, integrated into the palace complex constructed around 1300 BCE. Excavated by Heinrich Schliemann during his campaigns in the 1870s, it forms the core of the citadel's administrative and ceremonial structures.^[56] The hall itself measures approximately 13 m by 11 m, featuring a deep porch that extends the overall structure to about 23 m east-west by 11.5 m north-south, with the layout oriented east-west and aligned axially with the monumental Lion Gate below.^[56]^[62] Distinctive elements include remnants of a throne on the southern wall, enhancements in ashlar masonry for key structural components, and a central circular hearth (diameter 3.7 m) showing clear evidence of soot accumulation from prolonged use.^[56] The megaron connects symbolically and spatially to the nearby shaft graves of Grave Circle A via an access ramp, facilitating cult activities and ancestor veneration, while functioning as a probable royal audience hall for elite gatherings.^[62] Layers of destruction from a major fire around 1200 BCE sealed the structure, preserving artifacts such as ivory inlays and fresco fragments within the collapsed remains.^[62] The foundations incorporate Cyclopean techniques for stability on the steep terrain.^[56] As of 2025, the site is managed by the Greek Ministry of Culture, with ongoing studies contributing to understanding Mycenaean palatial architecture.^[55]

Pylos

The Palace of Nestor at Pylos, situated on the Messenian coast in western Greece, represents a key Mycenaean site identified with the Homeric king Nestor; it was excavated primarily by Carl Blegen between 1939 and the 1950s, with full publication in the 1960s.^[63]^[64] Unique among major Mycenaean palaces, Pylos features a dual megaron structure: the primary hall (Room 6), adjacent to the Oil Magazines (Rooms 23–24) and measuring approximately 12 by 11 meters, dates to around 1300 BCE, while a smaller secondary megaron (Room 46, known as the Queen's Megaron) lies to the southwest.^[37]^[65] Both halls include central circular hearths framed by four fluted columns that supported the roof, with the main hearth reaching about 4 meters in diameter and decorated in painted plaster.^[34]^[66] The complex exhibits a southwestern orientation, aligning with the broader palace layout, and lies near the Archives Complex (Rooms 7–8), where over 1,000 Linear B tablets were recovered, documenting administrative functions such as resource allocation and personnel management under the wanax (king).^[65]^[67] Distinctive features include the absence of a formal throne—instead, raised plaster platforms or benches served ceremonial roles—and vibrant frescoes adorning the walls, such as the lyre-player scene (evoking musical performance) and fragmented depictions of warriors in combat or procession.^[68]^[69]^[70] These megara were integral to the palace's Linear B-recorded economy, particularly through proximity to oil storage facilities holding vast quantities of perfumed olive oil for trade, anointing, and ritual use, as evidenced by tablets listing production quotas and distributions.^[71] The entire palace burned during its final destruction around 1200 BCE, likely in Late Helladic IIIB2 or early IIIC phases, preserving the structures and artifacts in situ for modern study.^[72]

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[31]
Plan of the Megaron B Complex (Athens Archaeological Society,...
Using a fresh, dynamic approach, Michael Cosmopoulos reconstructs the world of the Homeric poems and explores the interplay between poetry, social memory, and ...
[32]
[PDF] EXCAVATIONS AT NICHORIA IN MESSENIA: 1972-1973
The 1972-1973 excavations at Nichoria aimed to investigate the village layout, and were the final large-scale excavations in a 5-year program.
[33]
New Thoughts on Nichoria's Dark Age - Archaeology Magazine
Jan 7, 2015 · Daniel J. Fallu of Boston University have examined soil clinging to poorly preserved bones collected in the 1960s from the Greek village of Nichoria, Messinia.Missing: megaron gaps
[34]
[PDF] the megaron of the mycenaean palace | smea
The hearth is a normal feature in the megaron, and is usually placed close to the center of the room. The megaron sometimes has a porch. There are no columns.
[35]
"The Ins and Outs of the Great Megaron: Symbol, Performance, and ...
The Megaron exemplifies a negotiable field of practices, crucial for understanding Mycenaean political power, beyond simplistic models of governance. " To fail ...
[36]
Lesson 3: Narrative – Aegean Prehistoric Archaeology
Notable features of these structures are the presence of aligned off-center doorways, the absence of cut stone, and the failure to employ the half-timbering ...
[37]
Nestor's Palace at Pylos - Odyssey: Adventures in Archaeology
The Throne Room (6) is a spacious hall (ca. 13 x 11 metres) with a large circular hearth (diameter = 4 m.) in the centre (right), surrounded by four columns ( ...
[38]
Mycenaean Civilization - World History Encyclopedia
Oct 2, 2019 · This was the heart of the palace and contained a large circular hearth (usually more than 3 m / 9.8 ft. in diameter) with four wooden columns ...
[39]
Mycenaean Architecture | The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age ...
The houses and palaces of mainland Greece were characterized by their organization around the rectilinear megaron hall. The palaces served as redistributive ...
[40]
[PDF] Color Architecture Landscape in the Ancient Mediterranean World ...
and the nature of the loggias and porticos with elegant wooden pillars in smooth trunk should taper down, circular, often painted red (sometimes fluted.
[41]
Mycenaean Painting (Chapter 43) - The Art and Archaeology of the ...
Mycenaean frescoes are aimed above all at celebrating royal power, under several guises. A number of subjects are borrowed directly from the Mycenaean Crete of ...
[42]
Built by Giants, Ruled by Kings: Art and Power in Mycenaean Greece
Jul 26, 2025 · The frescoes discovered in palatial centers such as Mycenae, Pylos, and Tiryns depict dynamic scenes of processions, hunting, and mythological ...
[43]
Mycenaean Wall Painting in Context: New Discoveries, Old Finds ...
Nov 9, 2016 · The plume of a griffin and the head of a young “prince” with a possible ivory throne are rare examples of wall paintings described in the text ...<|separator|>
[44]
Early Mycenaean (Chapter Seven) - Bronze Age Eleusis and the ...
Floors were made of packed earth and pebbles and covered with a layer of yellowish plaster of the same type as the one that covered the walls. Two piles of ...Missing: stamped | Show results with:stamped
[45]
https://brill.com/downloadpdf/book/9789004528529/BP000003.pdf
[46]
Late Bronze Age Apsidal and Oval Buildings in Greece and adjacent ...
Sep 27, 2013 · Apsidal and elliptical buildings are characteristic of rural societies. In Greece their tradition goes back to the late Neolithic period.
[47]
Midea: the Megaron Complex and shrine area
The first phase of the LH IIIB megaron, for which artificial terraces were constructed, consisted of the standard plan with courtyard, porch, main room, and ...Missing: typology | Show results with:typology
[48]
Monumental Architecture and the Construction of the Mycenaean State
The site of Mycenae today is dominated by the massive fortification walls and extensive palace remains that blanket much of the acropolis hill.
[49]
(PDF) OFFSETS IN MYCENAEAN ARCHITECTURE - Academia.edu
An 'offset' is a vertical joint that marks a change in the course of a wall, such that one section of the wall is not aligned with its neighbour.Missing: earthquake resistance
[50]
(PDF) Rectangular Blocks vs Polygonal Walls in Archaeoseismology
Sep 10, 2025 · The polygonal masonry possesses sufficient strength and stability to withstand moderate earthquakes. ... This feature is of particular importance ...
[51]
5.3: Mycenaean Art - Humanities LibreTexts
Oct 1, 2024 · The main approach to the citadel is through the Lion Gate, a cyclopean-walled entrance way. The gate is 20 feet wide, which is large enough ...
[52]
characterization and provenance of ceramic artifacts and local clays ...
Jun 5, 2020 · The present study deals with the characterization of a ceramic assemblage from the Late Mycenaean (Late Helladic III) settlement of Kastrouli, ...
[53]
EXCAVATIONS AT MYCENAE. - Cambridge University Press
Two slender wooden columns 5 or 6 m. high, carrying the beams which ... Another indication of the height of the columns of the Megaron may be gained ...
[54]
The Roof of the Mycenaean Megaron - jstor
the other dimensions are conjectured by MUiller, on the analogy of similar pl brought to light in the contemporary Early Helladic settlement at Asine, to h.<|control11|><|separator|>
[55]
Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns
The archaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns are the imposing ruins of the two greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilization.Missing: megaron Schliemann German teams
[56]
[PDF] The Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns
- The Megaron: It is the center of the palace. It consists in a rectangular roofed unit,. (inner dimensions: 23 by 11,50 m) oriented approximately from east to ...
[57]
The Prehistoric Palace of the Kings of Tiryns. The ... - ResearchGate
Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890) was a businessman and self-taught archaeologist who is best known for discovering the legendary city of Troy.Missing: Argolid | Show results with:Argolid
[58]
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Tiryns_throne_(14th_cent._B.C.
[59]
Fresco Representing a Hunt, from the Later Palace at Tiryns
Fragments from a dozen large frescoes lay jumbled together in this heap; their painted ... boars. Xenophon has left a description of how the wild boar was hunted ...
[60]
Thinking comparatively about Greek mythology XII, Hēraklēs at his ...
Oct 11, 2019 · Myth tells us that the grandest of all Greek heroes, Hēraklēs, was stationed primarily at Tiryns.
[61]
Tiryns - Madain Project (en)
The citadel is renowned for its Cyclopean masonry walls, constructed from massive limestone blocks, some weighing up to 15 tons, interlocked without mortar.
[62]
Mycenae, The “Palace” and Grave Circle A - Smarthistory
The “Palace” and Grave Circle A, Mycenae, c. 1600-1100 BCE. Seeking the mythic cities of Homer, Heinrich Schliemann identified Mycenae in the 19th century.
[63]
griffin: a greek symbol - DAIMONAS
The griffin accompanying the goddess is a theme which is continued by the Mycenaeans and appears on frescoes found at Mycenae. Above is a fragment of a wall ...
[64]
Research Projects - Mycenae | Archaeology Department
The geophysical survey and systematic excavation of the Lower Town at Mycenae (2003-2013) revealed an extensive Mycenaean settlement outside the citadel.Missing: 2020 subsurface extensions megaron
[65]
Palace of Nestor, Pylos, Greece - Oxford Reference
Excavations by Carl Blegen in 1939 and 1952–66 revealed an extensive palace built in the 14th century bc that included an archive room full of clay tablets ...
[66]
[PDF] A Greek State in Formation: The Origins of Mycenaean Pylos
Blegen also discovered offering tables in his excavations at Pylos, one on the floor of the Megaron near the throne of the wanax (see figure 35). We believe ...
[67]
[PDF] Some similarities in Mycenaean palace plans - KU ScholarWorks
Mycenaean palaces at Pylos and Tiryns have two megara, a third megaron-like structure, and a bathroom. These similarities allow for similar structures at ...
[68]
Nestor's Palace – Queen's Megaron – Ancient Greece: Φώς & Λέξη
Sep 14, 2024 · In the center of the room is a circular hearth, smaller than that in the Throne Room, but similarly painted with flames, zigzags, and spirals.Missing: dimensions | Show results with:dimensions
[69]
The Linear B documents from Rooms 7–8 in The Mycenaean palace ...
Feb 6, 2025 · This paper investigates the information that can be drawn from the Linear B tablets in Rooms 7–8 (Archives Complex) and their context, ...
[70]
https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/misinterpreting-evidence-fragment-fresco-pylos/
[71]
Lyre Player and Bird Fresco - World History Encyclopedia
Oct 1, 2020 · A fresco from the throne room of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos, often referred to as the 'Orpheus Fresco' depicts a seated lyre player and a bird in flight.
[72]
Misinterpreting the evidence? - A fragment of a fresco from Pylos
Jul 1, 2020 · A fragmentary fresco from Pylos has been reconstructed as depicting a warrior with a round shield with armband and grip.
[73]
[PDF] In the Mycenaean palaces a new room known as the megaron ...
When room 16 was created and converted into a storeroom for what appears to be painted kylikes, the proximity and easy access to the megaron made it an obvious ...
[74]
(PDF) The date of the final destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos
Pylos wall paintings from Blegen's excavations fall into two major groups according to their find-spots. The first consists of fragments in situ on ground ...Missing: details | Show results with:details