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Two Mycenaean Bronzes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2013

Hartmut Matthäus
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Extract

On deposit in the Borowski collection in Basle are two unpublished Mycenaean bronzes, a short sword and a one-handled bowl, which have no exact provenance. Little more can be said other than the fact that both come from mainland Greece and from the same find context; to judge from the comparably excellent state of preservation both stem from the same grave. A similar grainy, grey-green, dark patina which covers the uncleaned interior of the bowl and one side of the sword constitutes evidence for this interpretation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 74 , November 1979 , pp. 163 - 173
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1979

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References

1 The author is very much indebted to E. Borowski, who kindly permitted him to publish these two bronzes. Figs, 1, 2, and 4 have been drawn by H. Goeldner, Marburg; the article was translated into the English by P. Yule, Marburg. The author wishes to express his gratitude to them.

The following abbreviations are used:

Analysis Furumark, A., The Mycenaean Pottery. Analysis and Classification (Stockholm, 1941).Google Scholar

CBMW Catling, H. W., Cypriote Bronzework in the Mycenaean World (Oxford, 1964).Google Scholar

Chronology Furumark, A., The Chronology of Mycenaean Pottery (Stockholm, 1941).Google Scholar

CMS Corpus der mimischen und mykenischen Siegel (ed. by I. Pini, Marburg).

NTD Persson, A. W., New Tombs at Dendra near Midea (Lund, 1942).Google Scholar

PBF Praehistorische Bronzefunde (ed. by H. Müller-Karpe, Frankfurt).

Pylos III Blegen, C. W. and collaborators, The Palace of Nestor at Pylos (Princeton, 1973).Google Scholar

RTD Persson, A. W., The Royal Tombs at Dendra near Midea (Lund, 1931).Google Scholar

SG Karo, G., Die Schachtgräber von Mykenai (München, 1930).Google Scholar

2 For a definition of the terms ‘dagger, dirk, short sword, long sword’ cf. Gordon, D. H., Antiquity xxvii (1953), 67 ff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

3 Cf. a sword of type D II from Rhodes, : AJA lxvii (1963) pl. 24.24.Google Scholar

4 Sandars, N. K., AJA lxvii (1963) 117–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

5 Sandars, N. K., AJA lxv (1961) 17–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

6 CMS I nos. 9, 11, 12, 16; Marinatos, Sp. in The European Community in Later Prehistory. Studies in Honour of C. F. C. Hawkes (London, 1971) 53 pl. 8.Google Scholar

7 e.g. SG pls. 71–90; Mylonas, G. E., Ὁ ταφικòς κύκλος Β τῶν Μυκηνῶν (Athens, 1972) pls. 17, 18, 54, 67, 68, 121.Google Scholar

8 Sandars, N. K., AJA lxvii (1963) 117 ff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar; type D I: p. 146 ff.

9 Ibid. 132 f.; BSA lxix (1974) 244.

10 CBMW 123; BSA lxix (1974) 244 f.

11 Sandars, op. cit. 125. LM/LH I daggers, which may represent forerunners of type D I: Hawes, H. Boyd, Gournia (Philadelphia, 1908) pl. iv. 50Google Scholar; PM II 628, fig. 392.17; Dor, L., Jannoray, J., van Effenterre, H. and van Effenterre, M., Kirrha (Paris, 1960) 140, pl. 58Google Scholar; PAE 1970 pl. 288; PAE 1971 pl. 344; Mylonas, G. E., Τò δυτικòν νεκροταφεῑον τῆς Ἑλευσῑνος (Athens, 1975) pl. 68Google Scholar, above.

12 Catalogue of type D I swords: Sandars, N. K., AJA lxvii (1963) 146–8.Google Scholar The following additions can be made:

Argolis, probably Dendra chamber tomb 12: Mortensen, P., Nationalmuseets Arbedsmark 1962, 120Google Scholar; Aström, P., The Cuirass Tomb and other Finds at Dendra (Göteborg, 1977) 18, pl. vii.1.Google Scholar

Aulis: Threpsiadis, I., PAE 1960, 48 pl. 29.Google Scholar

Eleona/Kos, tomb 6 or 7: Morricone, L., Ann. xliii/xliv (1965/1966) 83 figs. 63, 64.Google Scholar

Mati/Albania: Hammond, N. G. L., Epirus (Oxford, 1967) 321 fig. 20lGoogle Scholar; p. 326; Korkuti, M., Studia Albanica vii (2) (1970) 51 pl. iii.5Google Scholar; idem, Shqiperia Arheologjike (Tirane, 1971) pl. 24.

Mazaraki, Epirus, cist grave: Vokotopoulou, I. P., AE 1969, 192 fig. 4 pl. 27b.Google Scholar

Mycenae, chamber tomb 91 (2 swords): Sakellarakis, I. A. in Die kretisch-mykenische Glyptik und ihre gegenwärtigen Probleme (Boppard, 1974) 125 figs. 31, 32.Google Scholar

Nenshat/Albania: Korkuti, M., Studia Albanica vii (2) (1970) 51 pl. iii.4.Google Scholar

Pylos, chamber tomb E-6: Pylos III 188 fig. 243.5.

Trypes (near Olympia), chamber tomb Δ: Yalouris, N., ADelt xix (1964) 177 pl. 187.Google Scholar

The distribution of type D I swords has been discussed by Kilian, K., Jahresbericht des Instituts für Vorgeschichte der Universität Frankfurt (1976) 126 fig. 4.Google Scholar The sword from Trypes is omitted; he includes the blade of a sword from Lakkithra (Kephallonia) which actually belongs to type F.

13 Sandars, op. cit. 123; cf. Catling, E. A. and Catling, H. W., BSA lxix (1974) 242 ff.Google Scholar

14 L. 6 cm.; w. 5·cm. The original width of the hilt seems to have been about 6·6 cm. A part of the grip and hilt is preserved. Chr. Boehringer and H. Döhl (Göttingen) kindly allowed the publication of this fragment.

15 Cf. n. 12.—Argive Heraion tomb XXV: l. 44·5 cm.—Mycenae tomb 91: l. about 50 cm.—Giamalakis collection no. 356: l. 36·5 cm.—Mazaraki: l. 41·8 cm.—To these may be added the sword from Trypes; unfortunately no measurements are published.

16 BSA lxix (1974) 226 fig. 17.2.

17 Swords from Aulis, Mycenae tomb 91, Zapher Papoura tombs 36 and 55, Nenshat.

18 RTD 35. Swords from Dendra tholos, Knossos, New Hospital tomb II, Zapher Papoura tomb 36. Cf. two grip plates from Mycenae: Tsountas, Chr., AE 1897, 108 pl. 8.5–6Google Scholar; Haevernick, Th. E., JRGZM 7 (1960) 45, pl. 6.1.Google Scholar Relief mouldings on LH I swords: Marinatos, Sp., Hirmer, M., Kreta, Thera und das mykenische Hellas 2 (München 1973) pls. 194, 195Google Scholar; SG pl. lxxxviii.764.

19 Vokotopoulou, I. P., AE 1969, 179 ff.Google Scholar

20 Cf. n. 9.

21 Type F: Sandars, N. K., AJA lxvii (1963) 133 ff.Google Scholar; Catling, H. W., BSA lxiii (1968) 95 ff.Google Scholar; idem, RDAC 1973, 103 ff.; Branigan, K., PPS xxxviii (1972) 276 fr.Google Scholar; Macnamara, E., Cornish Archaeology xii (1973) 19 ff.Google Scholar

22 Type D II: Sandars, op. cit. 130 ff.

23 BSA lxix (1974) 243 f.

24 e.g. Archanes tholos, Phaistos tomb 8, Sellopoulo tombs 3 and 4, Zapher Papoura tombs 14 and 36, Asine tomb I 5; Dendra tombs 2 and 12, Nichoria tholos, Tragana tholos 1. The dating of these graves will be discussed by the author in PBF II 1 (forthcoming); cf. BSA lxix (1974) 254.

25 Shape a: SG pl. clxiv—shape b: Seager, R. B., Explorations in the Island of Mochlos (Philadelphia, 1912) 89, fig. 26—shape cGoogle Scholar: PAE 1970, 189, pl. 289; Sprockhoff, E., Germania xxxix (1961) 11 ff.Google Scholar; Matthäus, H., Die Kunde xxviii (1977)Google Scholar (forthcoming).

26 BSA lx (1965) 300 fig. 18.1.

27 Cauldron: Evans, A. J., Prehistoric Tombs of Knossos (London, 1906) 89 fig. 100g.Google Scholar Lekanai: CBMW 172.

28 RTD 39 fig. 46; cf. Chronology 53.

29 Schaeffer, C. F. A., Enkomi-Alasia (Paris, 1952) 111 ff.Google Scholar; LH IIIA 2 cup: ibid. 127 fig. 49.5 (Analysis type 220, motif 45.1). Cf. P. Åström in SCE IV 1 D, p. 829.

30 Tsountas, Chr., AE 1897, 105 pls. 7.3 (type A sword)Google Scholar; 8.1 (type DI sword). Cf. Sandars, N. K., AJA lxv (1961) 26Google Scholar; idem, AJA lxvii (1963) 148 pl. 24.21.

31 Stais, V., Guide illustré du Musée d'Athènes. Collection mycénienne (Athens, 1909) 103 no. 3121Google Scholar; Strong, D. E., Greek and Roman Gold and Silver Plate (London, 1966) 50.Google Scholar

32 RTD pls. ix–xi; NTD fig. 88 pl. iv; Laffineur, R., Studi micenei ed egeoanatolici xvii (1976) 189 ff.Google Scholar

33 PAE 1956, 194 ff. pls. 87.88; cf. the author's remarks in PBF II 1 (forthcoming).

34 CBMW 153; a selection of the finds from the tomb: Murray, A. S., Smith, A. H., Walters, H. B., Excavations in Cyprus (London, 1900) 35 f. figs. 63, 64.Google Scholar

35 Tsountas, Chr., AE 1888, 174 pl. 9.20.Google ScholarTsountas, Chr., Manatt, J. I., The Mycenaean Age (London, 1903) 73 fig. 20.Google ScholarMontelius, O., La Grèce préclassique (Stockholm, 1924) pl. 35.4.Google ScholarBCH lxxix (1955) 207 fig. 4.

36 Tsountas, , AE 1888, 151 ff.Google Scholar; cf. BSA lxix (1974) 254.

37 Bronze vessels: PBF II 1 (forthcoming) nos. 104, 287, 378–83.

38 AE 1888, pl. 9.26.

39 Theocharis, D., Theochari, M., AAA III (1970) 202Google Scholar, fig. 8; for type E I swords cf. AJA lxvii (1963) 132 f., 149.

40 RTD pl. xxxiii.4.

41 Furtwängler, A., Loeschke, G., Mykenische Vasen (Berlin, 1886) 8 pl. D.12.Google Scholar

42 Ibid. 7f.; cf. AJA lxvii (1963) 149.

43 Stirrup jar: Analysis motif 27.19. Pithoid jars: Analysis type 35, motifs 18. 88, 103 and 19.24.

44 BCH lxxx (1956) 283 fig. 10; PAE 1966, pl. 153a.

45 Dor, L., Jannoray, J., van Effenterre, H. and van Effenterre, M., Kirrha (Paris, 1960) 103 f. pl. lix.Google Scholar

46 Wace, A. J. B., BSA xlv (1950) 211 pl. 21a.I.Google Scholar

47 BSA lxix (1974) 236 fig. 23.28 pl. 41a–d.

48 SG pl. cix; Marinatos, Sp. in Neue Beiträge zur klassischen Altertumswissenschaft. Festschrift B. Schweitzer (1954) 11 ff.Google Scholar; Hiller, St., Antike Welt (1976) 22 ff.Google Scholar

49 Alexiou, St., Ὑστερομινωικοὶ τάφοι λιμένος Κνωσοῦ (1967) pls. 7a–b, 9a.Google Scholar

50 Karo, G., AM lv (1930), 130 f.Google Scholar, Beil. 34.1; Spyropoulos, G. Th., Ὑστερομυκηναϊκοὶ Ἑλλαδικοὶ θησαυροί (Athens, 1972) 184.Google Scholar The dating of the Tiryns hoard will be discussed by the author in PBF II 1.

51 Childe, V. G., PPS xiv (1948) 186Google Scholar; Merhart, G. v. in Festschrift des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Mainz II (1952) 39Google Scholar; Kossack, G., Studien zum Symbolgut der Urnenfelder-und Hallstattzeit Mitteleuropas (Berlin, 1954) 63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

52 The author will discuss this problem in detail elsewhere.