The Ancient Mycenaean Civilization

Not much is know about the ancient Mycenaeans, but it has been discovered that their culture was very similar to that of the ancient Minoans. They differed, however, in their warfare. While the Minoans didn't rely at all on defenses because of their naval power, the Mycenaeans fortified their cities, and spent large amounts of money constructing fortifications. They were constantly on the defensive, but they also went abroad trading or raiding. Ancient texts in Asia Minor recorded raids and attacks from the Mycenae, and the Egyptians recorded that the people of Mycenae were raiders.
The Mycenaean culture revolved around a war chief, or wanax. Because of their warlike nature, the Mycenae didn't use the hierarchical structure as the Minoans did. When the wanax died, the people buried him. Depending on the wanax's power, he would be buried differently. If he had been extremely powerful, he would have been buried in a deep shaft with large amounts of gold, jewelery, and pottery. In the later years of their civilization, the Mycenae started to bury their leaders in Tholos tombs, which were large caves cut into the sides of hills, and then covered.
The architecture of the Mycenae was very similar to the Minoan, but it varied in style and decoration. The Minoans' architectural style was very elaborate and decorative, but the Mycenaean was more robust and practical. Their cities and fortresses were encompassed by huge perimeter walls. the Mycenaean art centered around war and hunting, unlike the Minoan art.

Minoan Architecture

Minoan architecture was very similar to that of the Romans. The palaces and administrative buildings were built with great care. Columns and arches were very prominent throughout their architectual style, and often surrounded small pavilions or courtyards. The minoan towns and cities were very orginized. Some of the later Minoan cities had paved roads, and were connected by paved roads. Also, the cites and towns were located strategically on hilltops and other important locations. As previously stated, Minoan towns and cities were not fortified due to the immense power of their navy.

Like the Romans, the Minoans had a plumbing system of sorts. They used stone aquaducts, wells, drainaige systmes, and irrigation to keep the Minoan higharchy supplied with fresh water. The interior of Minoan buildings had a great deal of detail lavished onto them. The palaces, administrative buildings, and homes of the wealthy had such comodities as staircases, light wells, massive columns, storage utilities, and outdoor gathering places. These gathering places were the precurser to theaters.

Minoan Warfare

Minoan Warfare

Minoan Warfare was fought entirely with war ships. Such was the Minoans naval power, that they relied little or not at all on the actions of foot troops. This is evident because the palaces, towns, and cities of the Minoan mainland, Crete, were unfortified, unlike their Mycenean counterparts.

Originally, the ship battles between the Minoans and their enemies were decided by boarding actions and projectile fire. The boarding actions were carried out by soldiers that the ships carried and after the fighting started, the oarsmen. It wasn't until several hundread years of these brutal boarding actions that the tactic of destroying the enemy ship came about. This was primarily accomplished with a 100 pound ram fixed to the front of the ship. This tactic worked until the warships were built in a larger yet less manuverable fasion. When the ships were built in this manner, the ship boarding tactic was once again used. Grapling hooks and boadring planks were also used to great effect.

Minoans and Mycenaeans

This blog is dedicated to the traditions, culture and other stuff of the ancient Minoan and Mycenaean people. It will describe various parts of the ancient civilizations of the ancient Minoan and Mycenaean people.