Citadel Grave Circle A

Citadel Grave Circle A

1550-1500 BCE

1868

Single Built Works

Greece (nation)

Mycenae (deserted settlement)

Mycenaean

cemeteries

View of Grave Circle A at the citadel of Mycenae in Greece. "Grave Circle A lies directly inside and to the right of the Lion Gate entrance. It contains 6 shaft graves, which contained 19 bodies: 9 men, 8 women, 2 children. Five of these Royal Graves were discovered with their embalmed bodies and grave goods intact by Schliemann ( the last was discovered by a Greek archaeologist named Stamatakis) and their finds nearly fill the main gallery of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens ... The shaft graves date to 1580-1500 BC and reveal extensive trading practices and impressive wealth. Found in these 6 graves were objects representing or at least inspired by Mycenean, Minoan, Cycladic, Hittite (Anatolian), and Egyptian cultures. Based on the condition of the finds, scholars suppose that the bodies were laid in on top of a layer of pebbles and grave goods were then placed within the grave. Sherds of cups found near the top of the shafts suggest one final toast to the departed before the graves were filled in with dirt,"--Dr. J's Illustrated Guide to the Classical World website.

diameter 27.5 meters

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