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The Mycenaeans
Following on from Rodney Castleden's best-selling study Minoans, this major contribution to our understanding of the crucial Mycenaean period clearly and effectively brings together research and knowledge we have accumulated since the discovery of the remains of the civilization of Mycenae in the 1870s.
In lively prose, informed by the latest research and using a full bibliography and over 100 illustrations, this vivid study delivers the fundamentals of the Mycenaean civilization including its culture, hierarchy, economy and religion. Castleden introduces controversial views of the Mycenaean palaces as temples, and studies their impressive sea empire and their crucial interaction with the outside Bronze Age world before discussing the causes of the end of their civilization.
Providing clear, easy information and understanding, this is a perfect starting point for the study of the Greek Bronze Age.
In lively prose, informed by the latest research and using a full bibliography and over 100 illustrations, this vivid study delivers the fundamentals of the Mycenaean civilization including its culture, hierarchy, economy and religion. Castleden introduces controversial views of the Mycenaean palaces as temples, and studies their impressive sea empire and their crucial interaction with the outside Bronze Age world before discussing the causes of the end of their civilization.
Providing clear, easy information and understanding, this is a perfect starting point for the study of the Greek Bronze Age.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 19, 2013
The book itself wasn't horrible. It was condensed, yet full of useful knowledge. I do love the comparisons between Mycenaean Greece and the modern world when trying to explain the language differences.
I do have a few gripes about it. It does get a bit stale and dry at times. On top of that the fall of the Mycenaean civilization was extremely short. I understand that there are a lot of holes in this period in history, but expanding on it would have been nice.
I do have a few gripes about it. It does get a bit stale and dry at times. On top of that the fall of the Mycenaean civilization was extremely short. I understand that there are a lot of holes in this period in history, but expanding on it would have been nice.
February 6, 2019
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
This is a mostly textbookish sort of primer on the Mycenaeans: a bit more up to date than the Penguin classic on the Greeks I read recently, by Kitto, but not necessarily in line with the latest ideas as I remember them either. He relies quite heavily on Homer as a historical source; although I know there is certainly some historicity in Homer (the descriptions of armour and other artefacts are often correct in Homer for when we think the Trojan War occurred, rather than for when the epic was written down, suggesting that it does have a good deal of content from being originally composed nearer in time to the actual events), it’s also full of Gods and magic — not usually considered key markers of accurate history writing.
It was basically what I expected from something of a rather textbooky nature, though: dry at times, expanding on some not-necessarily-interesting (to the casual reader, anyway) points, and generally taking a long time to get where it was going. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book, but I wouldn’t particularly recommend it to those without a deep interest in the details.
This is a mostly textbookish sort of primer on the Mycenaeans: a bit more up to date than the Penguin classic on the Greeks I read recently, by Kitto, but not necessarily in line with the latest ideas as I remember them either. He relies quite heavily on Homer as a historical source; although I know there is certainly some historicity in Homer (the descriptions of armour and other artefacts are often correct in Homer for when we think the Trojan War occurred, rather than for when the epic was written down, suggesting that it does have a good deal of content from being originally composed nearer in time to the actual events), it’s also full of Gods and magic — not usually considered key markers of accurate history writing.
It was basically what I expected from something of a rather textbooky nature, though: dry at times, expanding on some not-necessarily-interesting (to the casual reader, anyway) points, and generally taking a long time to get where it was going. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book, but I wouldn’t particularly recommend it to those without a deep interest in the details.
March 8, 2024
I just finished reading Mycenaeans by Rodney Castleden, and I would like to share my thoughts with you.
What is this book about? It describes how the Mycenaeans lived and how their civilization influenced the classical Greeks that came after them.
What do I like about this book? I like how each chapter focused on a different topic about the Mycenaean civilization and provided basic information about Bronze Age Greece.
What do I dislike about this book? I had one major issue with this book: the author focused on Homer's interpretation of Mycenaean Greece to an obsessive amount. Homer lived five hundred years after the Mycenaean civilization collapsed. Yes, Homer had access to documents that haven't withstood the passage of time, but the Mycenaean world varied drastically from the one in which he lived. Even the mindset and worldview had changed. In all fairness, the author did point out a few anachronisms, but not as many as he should have.
What do I rate this book? I rate this book a three out of five stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes (hesitantly).
Why would I recommend this book? I would recommend this book because it provides a good introductory look into Mycenaean life. But keep in mind that the author relies heavily on Homer.
To whom would I recommend this book? I would recommend this to anyone who has read or is planing to read The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.
What is this book about? It describes how the Mycenaeans lived and how their civilization influenced the classical Greeks that came after them.
What do I like about this book? I like how each chapter focused on a different topic about the Mycenaean civilization and provided basic information about Bronze Age Greece.
What do I dislike about this book? I had one major issue with this book: the author focused on Homer's interpretation of Mycenaean Greece to an obsessive amount. Homer lived five hundred years after the Mycenaean civilization collapsed. Yes, Homer had access to documents that haven't withstood the passage of time, but the Mycenaean world varied drastically from the one in which he lived. Even the mindset and worldview had changed. In all fairness, the author did point out a few anachronisms, but not as many as he should have.
What do I rate this book? I rate this book a three out of five stars.
Would I recommend this book? Yes (hesitantly).
Why would I recommend this book? I would recommend this book because it provides a good introductory look into Mycenaean life. But keep in mind that the author relies heavily on Homer.
To whom would I recommend this book? I would recommend this to anyone who has read or is planing to read The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.
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October 9, 2022*early greece*
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews