The Lion Gate, Mycenae


The Lion Gate

https://smarthistory.org/lion-gate-mycenae/

 The Mycenaean culture dominated southern Greece from 1600 B.C.E. to 1100 B.C.E. around the time of the Bronze Era in Greece. The Mycenaean Period also referred to as the "age of heroes" was a time well known for Homer's Epics, tales of Greek Mythology that we are familiar with even today. The culture made famous by stories, also contributed some of the earliest metal workings, large-scale construction, and readable writings ever discovered by historians. 

 Mycenae - HISTORY

Mycenae, in Southern Greece was seen as a fortress on a hill, not only because of its geographical location, but due to its sheer size. In Homer's Epics there is a story of the cyclops, a giant, one-eyed race of mythical creatures. It is said that the stones used to build The Citadel are so large, that only the Cyclops is capable of moving stones that size. Within this fortress lies The Lion Gate. As you can see in the picture, The Lion Gate is a large impression, set atop a large horizontal stone called a lintel. This is the grand entrance to the Citadel and truly is gigantic in size. The Lion Gate is important because it is said to be one of the earliest impressions of Greek art, sculpture, and architecture. This work largely inspired the Greek art-style that would follow.



 

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