Grave Circle B
| Grave Circle B | |
|---|---|
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Native name Greek: Ταφικός περίβολος Β' |
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| Location | Mycenae |
| Area | Argolis, Greece |
| Formed | ca. 1675/1650-1550 BC |
| Built for | Burial place of the Mycenaean ruling families |
Grave Circle B in Mycenae is a 17th–16th century BC royal cemetery situated outside the late Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, southern Greece. This burial complex was constructed outside the fortification walls of Mycenae and together with Grave Circle A represent one of the major characteristics of the early phase of the Mycenaean civilization.
Grave Circle B, with a diameter of 28 m (92 ft), is situated at a distance of 117 m (384 ft) west of the Lion Gate, the main entrance of Mycenae. The burial structure was enclosed by a circular stone wall, 1.55 m (5 ft) thick and 1.20 m (4 ft) high. The Circle hosts a total of 26 graves; 14 of which are shaft graves and the rest simple cists. A total of 24 persons were found in the shafts, while six of the shaft graves were family tombs in which several occupants were found.
Most shafts were marked by a pile of stones and on four of them stelae were erected. The latter were up to 2 m (7 ft) high. Two of the stelae, on graves Alpha and Gamma, were engraved with hunting scenes.
Mycenaean shaft graves are essentially an Argive variant of the rudimentary Middle Helladic funerary tradition with features derived from Early Bronze Age traditions developed locally in mainland Greece. During the first phase of use of the Grave Circle, the interments were typical of the burials of that period; they were small and shallow with small and poor goods found next to the deceased. The graves became gradually larger, richer and more numerous in goods, while female burials were also introduced. Moreover, diadems were found in both sexes and in all the age groups buried. The number of ornaments was also considerably increased and especially associated with female burials. An additional new feature was that half of the graves, regardless of the sex of the deceased, were equipped with imports from the nearby Cyclades islands. The number of imports continues to grow steadily in the early Late Helladic period (ca. 1600–1550 BCE), while the first objects of Cretan origin make also their appearance.
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