CLASSICS 1A03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Trojan War, Mycenaean Greece, Cultural Memory
4 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Stories in iliad and odyssey retain cultural memory of mycenaean civilization long after they had disappeared. Stories set in ca. 1200 bc but not written down in greece until c. 750 bc. Iliad: warrior culture like mycenae, with wealth of metal, reference to trade and warrior honour system. But: that isn"t an accurate depiction of the iron age greece. No monumental architecture, limited trade, reduced social organization. In book 2, catalogue of greek ships involved in expedition to troy. 30% of towns named in the catalogue of ships no longer existed in the 8th cent. Had mycenaean settlements, but no iron age settlements. Society described is much less rich than in the iliad. Reflects more of the dark age than the bronze age. Contains remnants of the past culture its current audience wouldn"t understand. Fresco of bard- reflects the iliad (phoenix and others singing songs) Themes of hunting and chariot typical of the iliad.
