ARCH 0412 From Gilgamesh to Hektor: Heroes of the Bronze Age March 23, 2016: Hero’s Burial Royal Tombs of Ur (c. 2600-2350 BCE) Leonard Woolley’s excavations at Ur, 1922-1934 Royal Tombs of Ur (c. 2600-2350 BCE) The Ram in the Thicket The Standard of Ur, from the Royal Tombs of Ur Queen Puabi’s headdress and Royal Tombs of Ur c. 2600 BCE jewelry c. 2600 BCE Obverse side “Peace”, top; Reverse side “War”, Royal Tombs of Ur bottom c. 2600 BCE Royal Tombs of Ur (c. 2600-2350 BCE) Enkidu’s Funeral “At the very first glimmer of brightening dawn, [Gilgamesh arose and entered the treasury.] He undid the sealings, inspected the gems: Obsidian, carnelian, [lapis lazuli], … alabaster.” Mask of a woman Eanna precinct, Uruk Gilgamesh Tablet VIII VIII.92-95 c. 3200-3000 BCE ‘He made a statue of his friend .. Your eyebrows shall be of lapis lazuli, your chest of gold…’ ‘He butchered fattened oxen and sheep, piled them high for his friend’ ‘May the great queen Ishtar accept this May she welcome my friend and walk at his side!’ ‘A flask of lapis lazuli For Ereshkigal, [the queen of the Netherworld he displayed to the Sun God]: ‘May Ereshkigal, the queen of the teeming Netherworld, accept this, May she welcome my friend and walk at his side!’ A flute carnelian, a chair of lapis lazuli, a double-edged dagger with a haft of lapis lazuli… Earliest monumental burial: Abydos Tomb U-j The structure yielded 200 ivory tags that constitute the earliest remains of writing from Egypt Burials of the First Dynasty Mastaba Tomb of King Aha and Subsidiary Burials Mummification and Burial Canopic jars Djehuty, General of Tuthmosis III (r. 1479-1425), 18th dynasty Hero of the ‘Capture of Joppa’ ‘He of the Two Ladies, Great of terror in all lands Menkheperre, beloved of Ptah-radiant-of-face’ Joppa, modern Jaffa in Israel Hittite Royal Mortuary Cult • Death: ‘the day of one’s The day of death destiny’ • Ox slaughtered • Bring a jug of wine for libations • Texts describing the royal • Drinking ‘as long as they drink, he drinks funerary rituals “When in as well’ Hattusa a great loss occurs, • Cremation of the body (that is) either the king or Second day queen becomes god, all, big • At dawn, the fire was extinguished with and small, take away their ten jugs of beer reeds/straws and start to • Remains (ashes and bones) were wail” gathered by women • Bones were gathered one by one with a silver tongs and laid in fine oil • Then put the bones on a cloth and wrap • Place the cloth on a throne or stool • Feasting Consecutive days (text broken) • An effigy of the deceased was made • Different objects were burned to transmit to the deceased, each day for a different aspect of life Hittite Royal Mortuary Cult Relief of Nergal, AAAAAAgod of the underworld (left) and Yazılıkaya Chamber B King Tudhaliya IV under the embrace of Sarruma (right) Procession of the male gods The Südburg: A Funerary Chapel for King Suppiluliuma? Constructed caves and chambers dedicated to Suppiluliuma, 13th- 12th century BCE Rituals before and during the burials in Ancient Greece Tanagra clay sarcophagus 1200 BC Late Helladic kylix ca. 1300 BC Funerary plaque, ca. 520–510 B.C Early Bronze Age (3200 - 2000 BC). Warriors graves Geometric Warrior Dendra Burial (15th c. BC) Dagger from Grave Circle A Grave, 900 BC Funeral stele relief, end 5th century BCE Vergina armors Warrior’s grave , Argos 8th c Grave Circles in Mycenae (1650-1500 BCE) Grave Circle A 1600-1500 BCE Grave Circle B 1650-1550 BCE Grave Circles in Mycenae (1650-1500 BCE) • Deceased placed on the floor on pebbles • Objects left in the tomb with the body • Trench (shaft) covered with a Kylixes found in the shaft graves of Mycenae roof of thin stone slabs • Remaining shaft filled in with earth • A funerary meal was held • Debris, bones and feasting equipment thrown into the shaft • Earth mounded over the top • A grave marker was placed at the top Dendra Burial (Mycenaean, 15th century BCE) The armor of Dendra 15th century BCE ‘Warrior Vase’ Krater, Mycenae 13th century BCE • Prothesis • Closing the eyes and the mouth • Washing • Clothing and laying out on a kline • Singing of ritualized lament • Could last many days • Ekphora • Transportation to the grave • Procession • Sacrifices could have been made before starting the procession • Deposition • Inhumation and cremation Dipylon Funerary Krater c. 750 BCE, Dipylon Cemetery at Athens Prothesis scene on funerary plaque c. 560-550 BCE Terracotta funerary plaque in black-figure c. 520-510 BCE Cremations Bronze urn with lead cover. Lefkandi . Early Geometric (900 B.C.) cremation burial of a warrior.