Huge building with Linear B inventory discovered in Sparta - Historum

**Midas** · May 25th, 2012, 09:41 PM

A huge building, in a size of a palace was discovered outside Sparta recently. The building was first built around the 17th century B.C and seems to have been the major Mycenaean palace in Lakonia. What is fascinating are 3 Linear B records were found, which are keeping a record of the weapons in the building. There are around 500 weapons mentioned in those tablets.

The question raised is: Is this palace the same as the one King Menelaos lived in?

Source: Î¤ÎŸ Î’Î—ÎœÎ‘ - Î¤Î¿ Î¼Ï…ÏƒÏ„Î®ÏÎ¹Î¿ Î¼Îµ Ï„Î± Î±Î½Î¬ÎºÏ„Î¿ÏÎ± Ï„Î¿Ï… ÎœÎµÎ½ÎµÎ»Î¬Î¿Ï… - Ï€Î¿Î»Î¹Ï„Î¹ÏƒÎ¼ÏŒÏ‚

**okamido** · May 25th, 2012, 10:23 PM

If 'Menelaos' could be proven to have really existed, then I don't see why not.

Good stuff, Midas.

1991sudarshan · May 25th, 2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midas

A huge building, in a size of a palace was discovered outside Sparta recently. The building was first built around the 17th century B.C and seems to have been the major Mycenaean palace in Lakonia. What is fascinating are 3 Linear B records were found, which are keeping a record of the weapons in the building. There are around 500 weapons mentioned in those tablets.

The question raised is: Is this palace the same as the one King Menelaos lived in?

Source: Î¤ÎŸ Î’Î—ÎœÎ‘ - Î¤Î¿ Î¼Ï…ÏƒÏ„Î®ÏÎ¹Î¿ Î¼Îµ Ï„Î± Î±Î½Î¬ÎºÏ„Î¿ÏÎ± Ï„Î¿Ï… ÎœÎµÎ½ÎµÎ»Î¬Î¿Ï… - Ï€Î¿Î»Î¹Ï„Î¹ÏƒÎ¼ÏŒÏ‚

Where can I find the English version of that article ?

**davu** · May 26th, 2012, 05:55 AM

go to Bing translator -- i just used it and worked great ---

Young Guard · May 26th, 2012, 05:56 AM

or use google translator.

**okamido** · May 26th, 2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1991sudarshan

Where can I find the English version of that article ?

If you can't get it translated, give me a PM and I will take care of that for you.

**Brisieis** · May 26th, 2012, 07:42 AM

Awesome!

Any chance of a translation?

**Midas** · May 26th, 2012, 07:42 AM

The news are recent and I was not able to find any English version. I am sure that it is a matter of time before it appears here: Archaeology Magazine

**okamido** · May 26th, 2012, 07:45 AM

I am just going to post a translation in the thread. Everyone knows where it is from and who receives the credit, so there shouldn't be any issue with just putting it into English. With it being a computer translation, some of it may be a little wonky.

Quote:

The mystery of the palace of Menelaus
Findings on the plain of Sparta prove the existence of the hegemonic center of Mycenaean civilization

Has it all. File with the Linear B script, which includes all manufacturing and commercial activities. Weapons, even in extremely large numbers. Buildings mural featuring Mycenaean issues. Close contacts with Minoan Crete. And yet, the correct location: in the plain of Sparta dominated, having visual contact with the Mycenaean Palaiopyrgos facilities in the Amyklaion and Menelaion.

This finding of the Holy Kingdom of Sparta meets internationally to scientists all conditions for declaring the major hegemonic center of the Mycenaean civilization in Laconia at the maximum of the peak! In other words, if the legends come true in this Mycenaean palace in the valley of the euro could be ruled by Menelaus having next to Helen. Besides, no other Mycenaean position in the region so far has given indications that it may be the palatial center. It can be it is time that science will "touch" the mythical heroes of the Homeric epics in reaching their starting point.

"Hollow" and "kitoessa" features Homer Lakedemona the closed valley, the surrounding mountains and canyons of the famous list of new (Iliad, Book D b, f 581-587), that the ships were sent the Greek cities against Troy. In a low range of hills of this valley and located about 12 km from the city had developed the palatial center. And apparently the installation had begun here by the 17th-16th century BC

Buildings that occupy an area of approximately 25 acres in the central hill, which takes its name from the Byzantine church of St. Basil, showed the geophysical prospecting. As for the total area of Mycenaean settlement, estimated to exceed 200 acres.

From the time of Schliemann sought the Mycenaean palace of Sparta. So when a few years ago the lady archaeologist Adamantia Vasilogamvrou announced the discovery in the middle of the plain, three tablets of Linear B tablets, the first in Laconia, the news did bang literally. Why is the basic tool of management in the Mycenaean Age were written records. Thus, this alone can testify today the palace-administrative nature of the installation and the highest hierarchy over others.

Like all the palaces so, so that Spartan had their own scribes, who wrote the texts of signs, labels and seals, would manage the assets of its territory and would have common characteristics and relationships with other great palatial centers of the Aegean from the same period, while preserving and international contacts within and outside the Mycenaean world.

The rooms of weapons and the symposium
A large building of the 14th century BC destroyed by fire came to light, with at least seven rooms, which gave great finds. In the "arms room" as it was called, found clustered bronze swords, a finding associated with the text of one of the Linear B tablets, indicating at least 600 weapons. As noted in Ms. Vasilogamvrou volume "Archaeology - Peloponnese" (Melissa versions), "found, as had been arranged, probably in a wooden box, seventeen bronze swords with stone or ivory epimila nails and covered with delicate gold leaf, short manual, copper and stone arrowheads and bronze conical vessel of unknown use. "

In the larger room had left several significant findings: a wheeled bull figurine, an Egyptian scarab seals with three performances, bronze knife, votes faience, ivory objects, gold plating, part of a stone vessels for ceremonial use, a large stone hammer , animal figurines and even a large vase with rhyton form a bull's head.

In another room was found a jar with charred grains of barley, while the lowest level detected "banquet room", a further confirmation of the importance of the building, the symposium was the Mycenaean culture an important activity that occupies a central place in religious and social life while the middle of the rulers to exercise power and policy.

Thick layer of burnt bones was in this room and among them two large bronze vessels, which probably contained wine, as is shown by some capillaries serving as the arytaina and cups for drinking. And interests do not stop here, because under this building and found another layer of habitation going back to the 17th-16th century BC

Winged vultures, Mycenaean soldiers
Fragments of frescoes, and in larger quantity, found around another building with many rooms, little has been excavated. Were detected mainly in a small saddle, which in the 14th century BC used as a depository (simply, a tip) for disposal of building materials and pottery came from the repair of buildings.

The shape of a Mycenaean soldier with tusk helmet, leggings are another, a woman is depicted in a building divided into these small fragments of the murals. Despite the fragmentation also exhibit all the characteristics of Mycenaean art, as is known from the palaces of Thebes and the Peloponnese. Winged griffins, animals, floral motifs, "rocky landscape", spirals, rosettes, serrated are their subjects.

In "ypserefes mega roof", as Homer says (Odyssey Rhapsody d), ie in pentapsilo palace, lived in Sparta, Menelaus, when Telemachus was received, who arrived in his chariot seeking information about his father Odysseus. And it was Helen who first noticed the similarity, recognizing him. We recognize we archaeological research anything that would identify it clearly the great roof of Menelaus to the palace center that comes to light in Sparta? For many the answer is a matter of time.

The symbols of power
weapons, fabrics, one name. So little but infinitely important, the text of the Linear B tablets from the Mycenaean palace of Sparta are irrefutable evidence of its importance. When the great fire destroyed it, what was in it was burned. Only files was friendly fire, because the clay tablets on which were recorded and baked rescued in time. Small pieces of clay inscribed with symbols: e - pi - zota, wi - ti - mi - jo, TELA + RA, ti - jo - ko, ie surviving, Isthmia, textiles, Antiochus. Why do people who lived in the palace from the 14th to the 12th century BC had weapons and were engaged textile activities, as was the case in all Mycenaean palaces.

From an ideogram sword with the tip downwards accompanied the word survivor (from the verb epizonnymi), referring to manuals or near knives swords. But what impresses is their number, since there are at least 500! Huge weapons, ie, unknown from other files, which will certainly belonged to the palace and the king.

In a completely different area of the Mycenaean activities, processing and production of wool knitted fabrics and textile products, introduce other plates. A composition of symbols even on a woven fabric which is devoted and holy, which is of particular importance, as connected with the religious sphere. Finally, other signs mentioned raw materials for the manufacture of perfumes and tripod vessels, the ideogram of which is accompanied by the word "gold."

The plates are also those who from the beginning of the decryption provided valuable information about the life and activity of people of the Mycenaean period. Files purely administrative purposes, like books, demonstrated the existence of a primary agrotopoimenikis while the economy developed its trade. Showed that it was an economy supported by strong bureaucratic machine, with an advanced division of labor and an elaborate and strictly hierarchical social structure and productive.

"Though few and fragmentary surviving, the first signs of the Linear B tablets Laconia show different types of content," notes the excavation of the palace lady Adamantia Vasilogamvrou . He adds: "The writers are experienced and the product of their work similar to their colleagues in the palaces of Pylos, Mycenae, Thebes and elsewhere. The texts reflect experience bureaucratic organization, say a power base and give a clear answer to the question of the existence of Mycenaean palatial center of the plain of Sparta. "

**Brisieis** · May 26th, 2012, 07:46 AM

Many thanks, Okamido.