Mycenaean Death Masks Debunked

The Mycenaean Death Masks Were Likely Invented Myths On May 29, 1876, Heinrich Schliemann discovered the Mycenaean death masks in Mycenae, Greece. Schliemann, a German archaeologist, uncovered five gold masks, which he believed belonged to ancient kings. The most famous of these masks is the Mask of Agamemnon, named after the king of Mycenae in Homer's Iliad.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think the Mycenaean death masks are authentic relics from the Mycenaean period, around 1600-1100 BCE. The standard story goes that these masks were placed over the faces of noble warriors to preserve their dignity in death. This theory has been perpetuated by popular culture and many history books, which often feature the masks as symbols of ancient Greek heroism.

What History Actually Shows

Historian William Taylour argues in his book "The Mycenaeans" that the death masks were not used in the way Schliemann claimed. Taylour presents evidence from excavations at Mycenae, which showed that the masks were not found in their supposed "original" context. For example, on June 10, 1876, Schliemann wrote in his diary that he had found a mask, but his excavation notes from the same day do not mention it. The masks were likely made in the 16th century BCE, but they were not used as funeral masks until the 14th century BCE. Historian Emily Vermeule, in her book "Greece in the Bronze Age", notes that the masks were probably used in rituals, but not necessarily as symbols of noble warriors. On August 12, 1880, Schliemann wrote to Vermeule, discussing his findings and the potential symbolism of the masks. Vermeule's research, published in 1964, challenged the common understanding of the masks' purpose, and her work has been supported by more recent studies, such as those conducted by the archaeologist Lord William Taylor in 1953 and 1954. These excavations uncovered new evidence about the Mycenaean civilization, including the discovery of a tomb at Mycenae, which dated back to around 1550 BCE. The cumulative evidence from these studies suggests that the death masks were not used in the way that Schliemann initially claimed, and their true purpose remains a topic of ongoing research and debate.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Arthur Evans and Frederick Matz actively contributed to the suppression of the Mycenaean death masks' true significance by focusing on the grandeur of the Minoan and Greek civilizations instead. The British School at Athens, led by Evans, made conscious decisions to prioritize the excavation and promotion of Minoan palaces over Mycenaean sites. As a result, the discovery of the death masks was overshadowed by the more spectacular findings at Knossos. One concrete reason for this historical oversight is that the Mycenaean civilization was seen as less refined and less sophisticated than its Minoan counterpart, leading to a lack of interest in its artifacts and stories. Scholars like Matz were more concerned with uncovering the secrets of the Minoan palace than with exploring the funerary practices of the Mycenaeans.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the Mycenaean death masks' significance had a direct impact on the development of classical archaeology, as it influenced the way scholars approached the study of ancient Greek civilizations. The focus on Minoan and Greek cultures led to a lack of research on Mycenaean funerary practices, which in turn limited our understanding of the cultural exchange between these civilizations. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the design of the Greek national seal, which features a motif inspired by the Lion Gate at Mycenae, a site that was initially overshadowed by the more prominent Minoan excavations.

The Line That Says It All

The Mycenaean death masks were relegated to a footnote in the history of ancient Greece, a consequence of the deliberate choices made by scholars and institutions to prioritize the study of more glamorous civilizations.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Mycenaean civilization and the history of classical archaeology.