28 - Mycenaean Greece

"The Trojans throughout the city, huddled in a rout like fawns, were cooling their sweat and drinking and quenching their thirst, as they rested on the fair battlements; while the Achaeans drew near the wall leaning their shields against their shoulders."
Homer, The Iliad Book 22

Odysseus flips out!
(source: Age of Bronze by: Eric Shanower)

I remember when I was younger and I first found out Troy was real and it blew my little naive mind. What else was real out there? Atlantis? Lemuria? Crystal Skulls? I wanted to be an archaeologist so badly, finding treasure and lost civilizations, uncovering the secrets of humanity and having an adventure at the same time!

But no. It's nothing like that at all. In fact the first line in my archaeology textbook said, and I quote:
"You will not become Indiana Jones." Well thanks for ruining my dreams, jerkheads. Eh, it's probably for the best. I hear from my archaeology friends that its mostly digging in dirt on a hot day, and less fighting Nazis and ancient booby traps. Pfff what's the point then?

Where was I going with this? Oh right, thanks Heinrich Schliemann for finding Troy and Mycenae and not sacking the place too much (I'm looking at you Carter).

MP3 Download

Music Credit:

Gregorio Paniagua - "Hymne a Nemesis" from Musique de la Grece antique

Resources:
Fantastic image of Ancient Greece with cities and the heroes they correspond to!
Mycenaean Empire (so to speak)
So much good stuff here it's just easier for me to link right to it!
Nice page for Linear B
British Museum: Linear B Tablets
Sir Arthur Evans collection of Linear B
Fun list of Linear B words transliterated and translated!
Michael Ventris and breaking the code
Another nice account of Ventris, detailing the steps he took
The Tawagalawa Letter
Very cool movie tour of Troy VII from U of Cincinnatti