Reminder that this Saturday, Nov 7 2-4 pm AZ Historical Novel Society Meeting
Speaker: Donis Casey on writing dialogue in historical fiction
Place: Judith’s house, email for directions
Bring a beverage or snack to share (or just bring yourself)
Here are some posts I enjoyed this week. They are all about Greek archaeological discoveries or epics! Who knew there was so much Mycenaean news.
Grave of the ‘Griffin Warrior’ found near Pylos Greece. The grave is totally untouched with no plundering. Incredibly rich with grave goods from Minoan workshops, this grave dates to about 1500 BCE at the beginning of the cultural transition point from Minoan dominance to Mycenaean. Which means this grave gives us a window into a crucial moment that we have not understood. The warrior died before the great Mycenaean palaces had been constructed and the social structures that went with them. He may or may not have been a king such as later Mycenaean culture had. Among the finds, a yardlong bronze sword with ivory hilt clad in gold, ivory combs and a bronze mirror, and an ivory plaque carved with griffins, the mythical animals that protect kings and goddesses. This is so amazing. Many thanks to Martha Marks for sending me the article.
Click here for The New York Times “Grave of Griffin Warrior Could be a Gateway to Civilizations”
Unplundered Mycenaean tombs seem to be popping up all over. Last week on the island of Lesbos one was found while making road repairs. Not nearly as rich a find as the Pylos ‘Griffin Warrior’ grave, this one contained a body, a ceramic cup and jug, bronze knife and ring. Dating is said to be 1400-1100 BCE. What is interesting to me, is how extensive the Mycenaean Greek presence is turning out to be in this western region on the edge of the Hittite Empire during the Late Bronze Age. There must have been a great deal of interaction, which is what I portrayed in my novel, Hand of Fire. The evidence continues to grow in support of the world I built. Click here for Protothema.gr “Archaeologists find Unplundered Mycenaean Tomb in Lesvos”
The whole of the Iliad read aloud by various British actors. I heard bits of this on the radio when it was performed this past August at the British Museum, but now they’ve put the whole thing up on the website through Sept 21. So if listening to oral epic is your delight, here it is. I will point out the first clip, Simon Goldhill, is actually his commentary and then a brief reading in Greek. The reading in translation starts with the second video clip. They are using Fagles translation, which is my least favorite for its inaccuracies and negative portrayal of Achilles, but the whole project is great nonetheless. Click here for the British Museum’s Almeida Theater “The Iliad Video”
Another major discovery from the ancient Greek world. Underwater archaeologists working in the northern Aegean found 22 merchant shipwrecks in 2 weeks. Wrecks date from Archaic period to Medieval (700 BC to 16th C). Contents and locations of wrecks will reveal maritime trade routes along with details of daily life. Underwater archaeology with lots of new techniques and technology has been developing as a significant contributor to revealing the ancient world. These archaeologists described the small and obscure region they were working in as “the ancient shipwreck capital of the world” Click here for the Washington Post “Amazing Discovery of 22 Shipwrecks Off Greece offers Wonders of Ancient Life”