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Mycenaean Weapons, Warfare, and the Truth about Troy
How the Military Functioned
Unlike today, Mycenaean kings (wanax) were present at battles
military commanders (lawagetas) would also have been present
• They would have taken part in battles as well, fighting alongside subordinates
Military based on social hierarchy
• Nobles were officers
• Rank and file were from among farmers and craftsmen
Army composed of units from around country
Armour
Fully equipped warrior’s protected by:
• Leather helmet with bronze strips sewn on
• body armour of leather or padded linen
• a large shield of ox hide stretched over a wooden frame.
This wouldn’t be the armour of lower class peasants however
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Oooh, Fancy!
Officers wore much more elaborate body armour:
• helmets made of leather with bronze or of boar’s tusks sewn on
• corselets of bronze plates
 Overlapping providing protection and ability to move
 Very high neck protection
• bronze greaves (knee and shin guards)
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Weapons
Bronze swords and daggers
• Swords rather short
 Ranged from approx. 30 – 80 cm
Heavy, bronze tipped thrusting spears
Shorter, lighter throwing spears
Bows and arrows
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Chariots
Chariots were borrowed from Hittites and Egyptians
• Very light (one man could lift it)
• Pulled by 2 horses
But unlike other cultures, Mycenaean's mostly used them for transporting elite troops
(heavily armoured) to and from battles
• Also for fast communication, hunting, and ceremonies
They were not used in battle itself
Mycenae and Pylos developed chariot corps of about 200 chariots (probably used in
battle in front of fortresses)
Mainly used as prestige symbol
The Real Troy
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Homer spun a really good yarn
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Homer spun a really good yarn
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BUT…
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Is it more than just a really good story?
Did any of it actually take place?
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*Note: Troy is called Ilion in Greek (hence the Iliad)
Uncovering Troy
Trojan war takes place in 13th c. B.C.
“Troy” first uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann (1873), an amateur archaeologist (his
methods were very troubling archaeologically)
• His excavation was illegal
 Never notified authorities
• Found huge stone structure (a gate), and golden jewelry (thought they were the
jewels of Helen)
 He made off with the jewelry, after displaying it on his wife
• believed he had found the city Homer described
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Uh Oh!
Problem:
• there are 9 stratigraphic layers at that location (4000 years of development)
 Cities built on top of earlier cities
Schliemann dug in the wrong layer (layer II), he went too deep
• Artifacts found were 1000 years too old
• Not only that but his techniques damaged other layers containing artifacts
Troy of the Trojan War would be in layer VI or VII
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The Real Troy
In layer VI/VII the city Homer describes was revealed
• Towers and thick walls
However it was much too small to be Homer’s Troy
• Only looking at upper city of Troy
Manfred Korfmann took over analysis of the area
• used magnetic imaging to reveal surrounding area
• Found deep ditch running around lower city (once had a wall)
Population b/w 4 and 8 thousand
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Evidence
Found evidence of destruction
• Uncovered arrowheads in lower city
• Evidence of burning (masonry)
• Skeleton of 18 year old female, half buried, feet burned – points to rapid burial
• Sling pellets found in heaps
Evidence shows city was besieged, defended, and lost
Destruction of the city during Trojan War has been dated to b/w 1250 and 1200 B.C.
• Fire (earlier layer had been destroyed in earthquake)
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Attackers and Motivations
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Attackers and Motivations
Who were the attackers?
• Mycenaean’s (evidenced by their vast warrior culture)
What were the motivations?
• Love and Helen seem to be an unlikely reason
 Romantic storytelling element
• Accumulation of wealth (resources, food, tools, to expand your palace, and power)
Mycenaean's had no tin (for bronze), or gold
• Access to wealth was most likely motivator
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Why Attack Troy?
Occupied strategic trade position
• Trade goods from around known world passed through Troy
Made Troy an extremely wealthy city
Situated b/w the Mycenaean’s and Hittites
• Hittites actually left behind evidence of what happened at Troy
Supporting Document
Accounts left on clay tablets
• Written by scribes of Hittite Empire
Found references to Troy (called Wilusa)
• Described conflict in area of Wilusa over 200 year period
Tells how Mycenaean warriors had once fought at the gates of Wilusa.
Water tunnel at Wilusa is mentioned in tablet
• Water tunnel found at Troy matched the time period
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