Symbolism of the Treasury of Atreus During the Mycenaean Period of Architecture Around 1200

BCE.
A Research Paper
Author/s: Kylah Alexis Q. Atun
Mapúa University, Manila, Philippines
[email protected]

Abstract: The Treasury of Atreus, also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon, is one of the most impressive and well-
preserved tholos tombs, found in Mycenae in north-eastern Peloponnese, Greece. The dromos of the Treasury
of Atreus is about 20 feet wide and 118 feet long with finely cut stones lined with ashlar as the side walls. The
opening of the tholos stands 16 feet high and tapers inwards towards the top, is connected to a short corridor
covered by two 100-ton lintel blocks that leads to the corbel-domed chamber. The main corbeled dome
chamber is connected to a smaller chamber that served to be the actual burial sight of the structure. The
corbeled dome was carefully built with finely cut masonry to guarantee the stability and durability of the
structure overtime to be able to bear its own weight. As the Treasury of Atreus was erected to be more
elaborate and bigger and much better built than the other royal tombs in 1250 BC, it suggests that the Treasury
of Atreus has long surpassed its predecessors in terms of wealth and power, and the structure served as a
reminder of all of the ruler has achieved in his lifetime.
Keywords: tholos, Mycenae, Atreus, Agamemnon

Introduction

The two greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilization that dominated the eastern Mediterranean world
from the 15th to the 12th century BC and served a significant role in the development of the classical
Greek culture was the city of Mycenae and Tyrins in north-eastern Peloponnese, Greece. The
archeological sites of the two cities are the imposing ruins are the imposing ruins of Mycenae and
Tyrins, eminent for its artistic and technical movements as well as its spiritual wealth, are listed by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Mycenaean citadel is the kingdom of Agamemnon and the
most significant and richest grand centre of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. At the site, important
stages in monumental architecture are still visible such as the massive walls for defense as well as the
corbeled tumulus, tholos or tholoi if plural in greek, and the lions gate (UNESCO, n.d.).
Though its origins are vague, the tholos or beehive tomb, was first seen during the mid-sixteenth
century BCE in western Peloponnese, Greece and came to Mycenae around 1500 BCE. The tholos
found in Mycenae normally consists of a passageway, known as dromos, leading the circular tomb
with a corbel vault roof that resembles a beehive (Current World Archeology 2008; Witcombe n.d. ).

History

The Treasury of Atreus, also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon, is one of the most impressive and
well-preserved amongst the other nine tholoi due to it’s height, found in Mycenae in north-eastern
Peloponnese, Greece. It was believed to be one of the final tholos tombs to be constructed during the
Bronze Age around 1250 BCE in Mycenae.
Though the tholos tomb is mostly known and associated with Atreus and Agamemnon, neither of them
are buried in the tholos tomb. Contemporary archaeologists believe that an earlier ruler was buried
there however, the exact identity remains obscure similar with the origins of the structure itself.
Heinrich Schliemann, a german archeologist, gave the tomb the name Treasury of Atreus by mistake
upon his discovery of the shaft graves and the name was used ever since. The tomb was as well as
mentioned in the writings of Pausanias and is believed to have served as a storage of treasure during
his lifetime, however, all treasures or artifacts that was supposedly buried with the unknown identity
were nowhere to be found (Retrieved from greekboston.com).

Basic Structure of the Treasury

The dromos of the Treasury of Atreus is about 20 feet wide and 118 feet long with finely cut stones lined
with ashlar as the side walls. The opening of the tholos stands 16 feet high and tapers inwards towards the
top, is connected to a short corridor covered by two 100-ton lintel blocks that leads to the corbel-domed
chamber. A relieving triangle is formed above the doorway lintels that is believed to have been originally
decorated with carved stone blocks of the same kind that was used to decorate the rest of the façade.
The main chamber connected to the short corridor has a diameter of nearly 48 feet across and stands 43 feet
in height. The corbeled dome was carefully built with finely cut masonry to guarantee the stability and
durability of the structure overtime to be able to bear its own weight. A small yet of the same kind of
doorway inside the main chamber leads to a smaller chamber which is believed to be the actual burial
chamber which was nearly cubical in form. The structure is buttressed on the outside of the earth as the
corbeled dome rose above forming a magnificent artificial hill.
A pair of engaged half-columns in green marble was situated outside and against the main doorway. On
either side of the relieving triangle above was another pair of engaged columns in red marble but on a
smaller scale. Chevron motifs and patterns were used to decorate the larger columns as well as the Minoan
like capitals of the columns (Witcombe n.d.).

Location of the Treasury

Unlike the other royal tholos tombs which are located and settled together beside the citadel, the Treasury of
Atreus is erected with all of its glory and impressive height, alone.
The nine tholos tombs are situated into two groups by the Panagia ridge; the four tombs which were larger
and closer to the acropolis and are Tomb of Aegisthus, the Lions Gate tombs, Treasury of Atreus and the
tomb of Clytemnestra, are on the east side of the hill whilst the remaining five tombs which were on the
west side. Amongst the four royal tholos tombs aforementioned that are positioned together beside the
acropolis hill, the Treasury of Atreus stands alone being 500 meters away from the other three.
The Treasury of Atreus is placed halfway along the east slope of the ridge which has raised speculations
about why the tomb was located on this specific spot and situated along with four royal tholos tombs or
next to the acropolis. It is believed that the Treasury of Atreus is positioned so that it would be visible to
anyone approaching Mycenae from the east, south-east or south west. Not only that but as well as when the
treasury is viewed from the heart of the palace at Mycenae or the megaron, also known as the great hall.
The megaron was located on the uppermost part of the acropolis hill when the Treasury of Atreus was being
built into the east slope of the Panagia ridge so that it would be seen by anyone approaching the palace. The
Treasury of Atreus viewed from the acropolis is just as magnificent with Mt. Profitis Ilias serving as the
backdrop, which must have influenced the position of the treasury (Current World Archaeology 2008).

Symbolism and Metaphysical Meaning of the Structure

As the Treasury of Atreus was erected to be more elaborate and bigger and much better built than the
other royal tombs in 1250 BC, it suggests that the Treasury of Atreus has long surpassed its
predecessors in terms of wealth and power. It appears that the ruler who had constructed the Treasury
of Atreus had, taking the exact words from the article, “at his disposal the human and material resources
of a region considerably greater in extent than that controlled by his ancestors.” Which implies that due to
the outstanding height, palatial decoration and overall architectural quality of the Treasury of Atreus,
Mycenae expanded in territory during the mid 14th century BC and the ruler at the time wanted to evidently
show his status as a great and powerful king of Mycenae.
Conclusion

The Treasury of Atreus, at the time that it was built with intricacy and quality and positioned through the
landscape, symbolized power and wealth of the ruler of Mycenae and all that he has achieved. The position
of the treasury as the centre of the panoramic view of the Argive plain as seen from the west and upper side
of the acropolis is intentional. The Treasury of Atres served as a reminder to those who entered the palace of
what the king had accomplished during his sovereignty and lifetime, until this very day.
References

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