Tradition and Innovation in the Mycenaean Palatial Polities

Edited by Jörg Weilhartner & Florian Ruppenstein

City: Vienna

Year: 2015

Publisher: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Series: Mykenische Studien, Volume 34

Description: Paperback, 286 p., numerous b/w & colour figures, 29,8×21

Proceedings of an International Symposium held at the Austrian Academy of Schiences, Institute of Oriental and European Archaeology. Aegean and Anatolia Department, Vienna, 1-2 March, 2013

Abstract

The Mycenaean palatial polities, which flourished approximately between 1400 and 1200 BC, are the first states on the European mainland. For that reason they play an important role for the study of the development of social systems. In these conference proceedings concepts of traditions and innovations are viewed from historical, art-historical, administrative, palaeographical and technological perspectives. The papers discuss aspects that are essential for understanding Mycenaean society in the palatial period, but which have not been a central focus of research. Some contributors present first results of recent excavations that have the potential to re-evaluate our current view of the rise, transformation and interaction of palatial centres. Others focus on administrative practices of the palaces that have produced the oldest deciphered written texts from Europe, the Linear Β documents.

Within these contributions various interpretative models are addressed and their capacities for contributing to the analysis of innovative and traditional elements are explored. Furthermore, interdisciplinary and contextual approaches play a significant role. In focusing upon the origin and development of Mycenaean palatial polities, the administrative practices employed by their bureaucracies and the material culture that is left behind, both the archaeological record and the written evidence are taken into consideration to provide a deeper insight into the ideas of tradition and innovation during the Mycenaean palatial period.

Contents

Eva Alram-Stern & Barbara Horejs, Preface [7]

Florian Ruppenstein & Jörg Weilhartner, Introduction [9-17]
PDF

Vassilis Aravantinos, The Palatial Administration of Thebes Updated [19-50]

Anthi Batziou-Efstathiou, The Mycenaean Settlement at Pefkakia: The Harbour of Iolkos? [51-86]

Fritz Blakolmer, Was there a ‘Mycenaean Art’? Or: Tradition without Innovation? Some Examples of Relief Art [87-112]

Birgitta Eder & Reinhard Jung, ‘Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno’: The Mycenaean Palace System [113-140]

Erik Hallager, Mycenaean Administrative Sealing Practice: A World of its Own? [141-154]

John T. Killen, Conservatism and Innovation in the Linear Β Inscriptions on Stirrup Jars [155-166]

Marie-Louise Nosch, The Wool Age: Traditions and Innovations in Textile Production, Consumption and Administration in the Late Bronze Age Aegean [167-201]

Françoise Rougemont, Mycenaean and Contemporary Nuzi Administrative Practices: A Case-Study of ta-ra-si-ja and iškaru in Wheel and Chariot Records [203-242]

Cynthia W. Shelmerdine, Administrative Developments at Iklaina [243-254]

Jörg Weilhartner, The Design of Linear Β Logograms: Palaeographic Traditions and Visual Inspiration [255-276]

Indices [277]
Contributors [287]