Evidence for Rites in Mycenaean Tombs (in Greek)

Νάγια Πολυχρονάκου-Σγουρίτσα in Μπουραζέλης, Κ., Καραμανωλάκης, Β. & Κατάκης, Σ. (eds), Ιστορήματα 3: Η μνήμη της κοινότητας και η διαχείρισή της (Αθήνα 2011): 113-124.

Abstract

Mycenaean funerary service seems to include some rites, which probably took place in front of the entrance of some tombs and/or in their direct vicinity. The current evidence is scanty and dubious. Furthermore, there are constructions and representations which imply athletic events, singing and dancing, as well as lament. Moreover, finds such as drinking vessels, animal bones and arrow heads indicate some kind of feast or ceremony. Besides, the decoration on the facade found on a few tholos and chamber tombs, mainly in the Argolid and Boeotia and belonging to the elite of the local communities and centers, may have been created for the participants in the funerary rites in honor of the dead. Nevertheless, the data are limited to only a few cases concerning rich tombs, providing only hypotheses.