Oggetti d’ ornamento, gioielli e altri reperti mobili dalle necropoli micenee di Eleona e Langada a Kos

Salvatore Vitale Στο F. Longo, R. di Cesare & S. Privitera (eds) 2016. ΔΡΟΜΟΙ. Studi sul mondo antico offerti a Emanuele Greco dagli allievi della Scuola Archeologica Italiana di Atene, Atene-Paestum: 257-275.

This essay provides for the first time a systematic overview of the jewelry, ornaments, and other small finds from the Mycenaean cemeteries of Eleona and Langada on Kos. The analysis of the data has three main implications. Firstly, the uneven distribution of these objects suggests the existence of a socio-economic distinction between the two sites and Langada appears to have been the resting place of the wealthier members of the Koan community. Secondly, jewelry and ornaments were used as indicators of social status during Late Bronze Age (LBA) IIIA1, Late Helladic (LH) IIIA2, and LH IIIC Phases 1-4. During LHI11B, however, prosperity was expressed mainly through the displaying of weapons. Thirdly, the typology of ornaments and weapons reveals the wide range of Koan contacts outside of the Aegean area, including Italy, north-central Europe, Egypt, and the Near East,

A comparison with the evidence from the cemetery of lalysos on Rhodes shows the existence of similar trends. These common traits suggest that, within the second part of the LBA period, despite its connections with the Greek mainland, the southeast Aegean formed a distinct Mycenaean region that was closely related to neighboring sites in south west Anatolia.