DeepSummary
The transcript begins with Liv Albert introducing the episode as the first conversation episode of the Bronze Age and its collapse series. She is joined by Dr. Kim Shelton, a professor at UC Berkeley and the director of the Nemea Center for Classical Archaeology, who has worked extensively on the site of Mycenae. They discuss the burial practices of the pre-palatial period in Mycenae, where the construction of monumental tombs and elaborate funerary rituals were used by elites to display power and status.
Dr. Shelton provides insights into the religious practices of the Mycenaeans, including the worship of goddesses represented through figurines and iconography. They also discuss the connections between Mycenaean culture and the Minoans of Crete, as well as evidence of interactions with other Mediterranean civilizations through trade and cultural exchange.
The conversation touches on topics such as the role of women in Mycenaean society, the importance of religious rituals in maintaining social control, and the potential origins of Greek mythology in Mycenaean and Minoan traditions. Dr. Shelton shares her experiences working at Mycenae and her insights into the archaeological evidence of the site.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Mycenaeans had elaborate burial practices, with monumental tombs serving as displays of power and status for elite families.
- Religious rituals and the distribution of standardized ritual objects were used by the Mycenaean palaces as a means of social control and fostering a sense of belonging among the population.
- Archaeological evidence suggests connections between Mycenaean and Minoan religious beliefs, with potential influences on later Greek mythology.
- The worship of goddesses was prominent in Mycenaean culture, with evidence of various deities and precursors to figures like Demeter found in Linear B tablets.
- The Mycenaeans had extensive trade and cultural interactions with other Mediterranean civilizations, including the Minoans of Crete and the Hittites of Anatolia.
- Dr. Shelton's experiences working at the site of Mycenae provide valuable insights into the interpretation of archaeological evidence and the potential origins of Greek mythological narratives.
- The decline of Mycenaean society towards the end of the Bronze Age may have been reflected in a lack of resources and labor for monumental construction projects like the tombs.
- Mythological accounts may distort or exaggerate historical events and figures, highlighting the importance of archaeological evidence in reconstructing more accurate narratives.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We think that potentially the reason why we have fewer later of the. Of the ones, the fullest ones with the masonry is that people didn't have the access to the labor or to the resources to expend on that.“ by Kim Shelton
- “And, you know, you're interested in this battle between the patriarchy and the mother and mother Earth, right? So fascinating that where that survives in greek myth, like the fact that Zeus is hidden and then reborn on Crete. Right. From a cave, which is literally, according to the Minoans, the womb of the goddess.“ by Kim Shelton
- “But I always hope that the stuff that we find and the narratives that we create will be a better choice. Will be, you'll find that, in fact, it wasn't all that tragic and bad. It just makes for a good story.“ by Kim Shelton
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Episode Information
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
iHeartPodcasts and Liv Albert
4/12/24
Liv is joined by Dr Kim Shelton to dive deeper into the real world of Bronze Age Mycenae and all we've learned from what they left behind. Learn more about Dr Shelton's work here.
Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!
CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.
Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions.
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