Well Built Mycenae, Fascicule 14: Tsountas House Area

Presenting results of excavations in the ‘Cult Centre’ area at Mycenae, the Tsountas House Area contains two buildings and multiple access ramps. This study is essential for understanding the conception and function of Mycenaean religious space and the socio-political development of cult.

Well Built Mycenae, Fascicule 14: Tsountas House Area presents the results of the excavations in this area at Mycenae conducted under the direction of Wace (1950) and Taylour (1959-60) in collaboration with Papademetriou and later Mylonas. Located in the ‘Cult Centre’, the Tsountas House Area contains two buildings and multiple access ramps. It represents both the earliest and latest constructions in this sanctuary complex. First investigated by Tsountas in the late 19th century but never fully published, the remains were fully restudied, and the excavation expanded to discover the first evidence of ritual architecture, features, and paraphernalia. This study is essential for understanding the conception and function of Mycenaean religious space, the associated features and finds, and the socio-political development of cult in the earliest known religious installation at Mycenae. It is also important for a diachronic understanding of the Cult Centre’s development from an individual extra-urban shrine to a sanctuary complex enclosed eventually within a fortified citadel. The contextualised discussion of the unique finds and evidence for ritual and practice directly informs the continuing dialogue about popular and official religions and the role of a palatial administration.

Foreword (E. B. French and K. A. Wardle) Acknowledgements INTRODUCTION Note on the Polygonal Tower Historiography of Excavation and Publication Chronological Theories PART 1. THE HOUSE Description and Excavation The House The Entrance Court A Room B Megaron C Rooms D1 and D2 Stairs G Basement (Rooms F1-3 and Corridor E) Forecourt H Walls J, K, and M Wall N and Offset O The Forecourt Deposit The Finds The House Forecourt H Wall K Summary Use of the House PART 2. THE TSOUNTAS HOUSE SHRINE (G) Terminology Description and Excavation The Shrine Room G The Shrine - Lower Floor The Shrine - Upper Floor Area Q The Finds Room G The Shrine Area Q Summary Use of the Shrine Part 3. ACCESS TO THE AREA Description and Excavation Stairway and Central Drain K The Culvert Lower End of Stairway and Drain K The Sacred Way The Upper Ramp from Threshold m to the Middle Ramp The Upper Ramp The Middle Ramp The Lower Ramp and Passage J Area Z The West Cyclopean Wall The Finds Stairway and Drain K The Upper Ramp The Middle Ramp The Lower Ramp and Passage J Area Z Summary and Use Part 4. CONCLUSION Endnotes Bibliography, Foreword (E. B. French and K. A. Wardle Acknowledgements INTRODUCTION Note on the Polygonal Tower Historiography of Excavation and Publication Chronological Theories PART 1. THE HOUSE Description and Excavation The House ;
The Entrance Court A Room B Megaron C Rooms D1 and D2 Stairs G Basement (Rooms F1–3 and Corridor E) Forecourt H Walls J, K, and M Wall N and Offset O The Forecourt Deposit ;
The Finds The House ;
Forecourt H Wall K Summary Use of the House PART 2. THE TSOUNTAS HOUSE SHRINE (G) Terminology Description and Excavation The Shrine ;
Room G The Shrine — Lower Floor The Shrine — Upper Floor Area Q The Finds ;
Room G The Shrine Area Q Summary Use of the Shrine Part 3. ACCESS TO THE AREA Description and Excavation Stairway and Central Drain K The Culvert Lower End of Stairway and Drain K The Sacred Way ;
The Upper Ramp from Threshold m to the Middle Ramp The Upper Ramp The Middle Ramp The Lower Ramp and Passage J Area Z The West Cyclopean Wall ;
The Finds Stairway and Drain K The Upper Ramp ;
The Middle Ramp ;
The Lower Ramp and Passage J Area Z Summary and Use Part 4. CONCLUSION Endnotes Bibliography