Art and Art History Collection (Saskia)
Files
Download image (4.5 MB)
Publisher
Saskia, Ltd., Cultural Documentation
Publication Date
January 1966
Time Period
circa 1400-1200 BCE
Abstract
View of entry to palace from north
Keywords
Bronze Age, Mycenaean, Citadels, Cyclopean masonry, Masonry construction (technique or process)
Alt Text
Ancient stone ruins with a staircase leading down into the structure, set against a backdrop of distant mountains and a town. The area is surrounded by dry grass and scattered rocks.
Extent
1 color photograph
Geographic Location
Greece; Tiryns (Greece)
Rights
This material is licensed by USF Libraries for the research and teaching needs of USF students, staff, and faculty only. See: https://lib.usf.edu/collections-and-discovery/collection-management/user-terms/
Access Restrictions
Only thumbnail images and descriptive information are available to non-USF users. Full access to this collection is available only to authorized users on the USF network on campus or via VPN.
Media Type
Color photographs
Format
Digital Only
Note
This is the ancient archaeological site of Tiryns, a Mycenaean citadel located in the Argolis region of the Peloponnese, Greece. The fortification walls are known as Cyclopean masonry. The walls get their name from classical Greek mythology, where later Greeks viewed the staggering size of the stones and believed that humans were unable to move them. It was concluded that only the Cyclops, mythical one-eyed giants, would contain the strength for construction. The technique utilized is known as cyclopean masonry, which relied on massive, irregular limestone boulders piled directly on top of each other without cement or mortar. The pathways and stairs visible in the image highlight the strategic layout of the fortress. The entrance features a steep ramp designed to force invading forces to expose their unshielded right side to defenders stationed on the walls above. Tiryns is attributed as the legendary home and birthplace of the hero Heracles (Hercules), serving as the location where he began his famous Twelve Labors.
Identifier
A01-JGA0088
Recommended Citation
Unknown, "Mycenean Acropolis of Tiryns, A" (1966). Art and Art History Collection (Saskia). 183.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/saskia/183
