The Oldest Civilization of Greece

📖 The Scoop

From the preface: "The series of "Studies of the Mycenaean Age" which are comprised in this volume contain the notes made during the course of some years' study of the "Mycenaean Question," expanded and thrown into a connected form. The chief problems of "Mycenaean" archaeology are dealt with separately, but at the same time are also, as far as possible, connected in order to form a homogeneous study of the Mycenaean Question as it stands to-day. Here and there it has been found impossible, when discussing some one problem, to steer clear of trenching upon the domain of another; repetition of argument has, however, been as far as possible avoided, and it is hoped that these chapters will be of use both to the scientific archaeological student and to the layman who interests himself in the most fascinating search which ever yet allured the seeker after forgotten history-the search for the origins of Greek civilization. It must ever be borne in mind that this search is still being pursued amid the clouds. We are not on firm earth when we are dealing with things Mycenaean, and have still to walk warily. It must be remembered that all statements as to the "history" of Greek civilization before the eighth century B.C., must needs be more or less hypothetical; we seek to explain the prehistoric monuments of Greece by more or less probable hypotheses and theories. Our explanation of the development of prae-classical Greek culture is, therefore, merely a collection of theories and hypotheses. And although the majority of students of the Mycenaean Question are agreed with regard to the greater part of these explanatory hypotheses, yet in many more or less important respects they differ from one another, with the result that at present the statements of any one author on "Mycenaean" subjects must usually be taken as representing primarily his own view, for which he alone is responsible; he is not telling to the world a well-known story anew, but is giving his own particular explanation of certain phenomena which others might very conceivably explain otherwise. With regard to the plan of the book, I may remark that I have not considered it necessary to give any long descriptions of Mycenaean palaces and tombs or to enter into any lengthy disquisitions on the characteristics and peculiarities of Mycenaean art: I assume that my readers are already more or less familiar with the sixth volume of MM. PERROT and CHIPIEZ'S Histoire de l'Art, with SCHUCHHARDT'S Epitome of Schliemann's works, or with the Mycenaean Age of Messrs. TSOUNTAS and MANATT, in which the fullest description of the details of Mycenaean culture may be found."

Genre: History / Ancient / General (fancy, right?)