DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1021#0141
THE DWELLINGS OF THE DEAD 97
to the victims sacrificed to the dead at the funeral and per-
haps afterward. Such offerings to the dead are attested
by the sacrificial pit above Grave IV., which was intended
to receive the blood of the victims slaughtered over it as
well as the customary libations. On no one of the other
graves, indeed, was such a pit discovered, and even that
just mentioned was covered by a deep mound without being
replaced by another higher up. This does not prove that
the worship of the dead ceased and their offerings were
discontinued, — probable as it is that toward the end of the
Mycenaean age ancestor-worship declined, —but merely indi-
cates that simple pits in the surface of the ground replaced
the old Cyclopean constructions.
Beside the bones of animals there were found in the
tumulus human skulls and skeletons apparently thrown
there pellmell. And, according to Stamatakes Human
(in his report dated December 4, 1877), " four Sa,iriiices
bodies of a later period were buried in as many different
parts of the eastern side of the inclosure. Two of the
graves were of the usual shape, but the others were round
pits. In these graves nothing was found but the bones."
These graves, which Stamatakes thought to be late, were
probably as old as the Royal Tombs; indeed, pits contain-
ing bones are found also in the tholos and rock tombs, and
the absence of offerings from these pits in the Grave Circle
only goes to show the quality of the persons buried in them.
These, as well as the skeletons of men found by Dr. Schlie-
mann above the month of Grave III., must have been the
bodies of slaves or captives immolated on the master's tomb.
But postponing for the present the further discussion of
the funeral repast and the immolation of victims, human
and brute, we must now consider briefly the funeral offer-
ings. These are, of course, too numerous for any detailed
to the victims sacrificed to the dead at the funeral and per-
haps afterward. Such offerings to the dead are attested
by the sacrificial pit above Grave IV., which was intended
to receive the blood of the victims slaughtered over it as
well as the customary libations. On no one of the other
graves, indeed, was such a pit discovered, and even that
just mentioned was covered by a deep mound without being
replaced by another higher up. This does not prove that
the worship of the dead ceased and their offerings were
discontinued, — probable as it is that toward the end of the
Mycenaean age ancestor-worship declined, —but merely indi-
cates that simple pits in the surface of the ground replaced
the old Cyclopean constructions.
Beside the bones of animals there were found in the
tumulus human skulls and skeletons apparently thrown
there pellmell. And, according to Stamatakes Human
(in his report dated December 4, 1877), " four Sa,iriiices
bodies of a later period were buried in as many different
parts of the eastern side of the inclosure. Two of the
graves were of the usual shape, but the others were round
pits. In these graves nothing was found but the bones."
These graves, which Stamatakes thought to be late, were
probably as old as the Royal Tombs; indeed, pits contain-
ing bones are found also in the tholos and rock tombs, and
the absence of offerings from these pits in the Grave Circle
only goes to show the quality of the persons buried in them.
These, as well as the skeletons of men found by Dr. Schlie-
mann above the month of Grave III., must have been the
bodies of slaves or captives immolated on the master's tomb.
But postponing for the present the further discussion of
the funeral repast and the immolation of victims, human
and brute, we must now consider briefly the funeral offer-
ings. These are, of course, too numerous for any detailed