Gemstones in Mycenaean Greece
Their use and significance
Written by Eleftheria Stamatatou
£36.00 – £46.00
Description
The aim of this study is to examine the use and significance of gemstones in Mycenaean Greece. It considers the correlation between Mycenaean gemstones and the locations in which they were found, as well as the relationship between the types of object and the stones from which they were made. The author explores the economic and social parameters which determined the selection of specific gems in each area, and presents the results of an experiment intended to detect the tools and techniques used in working them. She also explores the significance of these objects in the light of Egyptian and later Greek and Latin sources. In sum, this study demonstrates how widespread gemstones were in Mycenaean Greece, the specialised skills required to manufacture them, their importance in economic and social life, and beliefs about their use. The second part of the study contains a detailed catalogue of gemstone finds.
