Crete-Mycenaean culture and religion as part of the Indo-European culture of the Bronze Age of Eurasia

Homer, «Iliad»

This choice was in the childhood of Achilles. That is, the choice to become a chariot fighter, to be doomed to a short life, but full of fame and exploits, the Achaeans did voluntarily and consciously. But there was no chance to live long. Obviously, as in the case of Ajax and Hercules, alcohol played the role of trigger reaction. But the advantages, obviously, outweighed the cons. In the midst of a frenzied racing chariot, the fighter had to be able to make very fast decisions and have the rare power to fight under the weight of heavy armor. After the Greeks abandoned the battle chariots for combat, the need for stimulants disappeared.

The chariot fighters of Ancient Greece from the bronze age. The caste system in the ancient Indo-Europeans. Pyrroses and the myrmidons – the chariot warriors who chose a short life for immortal glory

Described by Homer in the immortal «Iliad» exploits of ancient Greek heroes, were exploits of soldiers fighting in chariots. As considered by different scientists, the war took place between 1280 and 1180. BC (Eratosthenes-1180 BC, Michael Wood 1280 BC, Carl Blegan-middle of the 13th century BC). Combat chariots, and the ability to fight them, were brought by the Indo-Europeans to Greece in the early 16th century. BC. According to William Taylor, Indo-European tribes came to Greece from the Eurasian steppes through Iran and Asia Minor, and not through the Danube. What cultures can be associated with Mycenaean culture and the culture of Troy Priam? This is a culture that has been called the Abashev culture, which passed to Sintashtskaya and gave birth to Pozdnyakovskaya and

Coban Cultures. This can be seen with all the evidence and from the materials of many sign findings, which determine cultural, and obviously, religious affinity.

pic.25 Lobular rings, Arkaim

pic.26 Pendant with two spirals, Mycenae

Lobular ring from Troy Pushkin Museum.

pic.28. Wooden ladle, Ural, 18th century BC.

pic.29 Crystal cup from Mycenae, 16th century BC.

These are pendants with a double spiral, lobed temporal rings, vessels with a meander, vessels in the form of a goose-swan. And, most importantly, the similarity of the device of the steppe Eurasian sintashta-type chariot and Achaean, known from the images. In the same way, a similar burial rite is related to these cultures, especially the discovery of the underground tolos, roughly dated 2200 BC. About 2200, Indo-Europeans from the area of the Abashevskaya and Poltavkino cultures begin to move to the southern Urals and build settlements there

with fortifications, which can already be called cities. In total, the researchers found more than 20 fortresses built in the steppe part of Eurasia between the rivers Ural in the west and Tobol in the east. This culture was called Sintashtinskaya by the name of the first of the fortresses investigated by archaeologists. Sintashta, discovered and excavated in 1972—1987, was built as a round fortress with a circumference of 140 m, behind a fortified wall in which there were more than 50 houses, and in all managed to find traces of metal processing. It turns out that Sintashta was built as a fortified settlement erected for the safe processing of metal. Five funerary complexes were found behind the outline of the settlement, which were accompanied by sacrifices of entire horses (up to eight in one grave), axes and daggers of copper and bronze and stone maces. An exceptional case of finding on the necropolis of Sintashty burial without a grave pit, i.e. on the surface of the Earth and with the construction above the dead clay dome-tolos. There were burials of three types-cremation (rare), inhumation, and burial in tolons (so far one has been found). It can be argued that the Indo-Europeans at that time already had a caste system in their embryonic form, with a division of duties and honors within the people. This is obvious, chariot fighters, who have continuously fought, priests and ordinary members of the community. The leader, usually was also a priest. (An analogue in ancient Greece was-in Athens archon-basileus performed priestly functions). Tholos, apparently, was the burial place of the king-priest.

pic.30 chariot Sintashta.

pic.31 Reconstruction of the Sintashta tolos.

pic.32 Samples of material culture of Sintashta.

From their Urals-Tobolsk ancestral home, the chariots spread not only to the south, but also to the west and east. In the 16th century BC. the pragrean tribes (Achaeans) come to Greece. The importance of the importance of chariots for the Mycenaean state is evidenced by the stelae that were erected over the graves of soldiers, apparently charioteers. Although many researchers insist that the catacomb burials in Mycenae circles A and B are royal graves, this can be disagreed, at least not completely. The presence in Sintashta of Tolos speaks about the tradition of their erection, relating the date of construction to 2200 years. BC, and it turns out that the Mycenaean tolos can be much older. The later Greek tradition of burial in tolos speaks of the royal prerogative for this type of grave (Panticapaeum, an underground tolos in Macedonia). Of the six steles, burials of the 16th century BC. on which it is possible to disassemble and explore the depicted, five reliefs with the participation of chariot fighters. And if we extrapolate the social structure of Sintashta to the Achaean society, then the graves of the grave circles A and B in Mycenae do not belong to the kings, namely the chosen soldiers, and this explains the group nature of the graves in one grave, which apparently died simultaneously. And kings, or rather, kings priests were buried in the tolos, or in mountain tombs, as in Crete.

pic.33 Chariot from Tiryns. 13th century BC.

Pic.34 Chariot on a stele from Mycenae 16th century BC.

Chariots are repeatedly represented in other works of Mycenaean art (frescoes, portraits on rings) The most charitable representatives, caste of chariot fighters, possessed the war chariot in Greece. They fought with chariots both with a bow, and with the help of a spear, which required direct contact with the enemy. The main mass of troops consisted of infantry, supporting and helping in battle charioteer. The battle in this period was of an individual character, and resembled the later battles of knights in the Middle Ages. The Achaian kingdoms were formed by the conquest and conquest of the local population, and this undoubtedly left a mark on the social structure of these systems. And in Mycenaean Greece, like India, caste-warriors, priests, and commoners were formed. It also happened in Sparta, much later, where the Spartans were a caste of warriors. After all, at a later time in Hellas, free citizens did not pay taxes, and in the pylon tablets there is evidence of taxation of the population. Such a state mechanism could contain an army, giving it weapons, food, providing land and all this keeping the troops under constant control, and the conquered people-in submission n this period (XV – XIII centuries.) Charioteers, as in the East, were a privileged social stratum. Chariots received from the imperial arsenals the most expensive elements of their weapons – armor, they were given out of stables by horses, and from storage – by chariots. Personal weapons chariot fighters probably had their own. How did the famous Greek heroes from the «Iliad» of Homer fight?

«No, so that no one, on the art of riding and on the strength of a reliable,
Before others did not flare ahead with the matches to fight or turn back:
you yourself will weaken yourself.
Who else in his chariot will come to the chariot, save the peak ahead: the best way for the horsemen
Thus, both the ancient walls and hailstones were smashed, the mind and spirit retained this in valorous bodies.»

Homer himself believed that they dismounted before the battle, or fought with a throwing dart weapon and fired arrows from bows. It is clear that no one saw the true picture of the battle, or, rather, did not believe in ancient stories. «Quickly the heroes of the chariot with weapons spun on the ground, sharp spears hesitating, circled around the militia, the Spirit whipping into battle, and he rebelled a terrible scourge.» The Trojans turned to the battle and faced the Argives. «Still, the fight was conducted by chariot fighters with shock long spears, in the manner of medieval knights.The chariot structure was at great intervals, linear, deep in one wagon for possible maneuver.The purpose of the attack was to shoot down the enemy chariot of the fighter, with the spear must break, otherwise the impulse would throw the attacker out of the chariot. fighters attack a cart of enemy infantry, the maneuver becomes more difficult. The chariot was to attack the infantry not in the forehead, in front, and at an acute angle, that is, the driver of the rules along the enemy building, and the soldier with a heavy spear smashed the infantrymen. If the chariot fighter used the ramming blow, the spear broke, and the warrior used a spare.

Horses, unlike fighting elephants, can not push the infantry. Therefore, the chariots can not and could not break through the infantry system, they only inflicted huge damage on the infantry, remaining invulnerable. Also later, the klibanarii acted against the infantry at a later time, drove up to the ranks, inflicted a terrible blow with a spear, and drove away, remaining invulnerable. And the rider’s spear must have broken, otherwise he could fly out of the saddle. Attacking the infantry of the chariot during the battle made a maneuver in the form of eight-time after time calling in an attack on the infantry and making a maneuver of evasion. Sold the infantry from the death of their own chariots, calling the enemy on the flank, and not letting them maneuver. The duty of the infantry was to support the battle chariots, covering the heavily armed, saving the wounded, to provide the chariots with weapons. About the true name of Achilles-Pierre (and Neoptolemus too, and the whole dynasty of the kings of Epirus). Translation literal – fire. Here is the logical series-the Pyrr-chariot fighter, the Taurin-Persian heavy cavalry warrior (supposedly from the word furnace, but the more preferable concept in the sense of how hot and hot), the Klibanarii-also translate as what is happening from the iron stove, and again in meaning ardent, hot. Not the object itself is important, but the property of the object. The name of the warrior stove would be strange… Later, the word Varyag – from the word «var», cook, create, again meaning meaning ardent, hot. This is a completely clear, understandable and logical property of the warrior, to be passionate and energetic. Perhaps hypothetically, in ancient times the chariot fighters in Greece were called the Pyrrhus (like klibanarii, Varangians, taurins). Rather, it was one of the names. Another is the well-known Mirmidonians. And this conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon in the Iliad was a kind of rebellion of the chosen warriors-Agamemnon broke promises, took away the booty, the Pyrrhus (chariot fighters) refused to fight. Pirrih-military Greek dance, as a system of training warriors known before the 7th century AD… But the warriors in Greece were called hoplites (from the shield), stratiotes. But-never-feast. That is, the category of these fighters is a thing of the past long ago. And the Pyrrhus were not just fighters, but super-armed, like the klibanarii and Persian taurins, live tanks. And just as interesting is this one, which seems to be a strange conflict, with a whole army in the person of Agamemnon. Usually, such a conflict ends not in favor of a single person. Another thing, a large, very representative group, all the chariot fighters, the Pyrrhus. Just an interesting reference to the «Little Iliad» -with the passionate desire of the Achaeans awaiting the arrival of the son of Achilles (whose name was also Perr). What is strange, nowhere, in the Iliad there is no identical name for the heroes and their sons. This is more the expectation of the necessary reinforcement of charioteers than expectation, sorry, one youngster. And then Pyrrhus (Neoptolem-the translation of the name-a new warrior) took the richest, and the wife of Hector, Andromache (translated-fighting), and swam home without incident. And for the rest, forgive the heroes, everything was not thankful to God. It would seem that the young man is at all, and everything works out, and all the Achaean kings did not reach home properly. The Myrmidons, who were part of the Achilles army, were chariot fighters, leading the chariots into battle and bound by the oath of fidelity to life and death. Written sources of the kingdom of Mitanni call his military aristocracy the word maryannu (that is, chariot warriors), which is a combination of the Hurri suffix of the plural and the Indo-Aryan word meaning «young warrior» (Sanskrit marya is most likely a doomed to an early death). It is believed that the name of the Myrmidons came from the Myrmics, ants. This is where the most interesting things begin, and the myrmics, and the ants, from the name, come from the grave hill, the mound. The ant pile seemed like a grave hill. The root «mrt», «mr» in Indo-European languages means dying, mara-mara-death. Μυρμῐδόνες δόνες-gift, to lend, Μυρα-end, ending, death, μῐ-, μα- oath, μνῆμα-sacred grave, grave mound. That is the translation «sworn to give a life in debt.» Not death as service, but death in exchange for honors. Let us recall this in Homer: «When you gave birth to me in short, Glory should not have been awarded to me by the high-hearted Zeus Egioch? But he did not honor me anyway… The mighty king, Agamemnon, dishonored me: He kidnapped feudal awards and dominates it! «All Achaean heroes, and Hercules, and Achilles, and Ajax, were chariot fighters. The process of preparation began from childhood, about this there were stories about the childhood of Achilles and Hercules. Achilles was given up in training to Chiron. He was even taught medicine. And the main thing was not in this. By behavioral reflexes and actions, it is obvious that they received stimulants, for all symptoms, apparently on the basis of ephedrine or methamphetamine. In the «Rigveda» the gods constantly drink ham or soma. That is, the custom of using psychostimulants is the oldest. Epinephal distachya is found in the south of the European part of Russia and in the steppes of Western Siberia. Here, this stimulant was obtained from him. This tool gave the fighter a very quick reaction, tirelessness, strength. But this remedy has side effects, hallucinations, disorders of consciousness. During such attacks, Hercules killed his children and burned them, taking them for demons. During the darkening of consciousness, he killed his brother Iphicles, nearly killed the hero of Telamon. Probably, part of the news of his exploits is due to his horrendous visions. Incidentally, it was after this murder that he was forced to commit 12 of his exploits, according to myths. Ajax, after the funeral games, took a herd of sheep for the Trojans, and interrupted them, then from shame rushed to the sword. So it’s not accidental, but the pattern of the side effects of the stimulator.

«The fate of two leads me to the grave limit:
If I stay here, before the hail of the Trojans fight,
– No return to me, but my glory will not perish.
If I return to the house, my dear native land,
My glory will perish, but my age will be and it’s not premature for me to die a fatal death.
(«Iliad», Homer)

The choice was in the childhood of Achilles, to live a little, and to die with honor, or to live long, but in obscurity. Thus, the desire to become a chariot fighter, to be doomed to a short but full of fame and exploits, the Achaeans did voluntarily and consciously. True, the fate of an elite soldier, a representative of the caste of soldiers, was predetermined. Death overtook them early and with inevitability. Or the warrior perished on the battlefield, or was he too late to go crazy. In the case of Ajax and Hercules, alcohol played the role of trigger reaction. But the advantages, obviously, outweighed the cons. The fighters were aware of the brevity of their being and agreed to this, all the more it was necessary, and besides, the reward was very weighty. Managing a madly racing chariot, the fighter had to be able to make very fast decisions and have the rare power to fight under the weight of heavy armor. When the cavalry replaced the battle chariot, the tactics of fighting changed, the need for stimulants disappeared.

LENSES AND PRODUCTS FROM MINING CRYSTAL. Findings of the Epoch of the Bronze Age from the Troy, the Crete and the Mycenae

A lot of highly artistic products of the finest work related to the Bronze Age – gems, jewelry, and products from rock crystal were found. The carving on gems is so miniature that it is unclear how and how ancient craftsmen could create such a miracle. Products made of gold are also striking in the fineness of the work. The crystal cup from Mycenae in the form of a swan and a top of the crystal of Trojan work would be extremely difficult to do without special locksmithing. Also in the region were found lenses from crystal. For more than a century scientists did not pay attention to them. We are talking about optical lenses of thin instruments made of different materials, which prove the existence of developed optics already in ancient times. Were people able to make precise optical instruments several thousand years ago, with the help of which it is possible to correct astigmatism, observe distant stars and perform work at a microscopic level? In Ephesus, as many as 30 lenses were found, and, interestingly, they were all concave and reduced the image by 75 percent. In Knossos, Crete, it was found set lens. They were made in such quantities that even managed to find a real workshop of the Minoan era for their production. Tarnished and scratched lens-like pendant made of rock crystal. Minoan culture about 1450 BC. Size 1.2 cm Museum Metropolitan, New York Accession Number 26.31.403. Was this object originally a lens? It is possible, and it is for Minoans that there are many such types of items. Originally – probably a lens in the form of a shield, then for some reason it was polished from both sides of the center. Minoan culture. Around 1450 B.C. Size 1.3 cm Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Accession Number 26.31.404.

pic.36 Photo of crystal lenses found by J. Sakellarakis.

The rock crystal lenses, found by Jannis Sakellarakis in the Ideon Cave (Ida Mount in Crete, near Knossos) – the first diameter of 8 mm, the second 15 mm. Photo by J. Sakellarakis. In fact, fine work, increasing the capacity – nominal 20 + -fold and 10-fold, useful 7-fold and 25-fold – and the question. Why is such a laborious item manufactured? A similar in quality lens was also found in the Palace of Knossos back in 1921 by the famous archaeologist Evans, the discoverer of this object, several more lenses a few years later by Fosdike in the Mavropelio cemetery, and it was this archaeologist who first suggested that they could have had optical use. And, interestingly, several more lenses were found in Amatos (near Limassol) when excavating the temple of Aphrodite among other small gifts to the goddess (gems, beads, amulets), probably refers to the archaic Ancient Greece, that is, the 8th-6th centuries. BC. The lens found in rock crystal from Knossos Palace has a diameter of 14 mm, an increase of 11-fold. Found in 1921 by Evans.

pic.37 Photo with wooden vessels from the swamps of Western Siberia.

The reverse side is silver foil and therefore it was assumed that this is some sort of insertion – for example, in a ring. So most likely this mirror. The first glass mirrors were made according to this scheme. In itself, outside the optical system, a mirror of this kind is useless. But for a number of complex systems of lenses and mirrors, it is important and necessary. A number of Trojan crystal lenses have traces of silver, so, probably, they were also used as mirrors. The description of finds confirming the high level of knowledge of the ancients in optics and crystal processing methods could be continued, but the available information allows us to state that in the past there was a high level of knowledge that the current civilization began to master only in the 17th century. The most interesting monuments of this kind are the small vessel found in the grave Omicron of circle B, carved from a whole piece of rock crystal. Crystal was widely used in Aegean art for decorating weapons and making beads, but the second whole vase from this material was not found. It’s more like a ladle than a vase. A small (13.2 cm long) bowl is made in the form of a duck: the bird’s body forms the vase’s receptacle, its tail is its drain. The head, gracefully turned on a thin neck, is a handle. It is dated to the 16th century. BC. The laconism of execution, which is combined with the workshop by transferring the characteristic forms of the bird, is striking. Smooth outlines of the vase perfectly harmonize with the material from which it is made. The outstanding quality of performance has led some researchers to suggest that this thing is Egyptian imports. However, this motive is typical for the culture of the Abashev culture of the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. In the marshes of western Siberia, vessels of wood of the same shape were found. To the same culture are the finds of vessels with the image of a meander and war chariots. Crystal vessel in the form of a duck from the grave Omicron circle B. XVI century. BC. e. On the right is a photo of the finds from the marshes of Western Siberia, the beginning of 2 thousand BC. The discoverer Troy Schliemann found 48 lenses in the ruins of a mythical city, one of which was particularly distinguished by the perfection of dressing and the traces of familiarity with the engraver’s tools. That two of them had a diameter of 25 mm, one 50 mm and one 54 mm, the latter having focal length of 150 mm. One of them had a hole in the center (catalog number Aar 230)] But-interestingly, the ancient artisans did not remove the chamfer from the edge of the lens, as a result of which the edge had to be very sharp. In the same place were found other lenses from crystal. When H. Schliemann showed the Trojan gold to the best English jeweler, he noted that such things could only be made with the help of a magnifying glass. Later in the last treasure, dozens of mysterious «lenses» from rock crystal were found, and among them there was one that gave a twofold increase. On some lenses there are traces of copper and silver. Recall that the lens from Knossos had a silver substrate. that is, the lens was used as a mirror, as part of a complex optical system. A lens with an aperture could be used as a mirror in a system similar to the Maksutov-Cassegrain optical system. In the Pushkin Museum. Pushkin there is an exhibit Cat. No. 257 Aap 257, P 384 a round plate of silver with a diameter of 3.75 cm.. It was she who served as a reflector in this device. In Priam’s treasure, there were also blanks for lenses and precious stones. Along with products made of precious metals in Mycenaean tombs, things were found from other materials. From the translucent alabaster, a three-handed goblet was cut out, distinguished by the amazing grace of shapes. His beautifully curved volute-shaped handles are made separately and attached to the body by metal pegs, just as the handles of vessels of gold and silver, which he undoubtedly imitates in shape, riveted. This product is also the most difficult to process, and could not be done without a lathe. This vessel is very close to the vase mentioned above from the palace in Kato Zakro, with the same high curved handles; this closeness makes him consider a Cretan product.

pic.38 Cup from Mycenae.

pic.39 Crystal lenses of the treasure of Priam. The State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow.

pic.39 Crystal necklace from the treasure of Priam. The State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow.

In the photo below is a piece of bronze, which as soon as it was not determined – «Hector’s Shield», or «skillet» (catalog number P 359 5817. It is in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow). But, it is likely that this is part of the grinding machine, and the convex part was needed for the production of spherical

surfaces. Primitive grinding, and the lathe was obviously transformed from a potter’s wheel. That is, the spindle was located, like a potter’s wheel, parallel to the floor. Drilling machine, too, obviously there was, otherwise it would be almost impossible to drill these beautiful crystal tops from the Schliemann treasure (photo above)

pic.40 Photo with a bronze grinding wheel. The treasure of Priam. Pushkin Museum of Pushkin.

Crystal material, although firm, but fragile. Therefore, a strong drill of the drill would lead to damage to the product, it would be split. (beat-deviation from the drilling axis). How did the part fasten without the invention of the screw? Obviously, with the help of a wedge system. Traps for the capture of wild animals have been known since antiquity, and some of them are made with the use of wedges. In the Schliemann hoard, a mass find of handicrafts-blanks made of copper, silver and gold is also of interest, just as it is a miracle to call the manufacture of four stone axes of valuable minerals. And the blade axes are not located on the same axis of rotation. The work was extremely difficult. Similar stone axes-hammers were found in the Borodino hoard. There are very interesting bronze nails, rivets with plugs. It is also possible to find the oldest drills, they should be in the form of arrowheads (now drills on ceramic tiles and glass just this shape). Why Indo-Europeans became the first steel to manufacture crystal lenses? Perhaps in that they came from the North, from the steppes of Siberia and Eurasia and originally, on their ancestral home, they made lenses from ice. Ice can easily be processed with simple instruments and ironed in a clean hand. Lenses were used, at first, obviously, as incendiary devices. (This experiment is described by Jules Verne and confirmed in Perelman’s «Entertaining Physics») The proof-word crystal-crystal from the ancient Greeks denoted both ice and crystal. (In Russian, the word-crystal borrowed) Since it is proved that the Achaeans are aliens from the north, then they moved the concept from the ice, to the crystal. And after discovering a material similar in properties to ice (transparent during processing), developed a technology for its processing, which, of course, is much more difficult than ice treatment. And at first, basically, the lenses served as incendiary devices. So, it turns out that the Greeks in the Bronze Age mastered the technology of processing crystal, then glasses for the manufacture of complex optical instruments. Moreover, this production was of a massive nature, this can be confirmed on the basis of the massive findings of lenses from crystal in Crete, but in ancient times the craft carefully concealed its secrets from competitors. As an example, skilful protection of silk-making technologies in the Byzantine Empire-Emperor Justinian organized the imperial workshops for the manufacture of silk fabrics, and became a monopolist in their sale and production. A pound of silk cost about 60 solid, 180 gr. Zolot. Due to this, the empire could hold back the opponents for a long time. But the secret of silk, the most complex handicraft devices, machines and equipment was only made public in the 15th century after the fall of the Empire and the flight of masters from the Turks to Western Europe (in France it was the Greeks who laid the silk industry under Louis XI). In Italy, Venice, the glass industry began to develop after the capture of Constantinople in 1204. The masters were taken from Byzantium. Therefore, we can say that the flowering of Europe and the Renaissance occurred due to the fall of the Eastern Empire in 1453. Most of the technologies and masters came to Western Europe at this time. We can say that the Renaissance began due to the fall of Byzantium. The Empire took care of its secrets of mastery, and only when the mass introduction of technical devices, invented obviously, began in the 2—3th centuries of our era-including the universal gearbox (finding a sophisticated device with bronze gears, allowing to calculate the phases of the moon, the device is located in the Athenian Archaeological Museum). On the basis of this device, mechanical watches were subsequently developed, the main part of which is the gear system. So the closeness and mystery of the achievements of technical skill was then the norm. Therefore, even now there is some element of distrust towards the achievements of antiquity, especially technical ones. Finds in Troy give a unique cut of craftsmanship of the Bronze Age, reminiscent of finds in Pompeii and Herculaneum (only there they found an antique samovar, burzhuyku, many instruments and instruments.) The science received the most complete and complete representation about Ancient Rome thanks to these cities). To carry out the same comprehensive optical and physical studies on the possible creation of optical systems from crystal lenses of the Bronze Age has not yet been obtained, despite repeated appeals to museums and authorities. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the quality of crystal processing, the purity of processing, the optical characteristics of these objects. You can calculate the truth mathematically, but this will be inaccurate results. I tried personally to contact the Pushkin Museum. Pushkin personally about the comprehensive research of lenses from crystal, but, unfortunately, with a negative result.