The Mycenaean cemetery of Dendra

Dendra cemetery is perhaps best known as the place where the “Dendra panoply”, an amazing 3,400-year-old suit of armor, was found. This, along with other finds shows that in this location must once have been one of the richest Mycenaean cemeteries in the Peloponnese.

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Dendra cemetery is perhaps best known as the place where the “Dendra panoply”, an amazing 3,400-year-old suit of armour, was found. This, along with other finds shows that in this location must once have been one of the richest Mycenaean cemeteries in the Peloponnese. It must have belonged to an important Mycenaean centre such as neighbouring Midea. Archaeologists have been able to establish that the cemetery was used continuously from 1,500 to 1,180 BC. 

Excavations on the site began in the late 1930s and uncovered a vaulted tomb and sixteen closely spaced chamber tombs. It was clear from the valuable grave offerings found in the tombs that those buried there must have belonged to the ruling classes. This is particularly true of the vaulted tomb, where vessels made of gold, silver and copper were discovered, including a golden flask with a representation of a seascape and a drinking vessel made from an ostrich egg with gold and silver decorative designs. Gold jewellery and jewellery with semi-precious stones were also found, along with bronze weapons and a set of seal stones with impressive depictions of animals. 

The smallest of the tombs is 8 m long and the largest is almost 20 m. They were used for long periods of time and for multiple burials. Additionally, pairs of horses were found buried near the tombs, something which has given archaeologists important clues about Mycenaean burial rituals.

The most famous finding however, the “Dendra panoply”, was discoverd in 1960 by Greek and Swedish archaeologists (N. Verdelis and Paul Astrom). It weighs a hefty 15 kg and is made from a copper and tin alloy. This also points to the cemetery having been used to bury the elite, as scholars tell us that the owner of this armour must have been a leader or a high-ranking official. Nowadays the armour is on display in the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio along with other finds from the cemetery.

Did you know that

Other finds from Dendra are on display in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, in the Mycenaean Collection.

Opening hours for the archaeological site: Monday-Saturday 8.30-16.00, Sunday closed. Tel.: 0030 27520 43647. Free entry.

Location

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