6 Mycenaean samples in 23andme format

The Mycenaeans were an ancient Greek civilization that flourished during the Late Bronze Age, roughly from 1600 to 1100 BCE. They are considered one of the earliest advanced Greek cultures, preceding the classical Greek civilization by several centuries. Named after their major city of Mycenae in southern Greece, the Mycenaeans were influential in the ancient Mediterranean world, with a far-reaching culture known for its architectural achievements, social hierarchy, warrior aristocracy, and extensive trade networks.

The Mycenaeans were indo-europeans, and spoke an early form of Greek, known as Mycenaean Greek, which is the earliest recorded Greek dialect.

The Mycenaeans built large palatial complexes on elevated, fortified locations. Famous examples include Mycenae and Tiryns in the Peloponnese, Pylos in Messenia, and Thebes in Boeotia.

Many Mycenaean citadels were surrounded by massive stone walls, known as Cyclopean walls, constructed with huge limestone boulders fitted without mortar. According to Greek mythology, the walls were built by Cyclopes, reflecting their impressive scale and craftsmanship.

The Mycenaeans constructed tholos or beehive-shaped tombs for high-ranking individuals. These tombs, such as the Treasury of Atreus in Mycenae, were built with corbelled stonework and had impressive, long entrance corridors leading to the burial chamber.

The Mycenaeans believed in a pantheon of gods that was an early form of the Greek pantheon familiar from later Greek mythology. Texts in Linear B mention deities such as Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hermes, Athena, and Dionysus, suggesting continuity between Mycenaean and classical Greek religious practices. Mycenaean religion likely involved rituals, offerings, and animal sacrifices, and there is evidence that they worshipped both male and female deities associated with natural elements and protection.

Many myths of ancient Greece have roots in the Mycenaean era. The Trojan War—the central story of Homer’s Iliad—may be based on events involving Mycenaean Greeks who attempted to conquer Troy, reflecting their military prowess and rivalries with other powerful cities.

Mycenaean pottery was highly sophisticated and served both practical and decorative purposes. Common pottery forms included large storage jars (pithoi), stirrup jars for storing and transporting oil and wine, kraters for mixing wine, and kylixes (drinking cups). Mycenaean pottery was often decorated with geometric patterns, animal motifs, and marine themes like octopuses and dolphins, reflecting a strong influence from Minoan Crete.

The Mycenaean civilization declined around 1100 BCE, likely due to a combination of factors, including invasions, internal conflicts, and natural disasters. This period of decline led to what is known as the Greek Dark Ages, a time marked by the collapse of centralized palatial societies and a reduction in literacy and trade.

For this video, I gathered the genomes of 6 highest quality academic DNA samples of mycenaeans and ran them through my trait predictor tool for DNA analysis.