National Museum of Archeology - Bronze Age

The Bronze Age in Europe (ca 3200-800 BC) was a very important period for the development of many cultures by crafts and trade. The Minoans in Crete were a famous example ... but in the end, preferring luxury goods over staple food lead to problems in the archaic empires.

Here you see a bronze knife decorated with golden and silver animal figures. Very elaborated for that time and certainly a status symbol!

Long swords, falchion-type swords and spears were some of the common weapons used in Bronze Age Europe, as recounted also in Homer's epic "Iliad". Golden ornaments show that these weapons belonged to the nobility. Bows are not preserved as they were made of wood ...

Huge treasures of gold complete the picture of Mycenean culture. A Golden Age described by Hesiod comes to mind, but with the frequent warfare and famine for the lower classes, it was hardly a paradise for everybody. The level of craftsmanship is astonishing however ... part 2 will follow!

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