Author Topic: Looking for the Lion Gate of Mycenae - reconstructed. (Read 8585 times)

Alxbates · « **on:** March 29, 2012, 05:48:48 PM »

Hello all,

I'm looking for a reconstructed image of the Lion Gate of Mycenae – what it is speculated to have looked like before time wore off the top of the Lions' heads.

Pictures like this:

I've been able to find in plenty – but I want something I can use as a guideline to sculpt it in 28mm, and that means some sort of reconstructed illustration.

And, for the historical purists – I realize that any reconstruction involves a bit of speculation, but surely someone has made that guess at some point? I don't think there's much in the way of Mycenaean sculpture that's survived to modern times, but I hope there's enough that someone's made an educated guess about what the lions may have originally looked like.

Thanks for any help!

-Alex

Aaron · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2012, 06:04:59 PM »

A quick google hunt turned up this Mycenean lion head in gold. If I were embarking on this very cool project I'd start here.

From here:http://www.grisel.net/athens_museum.htm

Prof.Witchheimer · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2012, 12:00:49 AM »

only one I've found. Hard to recognize anything.

fastolfrus · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2012, 12:11:25 AM »

How about Peter Connolly?
One of his books should have something.

Steve F · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:06:23 AM »

Quote from: fastolfrus on March 30, 2012, 12:11:25 AM

How about Peter Connolly?
One of his books should have something.

The Legend of Odysseus shows the gate unreconstructed. I think that there may have been a reconstruction in The Greek Armies, but I no longer have a copy.

Alxbates · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2012, 10:12:08 AM »

Thanks for the suggestions, folks - TMP found me some interesting stuff:

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=262830

Prof.Witchheimer · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2012, 11:17:49 AM »

Some good hints there! I would echo the advice to make the lions “ facing the people”

Like this

Prof.Witchheimer · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2012, 11:41:26 AM »

I think this could be a nice option.

Steve F · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2012, 04:09:09 PM »

I was mistaken - I do still have a copy of Peter Connolly's The Greek Armies. This is his reconstruction.

Even in the book, the lion heads are too small for the head shapes to be clear, but he has portrayed them as gilded or possibly even golden (appropriately enough for "Mycenae, rich in gold", I suppose).

Aaron · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2012, 04:39:50 PM »

Come to think of it, isn't there an Osprey "Fortress" title on Troy?

Prof.Witchheimer · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2012, 04:47:51 PM »

Quote from: Aaron on March 30, 2012, 04:39:50 PM

Come to think of it, isn't there an Osprey "Fortress" title on Troy?

yes, and there is a pic of the gate though the depiction of the lions is a very small one.

The pic I've posted up there is from the Elite Osprey The Mycenaeans, it's much larger than in the Fortress book