Amber is a fossilised tree resin admired for its vibrant colour and natural beauty since the Neolithic period.
According to a new study by Prof. Janusz Czebreszuk, Director of the Polish Archaeological Institute in Athens, the Mycenaeans carried amber to symbolise the sun and their social status.
The Mycenaean civilisation marked the final stage of the Bronze Age in ancient Greece, lasting from around 1750 to 1050 BC. It was the first sophisticated culture to emerge on mainland Greece, distinguished by its palatial states, urban planning, artistic achievements, and the development of a unique writing system.
Mycenaean amber has only been discovered in the wealthiest graves, mainly as necklaces and ornaments worn by both men and women. Research shows that most of the amber found in Greece is succinite, originating from the Baltic region, particularly around the Bay of Gdańsk (which remains a trading centre for amber to this day).
Bronze Age elites maintained extensive networks across Europe, often facilitated by marriages that connected different regions. These networks also served as conduits for amber, which circulated predominantly among the elite classes.
"It was widely distributed: it is known from the British Isles to Ukraine, but the main deposits that were known in prehistory are the deposits on the Baltic and the North Sea," said Prof. Janusz Czebreszuk.
According to legend, when Phaëton, the son of Helios (the Sun), died, his grieving sisters were transformed into poplar trees, and their tears turned into amber, known as elektron.
Amber was regarded as a solar material linked to the power of the Sun. For the Mycenaean elite, wearing amber symbolised possessing a piece of the Sun itself, reinforcing their elevated social status.
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Sources : PAP