The Mask Of Agamemnon Analysis

Heinrich Schliemann was a German businessman and an amateur archeologist who had a fascination with the work of the ancient Greek poet Homer (2). His belief that the work of Homer was more than a legend would one day lead him to discover the city of Troy and the Mycenae burial circles containing several golden masks. He believed one mask in particular belonged to King Agamemnon, the hero in Homer’s epic poem the Iliad who lead the Greeks into the city of Troy (5). Yet inconsistencies in the mask compared to others found and Schliemann’s questionable ethics would lead to an ongoing controversy over is now referred to as the “Mask of Agamemnon”. After discovering, the city of Troy in what is now Turkey, Schliemann’s search for the burial site of the ancient hero Agamemnon lead him to Mycenae (3). Schliemann went to Mycenae to survey, yet his true intentions were to excavate the site (2).

Before becoming an amateur archeologist Schliemann was already known as a shady businessman (4). When Schliemann discovered the Prism’s Treasure in Troy and the excavation ended shortly after as if he believed all that was there to be found had been. Which lead to question concerning the items authenticity, if they had all truly be found together, or placed together to give the appearance of a larger discovery (4). It has been speculated some items may have been found earlier in the excavation and hoarded aside, purchased from dealers, or modern work creations made to look like they belonged (4). Similar events happened at Mycenae with the discovery to the “Mask of Agamemnon” and other items found in chamber V and three days later the excavation had ended (3). Scholars refer to Schielmann’s diary to help authenticate the discoveries yet at times he was vague some even accuse him of falsifying his entries to meet his agenda