Architectural Geology of Mycenae, Part 3: Detail of Wall Masonry Rising from the Bedrock, Peloponnese, Greece
This portion of Mycenae's walls is set in more-or-less regularly coursed ashlar blocks—albeit gigantic ones. And though the bedrock directly beneath is gray Triassic-to-Jurassic limestone, the builders here utilized the much younger, Pliocene-to-Pleistocene conglomerate found in the valley below. However, the limestone was used a great deal elsewhere on site, especially where the conglomerate's greater strength and ornamental appeal wasn't deemed necessary.
According to current definition, most of the masonry visible here isn't cyclopean—a term that now refers to unworked boulders and other massive rock fragments set in what seems to be a random fashion. That said, there is some cyclopean stonework visible on top of the walls.
To see the other photos and descriptions of this series, visit my
Architectural Geology of Mycenae, Part 3: Detail of Wall Masonry Rising from the Bedrock, Peloponnese, Greece
This portion of Mycenae's walls is set in more-or-less regularly coursed ashlar blocks—albeit gigantic ones. And though the bedrock directly beneath is gray Triassic-to-Jurassic limestone, the builders here utilized the much younger, Pliocene-to-Pleistocene conglomerate found in the valley below. However, the limestone was used a great deal elsewhere on site, especially where the conglomerate's greater strength and ornamental appeal wasn't deemed necessary.
According to current definition, most of the masonry visible here isn't cyclopean—a term that now refers to unworked boulders and other massive rock fragments set in what seems to be a random fashion. That said, there is some cyclopean stonework visible on top of the walls.
To see the other photos and descriptions of this series, visit my