Mycenaean culture

9.9

A Bronze Age Greek society near Mycenae that built large palaces and used early Greek writing

noun
/maɪsəˈniːən ˈkʌltʃər/

: cultura micénica

Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable palaces built by the Mycenaean culture during the late Bronze Age.

Examples

The Mycenaean culture is known for its early Greek writing system, called Linear B.
The Mycenaean culture collapsed around 1100 BC, marking the end of the Bronze Age in Greece.
Many myths of ancient Greece are believed to have origins in the Mycenaean culture.
The Mycenaean culture thrived during the late Bronze Age.
Many artifacts from the Mycenaean culture have been discovered in archaeological sites.
Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable palaces built by the Mycenaean culture during the late Bronze Age.
Many artifacts from the Mycenaean culture provide insight into the daily lives of ancient Greeks.

Synonyms

Mycenaean civilization

vsMycenaean culture

1 8.8

An ancient Greek culture from about 1400 to 1100 BC with large palaces, art, and a way of writing

has identical meaning but uses a different noun in its name

How Complex

Mycenaean culture

9.9

urban culture

1 3.9

culture

∞ 3.0

tradition

∞ 2.0

custom

148 1.3

Surface Forms

Mycenaean culture singular

Mycenaean cultures plural

Morphology

Mycenaean + culture

The phrase denotes 'the culture of Mycenae' and is directly compositional from 'Mycenaean' (of or relating to Mycenae) + 'culture' (shared customs and practices). This adjective+noun formation is a regular, predictable pattern (albeit historically specific), so a learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Mycenaean culture is 'named after' the ancient city of Mycenae, where big palaces, tombs, and rich objects were found. Because so many important finds came from that place, people used the city's name for the whole way of life and people at that time, so today Mycenaean culture means the Bronze Age civilization centered on Mycenae.