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The Mycenaean Warrior Vase, found by Heinrich Schliemann on the acropolis of Mycenae, is one of the prominent treasures of the National Archaeological Museum, Athens. The Warrior Vase is probably the best-known piece of Late Helladic pottery, though its dating, to the 13th or 12th century BCE, has been the subject of much discussion. It is a krater, a mixing bowl used for the dilution of wine with water, a custom which the ancient Greeks believed to be a sign of civilized behavior.

The broad frieze of armed soldiers on the vase, which is incomplete, suggested the name that Schliemann gave it. The warriors are clad in short chitons, breastplates, helmets and greaves; they are armed with spears and carry shields. The bull's head handles for long encouraged scholars to date the piece later, in the early seventh century BCE.

Many scholars observe that the style of the figures and the bull head handles of this thirteenth century BCE vase are very similar to eighth century BCE pottery. Similar spearmen are also depicted in eighth century BCE pottery, which introduces a curious 500-year gap in styles. This vase also leads to clues about post-palatial Mycenaean warriors. The knapsacks the warriors carry suggest that they may have to travel long distances to battle. Figures on one side of the vase wear helmets with horns. The other side depicts warriors in "hedgehog" style helmets. The latter is equipped with spears that are shorter than general spears depicted of the time. The warriors on both sides have shields, tunics, and leg protection. The warriors on either side appear to be uniform suggesting the army as a whole and not representing individual warriors.

Notes

1. ^ The Warrior Vase
2. Early Late Helladic III C.
3. Cartwright, Mark. "Mycenaean Pottery". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
4. Brouwers, Josho. "Palace warriors: The End of Mycenaean civilization in Greece". academia.edu. Retrieved 6 October 2015.

v t e Major exhibits at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens
Neolithic	Karditsa Thinker
Cycladic	Frying pan 1 Frying pan 2 Spool-shaped pyxis
Minoan	Akrotiri Boxer Fresco Wall Paintings of Thera
Mycenaean	Grave stelai of Mycenae Mask of Agamemnon Octopus amphora Nestor's Cup Theseus Ring Warrior Vase
Archaic	Apollo Omphalos Artemision Bronze Daidala Dedication of Nikandre Dipylon Amphora Dipylon inscription Grave stele 7901 Horses Amphora Kroisos Kouros Lemnos stele Merenda Kouros Phrasikleia Kore Pitsa panels Rider Amphora Sounion Kouros Stele of Aristion
Classical	Antikythera Ephebe Funerary naiskos of Aristonautes Funerary Stela of Demokleides Grave Stele of Hegeso Great Eleusinian Relief Mantineia Base Marathon Boy Myrtis Nike of Epidaurus Ninnion Tablet Xenokrateia Relief
Hellenistic	Antikythera mechanism Aristonoe Group of Aphrodite, Pan and Eros Heracles of Antikythera Jockey of Artemision Lycosoura Artemis Lycosoura Demeter Mithridates relief Nike of Megara Poseidon of Melos Themis of Rhamnous
Roman	Aphrodite of Syracuse Armed Aphrodite Atalante Hermes Bust of Antinous Diadumenos Hermes Criophorus Hermes of Aegium Lenormant Athena Varvakeion Athena

• 12th-century BC works
• Individual ancient Greek vases
• Mycenaean art
• National Archaeological Museum, Athens
• Archaeological discoveries in the Peloponnese
• Heinrich Schliemann
• Mycenae