Griffin Warrior of Pylos
Just this last May, archaeologists working at Pylos, Messenia came across an unlooted Mycenaean shaft burial dating to 1500 B.C. filled with a treasure trove of artifacts. The occupant was a male warrior, 30-35 years old, buried with weapons, gold and silver jewelry, a bronze mirror with an ivory handle, the most beautiful Aegean comb I have ever seen, and at least 50 exquisitely ingraved Minoan seal stones. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that any Linear B writing was found with the remains.
He is referred to as the Griffin Warrior of Pylos because of the artifacts bearing griffin motifs. Griffins in Mycenaean and Minoan iconography represent the presence or protection of a divinity.
Given the abundance of Minoan artifacts, was the warrior from Crete, or was he a Mycenaean Greek buried with trade items, or even loot he had acquired on raids? DNA testing will be used to determine his place of origin, as well as give insight into his health, and the general health of Mycenaean warriors at this time. In modern terms 30-35 years is relatively young, but let me point out that the Griffin Warrior is contemporaneous with the males buried in Mycenae's Grave Circles A and B, most of whom died around the same age. So 30-35 years for a warrior of the sixteenth century B.C. would have been old.
Read the full story at the New York Times.