A Modern Temple and a Mycenaean Palace

Much of Western Civilization has been greatly influenced by Greek philosophy, art, medicine, and democracy. The Greeks also greatly impacted the field of architecture; the United States is spotted with buildings that incorporate ancient Greek architecture such as Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol Building and the Second Bank of the United States. However, not all of this influence can be attributed to the Greeks. The root of Greek architecture comes from their predecessors, the Myceneans (Cartwright). Even in modern times, traces of Mycenaean architecture can be found embedded in monumental buildings in the United States. This paper will discuss the similarities and differences between the Palace of Mycenae and a more contemporary building, the Salt Lake Temple, and what the structure of these buildings conveys about their respective cultures. 

Although the peak of the Mycenaeans civilization vanished more than 2,000 years ago, the Mycenean Palace shares significant similarities with the Salt Lake Temple (“Mycenae”). Both of these extraordinary buildings were constructed in deliberate locations, were made with unique materials, and incorporated themes of progression. For example, both structures were built in high, central locations in the city.  The Salt Lake Temple was built in the foothills of the tall Wasatch Mountain Range. Likewise, the Mycenean palace was built on a hill over 278 meters (912 ft.) above sea level which made it one of the highest points in the encompassing area (Cartwright). 

Palace of Mycenae
Source: https://www.deviantart.com/panaiotis/art/Acropoli-Micenea-di-Atene-1200-a-C-460287516

Along with construction on high sites, the city infrastructure was designed to wrap around these buildings so that they would serve as a central point in their cities.  An article about the Salt Lake Temple states, “Streets are laid out with the temple in the center and pedestrian plazas with gardens and pools surround the site. The temple became the center of the city, the center of the state, and a physical oasis in the urban setting… it is intentionally a unique building that is set apart” (Blankenbehler). In a similar fashion, the Mycenaean Palace is surrounded by complexes of offices, shrines, washrooms, workshops, halls and other appendages (“Mycenae”). The elevated,  central position of these buildings are a testament to their cultural significance. 

Another indicator of these buildings’ importance is the materials the people used to construct them. Both the Mycenaean Palace and the Salt Lake Temple were built from precious materials. During the construction of the temple, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints invited the saints to: “gather and bring precious metals and other materials... for the time had come to build the Lord’s house” (Blankenbehler). The outside of the temple was constructed of large granite blocks, the inside was beautifully decorated with hand-carved furniture and elaborate murals that covered the walls,  and atop the temple stood a carefully crafted statue of the prophet Moroni leafed in gold (Cowan). 

Salt Lake Temple
Source: https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salt-lake-temple/

Similarly, the Mycenean Palace contained riches, jewels, and large friezes and frescoes. It also contained impressive stonework like the Salt Lake Temple. For example, one of the bathing rooms in the palace was built with an impressively large and innovative bathing slab. An article about this bathing slab describes it as, “one gigantic block of limestone, over 3 m. broad, nearly 4 m. long, and averaging 0.70 m. in thickness. It contains therefore about 8½ cubic meters, and it weighs more than 20,000 kilograms” (Shaw). The remarkable craftsmanship and materials used to construct these buildings offer the insight that these buildings were built with for an elevated people and purpose. 

Stone Slab in Mycenae
Source: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3764/aja.116.4.0555#metadata_info_tab_contents

The Salt Lake Temple and the Mycenaean Palace were created with the intention that the visitor would progress through the building into the presence of royalty. An article about the Salt Lake Temple explained, “Procession is extremely important for the rituals that take place in the temple...The Garden Room in the lowest level represents Adam in the Garden of Eden, and from there the rooms proceed upward toward heaven” (Blankenbehler). In the palace, visitors passed through a bathing room and a purification ritual that may have been incorporated to prepare them to enter the throne room (Shaw).  The palace prepared visitors to meet their king, a God-like figure in their culture and the temple prepared visitors to meet their God and king. Both buildings’ architecture created a cleansing progression that guided visitors to their holy destination. 

The Celestial Room in the Salt Lake Temple is symbolic of the highest degree of heaven
Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1993/03/in-his-holy-house?lang=eng

Although the Salt Lake Temple and the Mycenean Palace have many similarities, they are unique in their fortification and functions. The Mycenean Palace did contain progressive architecture, but its operations were quite different from that of the temple. While the Salt Lake Temple contains exclusively religious rooms, “the Mycenaean Palace, which kept archives in the first Greek script, Linear B, was the administrative, economic, artistic and military centre for a wide region” (Cartwright).  

Another distinct difference is that of the fortification provided to the buildings. The Mycenaean Palace is surrounded by massive stone blocks. These blocks were referred to as Cyclopean because it appeared that only cyclops could lift such heavy pieces of stone (Cartwright). The Cyclopean Wall that surrounded the city provided protection from the Mycenaeans' enemies.  The Salt Lake Temple, on the other hand,  is surrounded by simply metal fencing, the like that is nothing formidable.

The similarities and differences between the Mycenean Palace and the Salt Lake Temple provide important insights that help paint a picture of their individual cultures. From the details of the fortification and choice of location, it is clear the Myceneans were warlike people. “Mycenaeans also likely engaged in mercenary wars and piracy, and they were known to periodically raid and loot the coastal towns of Egyptians and Hittites” (Mycenae). The strong walls and elevated position of the palace protected it from invaders and made it easier to defend. They could more easily spot their enemies' approach and rebuttal their attacks from high ground. The Mycenaeans needed to protect themselves from their enemies because they often engaged in raids and piracy.  

Lion's Gate at Mycenae
Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Mycenae

Consequently, the Mycenaeans used the wealth they acquired from their enemies to fund the construction of buildings, walls, and monuments. The Mycenaean culture highly valued wealth and sophistication. They went to great lengths to build the elaborate Palace of Mycenae, which must have required many resources to build. Their society was past the point of subsistence and was advanced enough that they could dedicate time and resources to designing and building a palace. The gold, art, jewelry found there, along with their propensity to plunder affirm that the Mycenaean culture was very material minded. 
The culture of those involved in the construction of the Salt Lake Temple greatly contrasts that of the Mycenaean. The construction of the temple highlights the sacrifice and religiousness of their culture. Instead of plundering nearby cities to fund the construction, the saints sacrificed the best of their personal time, talents and resources to build the temple. For example, workers laboriously cut huge stone blocks weighing from 2,500 to 5,600 pounds each and transported them by oxen to the construction site. Work on the temple interior was done by skilled craftsmen that applied their expertise to construct and beautify over 170 rooms (“Granite”). Much of the significant sacrifices of the saints were made voluntarily and demonstrate their dedication to their religion. 

Construction of the Salt Lake Temple 
Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/images/salt-lake-temple-construction-lds-153765?lang=eng

Although the architecture of the Salt Lake Temple and the Palace of Mycenae have significant similarities, the differences between the two buildings highlight key cultural disparities between the two cultures. These insights about their cultures can be found by analyzing their architecture because the structure of a building provides an indication of what occurs inside; the heart of a people can be found in the heart of their architecture. 

Works Cited:

Blankenbehler, Benjamin. “Salt Lake City Temple, Utah.” Architecture Revived, 18 Oct. 2016, www.architecturerevived.com/salt-lake-city-temple-utah/.

Cartwright, Mark. “Mycenaean Civilization.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 13 Feb. 2020, www.ancient.eu/Mycenaean_Civilization/.

Cowan, Richard O. “The Design, Construction, and Role of the Salt Lake Temple: Religious Studies Center.” The Design, Construction, and Role of the Salt Lake Temple | Religious Studies Center, rsc.byu.edu/salt-lake-city-place-which-god-prepared/design-construction-role-salt-lake-temple.

“Granite and Faith: The Story of the Salt Lake Temple.” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/additional-resource/granite-and-faith-the-story-of-the-salt-lake-temple.

“Mycenae.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 26 Mar. 2018, www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/mycenae.

Shaw, Joseph W. “Bathing at the Mycenaean Palace of Tiryns.” American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 116, no. 4, 2012, pp. 555–571. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.3764/aja.116.4.0555.