Cyclopean masonry
E36871
Cyclopean masonry is an ancient construction technique characterized by the use of massive, irregular stone blocks fitted together without mortar to create monumental walls and fortifications.
Statements (50)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
ancient building method
ⓘ
construction technique ⓘ |
| advantage |
high stability without mortar
ⓘ
massive defensive strength ⓘ resistance to seismic activity ⓘ |
| associatedWithCulture |
Mycenaean civilization
ⓘ
Greek Antiquity ⓘ
surface form:
ancient Greece
pre-Columbian Andean cultures ⓘ prehistoric Aegean cultures ⓘ |
| characterizedBy |
dry-stone construction
ⓘ
fortification walls ⓘ irregular block shapes ⓘ massive stone blocks ⓘ monumental walls ⓘ tight-fitting joints ⓘ |
| constructionMethod |
careful placement of large blocks
ⓘ
minimal dressing of stone surfaces ⓘ stones fitted without mortar ⓘ |
| distinguishedFrom |
ashlar masonry
ⓘ
brick masonry ⓘ rubble masonry ⓘ |
| documentedIn | ancient Greek literature ⓘ |
| etymology | named after the Cyclopes of Greek mythology ⓘ |
| notableExampleAt |
Argos
ⓘ
Machu Picchu ⓘ Mycenae and Tiryns ⓘ
surface form:
Mycenae
Orchomenus ⓘ
surface form:
Orchomenos
Sacsayhuamán ⓘ Mycenae and Tiryns ⓘ
surface form:
Tiryns
|
| region |
Aegean Region
ⓘ
surface form:
Aegean region
Andes ⓘ Peloponnese ⓘ |
| relatedConcept |
dry stone walling
ⓘ
megalithic architecture ⓘ polygonal masonry ⓘ |
| structuralSystem | load-bearing masonry ⓘ |
| studiedInField |
archaeology
ⓘ
architectural history ⓘ |
| timePeriod |
Bronze Age
ⓘ
Mycenaean civilization ⓘ
surface form:
Late Helladic period
|
| usedFor |
citadel fortifications
ⓘ
defensive walls ⓘ monumental architecture ⓘ terracing and retaining walls ⓘ |
| usesMaterial |
irregular stone blocks
ⓘ
large stone blocks ⓘ |
| usesMortar | no mortar ⓘ |
| visualAppearance |
megalithic
ⓘ
monumental ⓘ rough-hewn ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.