The facial reconstruction of the so-called “Griffin Warrior”, the resident of a 1,500-year-old tomb found near the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor, shows his features. Archaeologists Jack Davis and Sharon Stocker of the University of Cincinnati discovered the unplundered tomb in summer, 2015.

The warrior appears to have been a handsome man with dark hair, 30-35 years of age. Dr. Stocker states that the reconstruction was based on a stamp found inside the tomb with reconstruction work done by Lynne Schepartz and Tobias Houlton of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

The “Griffin Warrior” was named from two items inside the tomb that depict a griffin, a mythical creature. Archaeologists had found precious stones, gold rings, cups, a bronze sword, gold-plaited ivory, a rare gold chain, silver cups and bronze containers inside the tomb. Many of these items were in a Minoan style that initially suggested that they may have been plundered during a raid in Crete. The combs and mirrors found may indicate the custom of combing hair before battle.



