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.

All labels observed (3)

Label Occurrences
Cyclopean masonry canonical 1
Cyclopean walls 1
Stepped Stone Structure 1

How this entity was disambiguated

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
ancient Greece
linked to: Greek Antiquity

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
linked to: Mycenae and Tiryns

Orchomenos
linked to: Orchomenus

Sacsayhuamán
Tiryns
linked to: Mycenae and Tiryns
region Aegean region
linked to: Aegean Region

Andes
Peloponnese
relatedConcept dry stone walling
megalithic architecture
polygonal masonry
structuralSystem load-bearing masonry
studiedInField archaeology
architectural history
timePeriod Bronze Age
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

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Mycenae and Tiryns hasConstructionTechnique Cyclopean masonry
City of David archaeological area contains Stepped Stone Structure
linked to: Cyclopean masonry
Arpinum hasNotableStructure Cyclopean walls
linked to: Cyclopean masonry