Megaron

The megaron (/ˈmɛɡəˌrɒn/; Ancient Greek: μέγαρον, [mégaron], pl.: megara /ˈmɛɡərə/) was the great hall in very early Mycenean and ancient Greek palace complexes.^[1] Architecturally, it was a rectangular hall that was surrounded by four columns, fronted by an open, two-columned portico, and had a central, open hearth that vented though an oculus in the roof.^[2]

The megaron also contained the throne-room of the wanax, or Mycenaean ruler, whose throne was located in the main room with the central hearth.^[3] Similar architecture is found in the Ancient Near East, though the presence of the open portico, generally supported by columns, is particular to the Aegean.^[4] Megara are sometimes referred to as "long-rooms", as defined by their rectangular (non-square) shape and the position of their entrances, which are always along the shorter wall so that the depth of the space is larger than the width.^[5] There were often many rooms around the central megaron, such as archive rooms, offices, oil-press rooms, workshops, potteries, shrines, corridors, armories, and storerooms for such goods as wine, oil and wheat.^[6] Evidence suggests that the megara of ancient Greece were often created using the construction techniques of "Wattle-and-Daub" and "Pisé".^[7]

The megaron is thought to have been used for sacrificial processions,^[8] as well as for royal functions and court meetings.^[4] However, parts of the megaron functioned as habitable spaces, and were utilized as living quarters prior to the eighth century BC.^[9]