Mycenae
Greece
The fortified citadel of ancient Mycenae, the seat of the mythical and mighty King Agamemnon. An impressive and well-preserved site, the city of Mycenae gave its name to an entire civilization. Admire sites such as the Tomb of Clytemnestra, the infamous Lion’s Gate, the Cyclopean walls and learn of their blood-stained past. In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece, Crete, the Cyclades and parts of southwest Anatolia. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Mycenae
Welcome to Mycenae, arguably the most significant archaeological site on the European mainland and the eponymous center of the Mycenaean civilization that dominated the Greek world between 1600 and 1200 BC [10-12]. As we stand…
Listen in the app2The Lion Gate: Symbol of Power
We begin at the Lion Gate, the main entrance to the citadel of Mycenae and perhaps the most iconic architectural feature of the Bronze Age. Built around 1250 BC—the era when the historical Agamemnon might have lived—the gate…
Listen in the app3Grave Circle A: The Golden Necropolis
Just inside the Lion Gate, to the right, lies Grave Circle A. This was the 'treasure trove' discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876, which contained six shaft graves and the remains of 19 individuals, likely members of the…
Listen in the app4The Palace of the Wanax
We now ascend to the summit of the hill to explore the remains of the Palace of Mycenae, the residence of the 'Wanax' or King. This was the administrative and political heart of the city, a complex of rooms, courtyards, and…
Listen in the app5The Underground Cistern: Engineering for Survival
Near the northeastern edge of the citadel lies one of Mycenae's most impressive engineering feats: the secret underground cistern. To survive a siege, a fortress must have a reliable water supply, and the Mycenaean engineers…
Listen in the app6The Postern Gate and Northern Walls
Continuing our walk around the perimeter, we reach the Postern Gate, or North Gate. This secondary entrance is smaller than the Lion Gate but equally well-fortified, built into the massive northern section of the Cyclopean walls. …
Listen in the app7Treasury of Atreus: The King of Domes
Finally, we leave the main citadel and walk down to the Treasury of Atreus, also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon. This is a 'tholos' or beehive tomb, the most spectacular of its kind and a masterpiece of ancient engineering. …
Listen in the app8Mycenae
As we conclude our journey through ancient Mycenae, I hope you carry with you a sense of the immense scale and complexity of this Bronze Age world. We have walked through the Lion Gate, explored the golden necropolis of the…
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What is Mycenae?
Mycenae is a place in Greece with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Greece |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 37.7195, 22.7457 |
| Last updated |
