Mycenae, the heart of the Mycenaean World

Mycenae is known as the kingdom of the glorious King Agamemnon. It was a major centre of Greek civilization during the late Bronze Age (1600–1100 BC).

Homer, the famous Greek poet, wrote about the Mycenaens and the Troyan War in his epics “The Iliad “and “The Odyssey”. And I am sure that you are familiar with a story about Paris, prince of Troy who took beautiful Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta and brother of King Agamemnon, known as the leader of the Greeks in the Troyan War.

Today, Mycenae is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and a popular tourist destination.
So, let’s go for a walk around this marvellous place.

Mycenaean Walls

How to get to Mycenae

Mycenae is located 120 km southwest of Athens, in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese. Also, it is 35 km far from Corinth, about 20 km from Nafplio and 55 km far from Epidaurus. You can reach Mycenae in three ways.

By car: The best and most comfortable way is by car. If you are coming from Athens, follow the National Highway Athens-Corinth, the Corinth Canal, then the road to Tripoli and signs to Nafplio and Mycenae.

By bus: From Athens Kifissos KTEL Bus Station, you can catch daily buses to Mycenae and the trip lasts about 1 and a half hours. Also, there are daily buses from Nafplio and Argos to Mycenae, check the KTEL schedule.

Organized tours: If you come to Greece with travel agencies, usually they organize tours for you. For example, we came to Athens with “Mayak Tours”, the Serbian travel agency from Belgrade. They organized a one-day excursion for us to visit Mycenae, Epidaurus Theatre, and Nafplio.
Otherwise, many travel agencies in Athens organize various excursions.
Also, you can check the Get Your Guide, Viator or TripAdvisor platforms and choose the excursion you like the most.

Tickets  for visiting Mycenae

The ticket price includes the visit to the Mycenae archaeological site, the Archaeological Museum and the Treasury of Atreus.
So, take a look at the price of tickets:

♦ Summer season, 1st April – 31st October: 12 EUR, and the reduced ticket is 6 EUR.
◊ Winter season, 1st November – 31st March: 6 EUR, for all visitors.

Opening hours: from 8 AM to 5 PM during the winter season, and from 8 to 7 PM during the summer.
Check more information about opening times and closed days on the website here.

Even though we visited Mycenae on the 31st of December 2024, the site was crowded. Bear in mind that there can be more people during the summertime.

What to know before visit

TIP 1: Take a special ticket package that costs 20 EUR and is valid for 3 days.

With this ticket, you can visit 5 sites: the Archaeological site and Museum of Mycenae, the Tiryns site, the Byzantine Museum of Argolis, the Archaeological site and Museum of Asine, the Archaeological Museum of Nafplion, and the Fortress of Palamidi.

TIP 2: Take comfortable shoes and bring water with you

Even though most of the visitor path is paved, some parts are not. Bear in mind that the path is rocky and slippery, so wear comfortable shoes or sneakers.

Also, take water with you, you will need it because the path is going up to the hill.
If you visit Mycanea on hot days, bring with you a hat and sunscreen. Avoid peak sun hours, if it is possible.

So, you can visit the first museum or the site, depending on your time and crowd. I will write more about the artefacts in the museum later in the text. But now, let’s talk more about the history of Mycenea and its architecture.

The map with a description of the Mycenae archaeological site

The History of Mycenean Greece 

According to the legend, Mycenae was founded by Perseus, grandson of King Acrisius of Argos, the son of Acrisius’s daughter, Danaë and the god Zeus. To protect his new city, he hired the mythical Cyclopes to build the walls around it. Because of them, these walls made of giant stones are called “The Cyclopean Walls”.

There are three explanations for how Mycenae got its name. According to one story, it is because of Perseus’s cap (mykēs) of the sheath of his sword, or after a mushroom he had plucked on the site. The third explanation gave Homer who connected the name to the nymph Mycene, the daughter of the river god Inachos of Argos.

The Mycenaean civilization and King Agamemnon

The Mycenaean civilization dates from 1600 to 1100 BC, with a peak between 1400 to 1200 BC. It greatly influenced military infrastructure, architecture, art, and the Linear B writing system in mainland Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.

The city-states with the king on top were established at that time. Mycenae is widely known as the kingdom of the legendary King Agamemnon who led the Greeks in the Troyan War. He was the son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope, and the brother of Menelaus. Agamemnon had four children: Iphigenia, Electra, Orestes and Chrysothemis with his wife Clytemnestra. According to legend, she killed him with her lover Aegisthus upon his return from the war.

By the way, Mycenae and Tiryns were the two most important cities of the Mycenaean civilization. They were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.

It is supposed that the decline of Mycenae occurred around 1100 BC. The possible reasons are damage from earthquakes and fires, civil strife and the invasion of Dorians. However, it was partly inhabited during the Greek Classical Period (5th-4th centuries BC), the Archaic period (8th-5th centuries BC), the Hellenic period and later in the Roman period (31 BC). But, it was soon completely abandoned.

Excavations of Mycenae

The Mycenae archaeological site came under the jurisdiction of the Greek Archaeological Society in 1837.
 The German amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann made the first excavations in 1876. He followed the historical details of places described by Homer in his epic “The Iliad”. By the way, Heinrich Schliemann became famous after he found ancient Troya in 1873.

Because of these fascinating excavations, Schliemann was named the “Father of Mycenaean Archaeology”. His mansion in the centre of Athens is housing now the Numismatic Museum of Athens.

After him, various archaeologists continued excavations in the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s.

Script Linear B

The Minoan civilization from Crete Island had its Linear A writing system. In 1600 BC, the Mycenaean Greeks borrowed their syllabic writing system and developed their script known as Linear B.

It was used for administrative purposes, economic transactions, religion, and information about the public and private lives of the Mycenaeans. The script was recorded on clay tablets and pottery.

Mycenae, The Linear B script

The Linear A and The Linear B scripts were discovered first in Crete by English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in 1900. By the way, they have not been fully deciphered until today.

👉 You can read more about the Minoan civilization, the Linear B and the Knossos Palace here.

What to See in Mycenae

The ancient Mycenae was nestled between two hills, Profitis Ilias (805 m) and Sara (660 m), on the fertile Argolid Plain in Peloponnese. Its strategic position gave it control of the trade routes, sea and the Argolid Plain.

And for sure, from the top of the citadel, there is a breathtaking view all around. We were so lucky to have an amazing sunny day during our visit on the 31st of December 2024!

A view from the Mycenae citadel

Mycenae Acropolis

An acropolis was surrounded by the impressive Cyclopean walls. The complex includes the citadel with the palace complex, megaron, storerooms, workshops, and circular graves. 

The Lion Gate

The landmark of the Mycenae site is the Lion Gate, located on the northwestern side of the Acropolis.
This iconic entrance to Mycenae can be seen today, even though it was built around 1250 BC. The Greek archaeologist Kyriakos Pittakis found and cleared the Lion Gate in 1841.

The stone gate has a triangular construction above the lintel. It is adorned with a relief of two lions (or lionesses), posing on both sides of a pillar. Unfortunately, their heads have not been preserved.

Mycenae, The Lion Gate entrance

The gate is 3.10 m wide and 2.95 m high at the threshold. By the way, the lion was an emblem of the Mycenaean kings and a symbol of their power. Interestingly, the Lion Gate is the only surviving sculpture of the Mycenean culture and the largest one from the Bronze Age.

Mycenaen Lion Gate

Also, it has never been buried underground since its construction. Even the famous ancient geographer Pausanias mentioned the Lion Gate after his visit in the 2nd century AD.

The rear side of the Mycenaen Lion Gate

On the left side of the gate, there was a small room in the wall, which probably served as a shrine of the gate. Also, near the wall, there are ruins of the buildings in the northern quarter.

Interestingly, we saw two adorable cats, one in front of the Lion Gate, and another beside its rear side. They look like guardians of this ancient marvellous place…

Cats around the Mycenaen Lion Gate

Grave Circle A

When you pass through the Lion Gate, you enter the Citadel complex.

Reconstruction of the Grave Circle A

There is a huge burial site with six shaft graves on the right side, known as Grave Circle A, discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1874.

Mycenaen Grave Circle A

It was a royal cemetery with various artefacts and funerary gifts. Among them, there were golden funeral masks, weapons, a set of swords, ornate staffs, golden jewellery, and silver and gold cups.
The most famous mask is known as the “ Mask of Agamemnon”, found in Tomb V.

Mycenaen Grave Circle A

On the right of the gate was a building known as the “Granary“. There were found pithoi, the large clay storage jars with carbonized grains, wheat and barley.

Mycenaen Granary ruins

On the left side of Grave Circle A, there are ruins of the Ramp House, House of Warrior, Hellenistic chambers, and the Cult Centre.

 Royal Palace and Megaron

Following the Paved Ramp (today with modern steps) and going up the summit of the hill, we came to the ruins of the palace and megaron.

Royal Palace was built in the 13th century BC and it consisted of a large court and megaron.

Megaron was the great hall in ancient Greek palaces. It had a rectangular shape, supported with columns, while a large circular hearth was in the centre. Also, it was open in the front with a two-columned portico. The throne room of the ruler was located in the main chamber on the raised platform. Usually, smaller rooms surrounded the megaron, such as offices, shrines, workshops, potteries, storerooms and corridors.

Ruins of the Megaron and Royal Palace

Megaron was the administrative, political and economic centre of Mycenae. Probably it was destroyed at the end of the 13th century and partly rebuilt in the 12th century BC. By the way, the model of Greek temples was developed from the Megaron building.

The Cult centre

A processional road in the citadel leads to the Tsountas House, and the cult centre of Myceanae, the Temple and shrines.

The Temple was built right beside the megaron, on a lower terrace. The main room was 13 m long and 11.5 wide, and it had a central hearth. Next to it, there was a sealed room where the broken clay figurines and snakes, used in rituals, were found.

Mycenaen Temple (5) and artefacts in the Mycenae Museum

By the way, Myceneans adopted the Minoan religion’s ceremonial beliefs and then developed their rituals. The altar and fragments of frescoes were found in the nearby room, the shrine known as The House of Frescoes.

The House of Frescos, the Mycenae Archaeological Museum

The underground Cistern

The underground cistern is located in the northeast corner of the Mycenae Acropolis. It dates back to the late 13th century BC.

Mycenae

This subterranean reservoir served to supply water to the inhabitants. It is accessible through three levels. The first one consists of 16 surviving steps surrounded by a massive stone cyclopean gate.

In front of the underground cistern

The area around the Acropolis

Outside the walls of Mycenaen Acropolis, there was the residential area of the city, Grave Circle B and various tholos tombs.

Grave Circle B was the cemetery from the late 17th-16th centuries BC. Today, it is located outside the Acropolis walls.  There were 26 tombs with inhabitants’ bones excavated between 1952 and 1954 by Greek archaeologists. Some of the tombs were similar to those from Grave Circle A in the Citadel complex.

The Tomb of Clytemnestra (Agamememnon’s wife) and the Tomb of Aegisthus (the lover of Clytemnestra) are located close to the Grave Circle B. Also, there you can see ruins of the Perseia Fountain House, the House of the Oil Merchant Group, and the Lion Tholos tomb which is located close to the entrance of the museum.

Mycenae Pottery from the House of Oil Merchant Group

Women of the Mycenean world

Well, there are always two sides to women’s roles in life.
Some Mycenaean women were slaves and involved in domestic economy and textile work.

But some of them were the priestesses, some belonged to the upper class., and they were involved in royal activities. Women wore Minoan ornate dresses and had faience and glass beads, and golden jewellery, as well. Also, they have bronze mirrors (1400-1250 BC), small jars, cosmetic spoons and implements made from bones. Well, it is not easy to be a women, isn’t it 🙂

Mycenaean jewellery and women’s items, Archaeological Museum

Mycenae Archaeological Museum

The museum is located close to the entrance of the Mycenae archaeological site.
It was opened in 2003, on the initiative of the Greek archaeologist Giorgos Mylonas.

There are three galleries with the artefacts and objects found in the Mycenae area. But the most valuable and significant items are located today in the Archeological Museum of Athens, and you can see their replicas in the Mycenae Museum.

In the first room, objects from the Mycenaean’s public and private life can be seen. There are many ceramic items in various shapes and sizes from different periods.

Mycenaean pottery items, Archaeological Museum

Mask of Agamemnon

The second gallery is dedicated to the tombs, graves and funeral offerings. 

Certainly, the most fascinating object is the golden death mask of King Agamemnon. Actually, it is a replica, because the original mask can be seen in the Athens Archaeological Museum.

Famous Mask of Agamemnon, Mycenae Archaeological Museum

Also, there are replicas of a few items found in the grave of Agamemnon.

Mycenaean artefacts in museum

Gold & jewellery, Archaeological Museum

The third gallery includes the objects regarding the Mycenaen civilization, religion, science, art, administration and trade.

Mycenaen human figurines and pottery

Mycenaens had trading contacts with Crete, the Cyclades, Egypt, the Western Mediterranean, and northern Europe in the 16th century BC. They traded with amber, gold, bronze, tin, as well as faience and semi-precious stones.

Trade routes

The Treasury of Atreus

In walking distance of the citadel, you can visit the Treasury of Atreus.

It is located on the side of a hill in front of the Acropolis of Mycenae. Well, it is the best-preserved vaulted tomb in Greece even though it was constructed between 1350 and 1250 BC. It got its name after Atreus, king of Mycenae and father of King Agamemnon and, therefore, it is also known as “the Tomb of Agamemnon”.

Entrance to the Treasury of Atreus

So, the Mycenan kings and queens were buried in tholos tombs. They were built of ashlar blocks with a technique known as corbelling, to create a special dome-tholos, and then covered with earth. The dromos – corridor that leads up to the entrance is 35 m long and 6m wide. Stone blocks are carefully laid around it.

The Treasury of Atreus door

The door is about 5.5 m high. Once, it was decorated with two Minoan columns of green limestone with a zigzag pattern. Today, they are in the British Museum in London.

Above the door, there is a triangle with a lintel consisting of two massive stone slabs. Interestingly, the innermost weighs approximately 120 tons and it is 9 m long!

The ceiling and a huge intel of The Treasury of Atreus

This tomb represents a masterpiece of Mycenean engineering and construction. It is 13.5 m high and it has a diameter of 14.5 m. The tomb consists of 33 concentric circles of stones. One circle overlaps the one immediately below towards the inside, and they go around until a single stone ends the circle at the top (corbelling). 

The Treasury of Atreus dome

This vaulted ceiling also creates an amazing echo.

Inside of The Treasury of Atreus

The side chamber of the tomb

There is a wall opening on the right of the entrance to the small chamber. Probably it was used as an ossuary to which the remains of previous burials were relocated. And new interments with rituals were made in the main chamber of the tomb.

Visitors are not allowed to step inside.

Side chamber in the Treasury of Atreus

By the way, this tomb had the tallest and widest stone dome in the world until the Roman period and the building of the Pantheon in Rome during the years 27-25 BC.

The Tholos tomb was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century. Veli Pasha, the Ottoman Pasha of the Morea, excavated the tomb in June 1810. After him, excavations continued by a few British archaeologists, and German Heinrich Schliemann in 1874 and 1876, as well.

What to visit close to Mycenae

Depending on your time and interests, you can visit a few interesting places close to Mycenae.

◊ The modern village of Mycenae with few accommodation facilities and restaurants.
♦ Archaeological site of Tiryns, about 20 km away.
◊ The ancient theatre of Epidarius.
♦ Charming coastal town of Nafplio.
◊ The ancient Oracle in Delphi.

For sure, it was a fantastic experience to unveil the ancient marvels of Mycenae. The specific engineering, organization and military skills made the Mycenaean civilization one of the most significant periods in ancient Greece.

Stay tuned: our next stop is the ancient theatre of Epidaurus…

Source:

1. Archaeological Museum of Mycenae
2. History website
3. Ancient Greece website