The Mycenae Archaeological Site

Mycenae outer wall viewed from below (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

Don’t go to Mycenae if you want classical Greek architecture.  It does not have elegant ionic columns or passionate friezes of Gods battling.  It is not sophisticated artistically but still worth the trip.  You visit Mycenae because it is a fortress so impressive and old that is was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  (And #6 in my series.)

Mycenae’s massive Cyclopean Walls (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

The area was first settled around 2000BC and developed and declined over the next 1000 years.  The most notable outer walls composed of 10 ton stones were constructed around 1350BC.  While this was done one thousand years after the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Mycenaeans had rocker terrain to contend with and built their fortress on the top of a small mountain. Many people believed that only the mythical giant Cyclops people could have built these ramparts and so you often hear them referred to as “Cyclopean Walls”.

Historic photo of the Lion’s Gate from the excavations of Mycenae by Schliemann in 1897 (Photo: Utah State University)

The one main decorative element of the site is the Lion’s Gate.  Two lionesses stand perched with their forelegs on a trophy over a heavy doorway.  Their heads have been lost but were likely turned aggressively toward travelers below who entered the citadel.  I prefer the less decorative but highly defense-able back entrance to the fort which forced invaders up a tight switch back road leaving their shields useless.

Back entrance to Mycenae (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

The site also contains two grave circles which were excavated in the 19th century by Heinrich Schliemann.  The treasure of gold he discovered there is now on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.  These items are believed to have belonged to Agamemnon and his family, the House of Atreus, which according to legend ended tragically and was linked to their involvement in the Trojan War.

Mycenae grave circle A (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

Gold mask from tomb V in Grave Circle A, often called the “Mask of Agamemnon” (Photo: Wikipedia)

Some of my favorite gold jewelry from the Mycenae grave collection at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

In addition to the grave circles, there are several large Tholos tombs.  These are 2-3 story chambers constructed of tightly fitted stones that slowly corbel into a dome.  By mid-day when we got to these rooms, they were a cool escape.  The two Tholos tombs at the smaller site of Tiryn nearby are down a rural farming road – definitely off the beaten trail!

Interior view of the entrance of the Tholos Tomb, or Treasury, of Atreus at Mycenea (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

If you do visit Mycenae, take a flashlight!  It’s still possible to go down a flight of stone steps to the fortress’ underground cistern which provided fresh water during long sieges.  It’s a creepy, spiderweb filled descent.  I wimped out once the stairs started getting wet and slippery but it’s pretty cool and you’ll feel like quite the adventurer!

Mycenae is an easy half-day or day trip from Nafplio.  Bring snacks and water because there is nothing available at the site.  Mycenae has a small archaeological museum with pottery and very dated signage about the site which doesn’t take long to see.  But then again, you are at Mycenae for those Cyclopean Walls.