Mycenae is the center of ancient Greek civilization. My travels

Surprisingly, the ruins that represent Mycenae today were once one of the most important cities in Greece. So important for the state that historians usually designate an entire stage in its development as “Mycenaean”. Tourist portal website

Mycenae - view of the remains of the citadel on the hill
Mycenae - view of the archaeological site

The emergence of Mycenae

The first mention of Mycenae is found in the writings of Homer, who characterizes them as “Abundant of Gold.” However, the ancient city existed long before the birth of the legendary poet, who lived in the 9th century. BC. Researchers claim that the territory where the capital of Ancient Greece grew was inhabited in the early Neolithic era. Of course, there was no talk of any large settlements at that time, but burials from that time indicate that the place, 90 km away from modern Athens, has been loved by mankind for a long time.

According to the ancient Greek epic, Mycenae was founded by Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae. Archaeologists are confident that the city grew out of the ancient acropolis, which in 1800 - 1700 BC. partly was already surrounded by a fortress wall. By the Late Bronze Age (1600-1200 BC), the high ground had developed full-fledged city fortifications, and Mycenae was the dominant city (probably the capital) of the state in the eastern Mediterranean.

By 1350 B.C. the fortress walls were rebuilt in the so-called cyclopean style - when the wall is created from large hewn blocks laid without mortar. Surrounded by these fortifications, the ruins of which remain to this day, numerous palaces and temples were built. The total length of the fortress was 1105 m, the height of the protective structures reached 12.5 m. At the same time, the width of the masonry could vary between 7.5 - 17 m. In order to build such a wall, boulders weighing from 10 tons were required. The largest stones that were discovered during excavations weighed 20 tons. The “leaders” were approaching the 100-ton mark. Tourist portal website

Fall of the Mycenaean civilization

By 1200 B.C. Mycenae's influence on the peninsula gradually declined. As a result, in just one century, the Mycenaean civilization practically ceased to exist as such, which is a consequence of the “collapse of the Bronze Age.” Most of the buildings in the city were destroyed. This was probably a direct result of the invasion of the Dorians, warlike peoples from the north (from Sparta, Crete, Southern Italy).

According to another version, the reason was the disruption of trade routes caused by the migration of the mysterious “peoples of the sea”, who destroyed the Hittite empire, as well as attacked representatives of the 19th and 20th ancient Egyptian dynasties. However, at the end of the 13th century, Mycenae equipped an expedition against Sparta, which indicates the absence of a threat from the sea.

Other probable reasons for the decline in Mycenae's influence include drought, earthquakes, and a volcanic eruption. However, it is now impossible to say exactly why the centers of this civilization were abandoned or destroyed almost simultaneously.

One way or another, Mycenae continued to exist. Even if it’s not shiny anymore. During the archaic era, a majestic temple of Hera was built in the citadel. The Mycenaean army fought at Thermopylae during the war with the Persians. Troops also took part in the Battle of Plataea. And 468 BC. e. was marked by further losses for the city - the troops of the Argos polis captured Mycenae, expelled the inhabitants and destroyed the fortifications.

For a short time, Mycenae was restored during the Hellenistic period, when the city boasted a luxurious theater, the ruins of which remain to this day. However, gradually this place was abandoned again, and during the Roman period of Greek history, Mycenae already became a tourist attraction.

Greece Mycenae - lion gate at the entrance to the citadel
Mycenae - lions on the gates

Attractions Mycenae

The Mycenaean acropolis, in contrast, has been preserved rather poorly. The fate of the city and the trials that befell its buildings also had an impact. Already after Mycenae was abandoned, in the 2nd century BC. The acropolis suffered from a severe fire. However, thanks to the cyclopean masonry and the thoroughness of the construction, some of the walls are still preserved here, conveying the solidity of the construction.

To get to the territory of the Acropolis, you need to get acquainted with another attraction of Mycenae - the Lion Gate. It is interesting that the fortified part of the city was something akin to a divine monastery for the residents - commoners could only get here during holidays. It is not surprising that the central gate that separated the fortress from the dwellings of the poor was built in such a way as to demonstrate its significance for the border between the two parts of the capital of the polis. Thanks to the solid masonry of the walls, the gate was perfectly preserved. As well as their main decoration - a bas-relief with two lionesses. It is considered one of the most famous heraldic monuments in the world, and the gate itself has become a symbol of the destroyed city. Tourist portal website

Mycenae - Acropolis
Mycenae - one of the tombs

Excavations of ancient Mycenae

In 1874 - 1876 During excavations in the territory of Mycenae, numerous tombs belonging to the kings of the polis were discovered. “Graves” were built in the form of peculiar domes - “tholos”, which were made of stone slabs. To get an idea of ​​the scale, you can imagine the treasury of Atreus, the mythical king. The height of the burial chamber in it is 13 m (the height of a five-story building), and the width is 14 m.

Surprisingly, the two huge slabs above the front door, used instead of floor beams, weigh approximately 120 tons together. Unfortunately, the tomb was plundered in ancient times. Since tholos (as the tombs were called) could only be afforded by the famous and wealthy inhabitants of Mycenae, during excavations here many objects made of precious materials were discovered. In addition, the burials made it possible to learn a lot about the Mycenaean culture - its time is poorly covered in literary monuments.

No less interesting are the tombs of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, the Mycenaean ruler and her lover, found near the fortress wall. Unfortunately, the graves of the lovers were damaged during the Hellenistic period, when the famous Mycenaean theater was built over them. Later, the queen’s burial was restored, and during excavations, a lot of expensive jewelry was found in it. Tourist portal website

Mycenae - golden mask 1600g. BC.
Mycenae - gold jewelry found during excavations

Archaeological Museum of Mycenae

The Archaeological Museum has been operating on the excavation site in Mycenae since 1902. The modern building for it was built very close to the acropolis. The building is located so that visitors studying the exhibits displayed in the halls can look at the ruins of the city through the huge windows. The exhibitions occupy a quarter of the entire museum space. At the same time, the greatest attention is paid to the life of the Mycenaeans - the people, two thousand years BC. began the construction of one of the most advanced countries of the ancient world.

At the foot of the former city lies the Argolid Plain - a fairly large area of ​​fertile land, which 4,100 years ago became home to Greek tribes who entered the Middle Helladic era. Today, the plain is one of the most attractive tourist sites, despite the distance from Athens - the large number of architectural structures preserved here allows guests of Greece to experience the greatness of the civilization that laid the foundations for modern political, scientific and cultural trends. Tourist portal website

Mycenae opening hours:
Winter: from 08:00 to 17:00
Summer: (May 1 - October 31) from 08:00 to 20:00

Ticket for Acropolis, Treasures of Atreus and Museum:
Full price - 12.00 €
Discounted - 6.00 €
Teenagers under 18 years old - free
Free for everyone: March 6, April 18, May 18 (International Museum Day), last weekend of September, October 28, every first Sunday of the month from November 1 to March 31.

Mycenae address: T.K. 21 200, Mykines (Prefecture of Argolida)

Anyone interested in the history of the ancient world, archeology or ancient literature has heard about Mycenae. King Agamemnon, the leader of the Achaean campaign against Troy, lived here. The Argolid Valley, in which Mycenae is located, was glorified in Greek myths. The city was so important in the life of the region that the first Greek civilization began to be called Mycenaean. It was in the local acropolis that Heinrich Schliemann discovered a golden mask, one of the most famous archaeological finds in the world

A little history

Myths say that the city was built by Perseus, and the fortifications, made of huge stone slabs, were erected by huge one-eyed monsters - the Cyclops, because it was believed that an ordinary person was not able to build something so grandiose.

The geographical position of Mycenae and its achievements became the reason that the city more than once became the arena of struggle for power. The cruelty of the conquerors and their sophisticated methods of struggle are reflected in legends and myths that are intricately intertwined with real historical events. For a long time it was believed that Troy and Mycenae were just a fantasy of ancient authors, but the enthusiasm of one man changed the ideas of all scientists about the ancient world.

Representatives of the royal dynasty found eternal peace in mine tombs. One of the most famous is the treasury of Atreus; it is a corridor about 36 meters long, which ends in a domed room. Above the entire structure is a giant stone slab, weighing about 120 tons, and the mystery of how the ancient architects managed to raise it to such a significant height has not yet been solved.

Entertainment and attractions of Mycenae

The fortress wall is about 900 meters long, and its monumentality is amazing: some blocks weigh more than 10 tons, and the height of the wall in some places reached 7.5 meters. The thickness of the walls sometimes reached 17 meters, which made it possible to build casemates and vaulted galleries inside the walls. From a military point of view, the design of the wall was well thought out: all sections were built in such a way as to protect the city as much as possible from any attacks. From the point of view of the common people living in the vicinity of Mycenae, the fortress was a kind of abode of the gods; the hill where she stood was climbed only on special occasions, using numerous intricate paths.

For the aristocrats, a road paved with stone led to the fortress; it approached the “Lion Gate”, which has survived to this day, through which the path to the royal palace passed. This gate is a structure of three huge, lightly processed stones, above which two heraldic lionesses are carved from stone, personifying the power of the Atrid dynasty.

From the point of view of heraldry specialists, this composition has no analogues in the world.

In the center of Mycenae are the megarons of the king and queen. In the king's megaron, the balcony, vestibule and throne room are clearly visible. The floor and walls of the premises are decorated with frescoes; each element of the throne room has an almost sacred meaning. According to experts, these buildings date back to the 14th century BC. e., and some elements - to an earlier period. These are the only such ancient monumental buildings in the world.

• Where to stay: For those who want to combine a beach holiday with excursions, it makes sense to choose one of the resorts in picturesque Messinia - for example, the popular Kalamata, bustling Loutraki, calm Pylos or the elite Costa Navarino. If you can’t imagine life without antiquity, “excursion” hotels in Corinth are at your service. There are almost no hotels in Kalambaka and Epidaurus, only a few basic establishments “for their own”.
• What to see: The expanses of the Peloponnese peninsula are generous with archaeological treasures - the Meteora monasteries soaring on the rocks (and the starting point to them - a modest village

Mycenae is an ancient city mentioned in many Greek legends. It was the birthplace of the famous Agamemnon, who defeated the impregnable Troy. Numerous characters from the works of ancient poets and mythical heroes also lived here. The city was the largest cultural center. He even gave a name to an entire era, called the “Mycenaean civilization.” Mycenae was noted for its enormous wealth, traces of which were discovered during archaeological excavations several centuries later.

Mycenae in mythology

According to the myths of Ancient Greece, the city was built by the son of Danae and Zeus, Perseus. It was he who won the victory over the terrible Gorgon Medusa. To protect the city, the mighty Cyclopes erected a fortress wall 900 m long. It was made of huge stone slabs. Their height in some places reaches 7.5 m, and their weight is 10 tons. No man can do such a job.

The management of Mycenae passed from Perseus to his descendants, who maintained the prosperity of the city for several generations. Gradually, power passed to the Atreus dynasty, which did not diminish the influence of the city.

Scheme of the ancient city

Agamemnon, a worthy ruler and heir to the dynasty, managed to gather an army and defeated Troy in a long struggle. However, at this time tragic events occurred that had an impact on his entire life. They are described in myths and works of poets.

During the campaign, tailwinds stopped and further progress was in doubt. At the behest of the Oracle, Agamemnon sacrificed his own daughter to the gods. The sacrifice was not in vain, the gods helped Agamemnon win, but broke the hearts of the girl’s mother and the king’s wife. Returning home only 10 years later, the king found his wife Klymnestra heartbroken. She did not forgive her husband and, conspiring with her lover, killed him in the bathroom. Almost three millennia later, the Greeks continue to call female husband-killers after the ancient queen.

Mycenae in the history of Greece

Mycenae was the largest city of the entire Aegean coast and ancient Hellas. Unfortunately, very little documentary evidence from that period has survived. Most information has to be drawn from archaeological finds and poetic works of Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and others.

Historians suggest that the city was founded in 2000 BC. During its history, it had to experience prosperity and decline twice. The first period falls on the pre-antique era and ends during the volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini.

In its second heyday, Mycenae became the largest city in modern Europe, which owned almost all the lands of the Peloponnese. The residence of the rulers was also located here. By the beginning of the Christian era, the role of Mycenae had significantly decreased, and complete desolation overtook it by the 2nd century. already AD.

Description and attractions

Thanks to the work of archaeologists of the 19th century. managed to discover an ancient city and study its history. A real revolution in the study of Mycenae was made by Heinrich Schliemann, a businessman and amateur archaeologist obsessed with the idea of ​​finding the great Troy. During the excavations, many household items and clay tablets were discovered, as well as jewelry, including the golden mask of Agamemnon.

Inside the fortress walls, which in some places reached 17 m in thickness, galleries and casemates were built. From the base of the hill to the fortress there were numerous paths for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. Noble people traveled to the city along a paved road. The main gate of the city was the Lion Gate, made of three hewn blocks and decorated with figures of lionesses.

In the central part of Mycenae there were rooms for the king and queen (megarons). These are spacious halls with a throne for the ruler. Elements of beautiful frescoes and the remains of a hearth in the central part have been preserved to this day on the floor and walls. All important meetings and trials took place here. Among other rooms, the reddish floor of the bathroom, where the famous Agamemnon was killed, survived.

To store the ashes of crowned persons, tombs in the form of shafts were used. Of greatest interest is the treasury of Atreus, to which a 36 m long corridor leads. The treasury itself has a cylindrical shape and is covered with a huge monolithic slab. Scientists still do not understand how ancient builders were able to install a slab weighing more than 120 tons.

Not far from the tombs you can see the remains of other buildings, such as the houses of the Sphinx, an oil merchant or a wine merchant. There is also a museum on site, which displays valuable archaeological finds.

How to get there?

To get to the ruins of the ancient city, you should come to the small village of Mykines, which is located 90 km from Athens. Excursion buses regularly depart to Mycenae from the capital's KTEL Athenon terminal. You can visit the ruins on your own by purchasing a ticket for 8 euros, but an excursion in the company of an experienced guide who will share a lot of useful and interesting facts will leave more impressions.

The ancient Greeks were convinced: Mycenae was built by Perseus, and thick, high walls of huge stone slabs were erected by his order by the Cyclopes - one-eyed giant monsters. They simply could not explain otherwise how such a grandiose structure was built in the second millennium BC.

The ruins of Mycenae are located on the Peloponnese peninsula, on the eastern side of a rocky ridge, 2 km from the small town of Mycenes, 90 km southwest of the capital of Greece, Athens, 32 kilometers north of the Gulf of Argolikos. On a geographical map, this ancient Greek city can be calculated using the following coordinates: 37° 43′ 50″ N. latitude, 22° 45′ 22″ e. d.

Mycenae and Troy were discovered by the German amateur archaeologist, Schliemann. He found these unique Bronze Age monuments using a rather interesting method, using Homer’s Iliad instead of a guidebook: first he found the famous Troy, and after a short period of time, Mycenae.

The heyday of the ancient Mycenaean civilization dates back to the end of the Bronze Age and dates back to 1600 - 1100. BC. Legends claim that Mycenae was built by King Perseus, but historians are inclined to conclude that the founders of the ancient city were the Achaeans, warlike representatives of one of the ancient Greek tribes.

The favorable geographical location and wealth of the city (the Mycenaeans conducted active trade throughout the Mediterranean) led to the fact that by the beginning of the 13th century. ancient Mycenae turned out to be one of the most powerful and influential states located on the territory of mainland Greece.

The power of the rulers of Mycenae extended to the entire nearby territory and, according to scientists, even covered the entire north of the Peloponnese (researchers suggest that the kings of the city could well have led the confederation of the Peloponnesian kingdoms).

It is not surprising that the city of Mycenae had well-fortified walls designed to protect against enemy attacks: they tried to capture it more than once, and often quite successfully (this is evidenced by numerous myths of that period, whose plot was intricately mixed with real events, evidence of which was discovered by archaeologists ).

The Mycenaeans themselves were quite warlike: King Agamemnon organized a campaign against Troy, which competed with the Mycenaeans for dominance in the region, and after a ten-year siege achieved a major victory. According to one legend, victory was granted to him by the gods because, having fulfilled the command of the Oracle, he sacrificed his daughter, Iphigenia (this later caused the death of the king: Agamemnon’s wife, who did not accept the death of her daughter, organized a conspiracy against him).

It should be noted that the Greeks were not able to take advantage of the fruits of the long-awaited victory: around 1200 BC. Dorian tribes invaded the territory of Greece, destroying almost all the cities of the Peloponnese, among which were also Mycenae and Troy (the latter did not even have time to recover from the defeat and just experienced a strong earthquake). Residents of the cities did not leave their territory for some time, hiding in the mountains, but later were forced to leave their lands - some moved to the islands, others moved to Asia Minor.

What the city looked like

Most of the population of Mycenae lived outside the fortress, at the foot of the hill. Excavations carried out by archaeologists showed that before getting to the citadel, it was necessary to pass a cemetery located outside the city walls and residential buildings. Discovered buildings within the city showed that within its boundaries there was a palace, living quarters, temple buildings, warehouses and shaft tombs in which representatives of the ruling dynasties were buried.

Like most ancient cities, Mycenae was a well-fortified fortress and was built on a rocky hill about 280 meters high.

The city was surrounded by a fortress wall made of huge boulders, about 900 meters long, at least 6 meters wide, and in some places the height exceeded 7 meters, while the weight of some stone blocks exceeded 10 tons.

front gate

You could get to the fortress along a stone-paved road through the Lion Gate, the width and depth of which was about three meters.

The Lion Gate was built in Mycenae in the thirteenth century BC during the expansion of the fortress wall. They were erected from three huge, lightly processed limestone blocks, and were closed with two wooden doors (this is evidenced by the recesses located inside the side walls).

The upper horizontal lintel was wider than the pillars on which it was placed - this was done so that a triangular-shaped limestone pediment slab with two depicted lions could be installed on top. According to one hypothesis, the bas-relief crowning the Lion Gate is the coat of arms of the Atrid dynasty, which ruled the city at that time. According to another, it is dedicated to the goddess Potnia, who is the patroness of all animals.

These lions are turned towards each other and, standing on their hind legs, their front legs rest on two altars, between which a column is depicted. Unfortunately, the heads of the animals have not survived to this day, but after carefully studying the bas-relief, scientists came to the conclusion that they were made of a different material (possibly ivory) and most likely looked at the people who entered the citadel through the Lion Gate .

One of the purposes of this bas-relief was to disguise the resulting hole: The Lion Gate was built according to all the rules of its time, so all the blocks that needed to be placed above the lintel were installed with a bevel, which made it possible to transfer most of the load to the side walls between which they were installed Lion Gate.

As a result, an empty space was formed above the lintel, where a slab with a bas-relief was installed, which is considered the earliest monumental sculpture of the Mycenaean period (before Mycenae was discovered, only figurines 50 cm high were found).

Castle

Immediately after the Lion Gate, the road rises up, and then on the left side it ends at a staircase, along which one could climb to the palace, located on the top of the cliff (according to experts, the castle was built in the 14th century BC, and some found fragments in it refer to an earlier period).

The staircase ends in a rectangular courtyard, which could be reached from the throne room, passing the reception room and the portico with two columns. The throne room was rectangular in shape, its roof was supported by four columns, and the walls were decorated with frescoes depicting war chariots, horses and women.

The living quarters were located on the north side of the castle, many of them were two-story. Most likely, they could be accessed from the palace lobby. There was also a temple with round altars, near which a sculptural composition of two goddesses and a child was discovered made of ivory.

It is interesting that during excavations, clay tablets with inscriptions were found in the palace, which turned out to be financial reports of military expenses, as well as lists of people working for the Mycenaean rulers: it was a list of slaves, oarsmen, and artisans. This gives scientists reason to assume that Mycenae was a rather bureaucratic state.

Mine tombs

On the right side of the Lion Gate there were shaft tombs surrounded by a stone fence in which kings were buried. These were burial rooms carved into a rectangular rock, going to a depth of one and a half to five meters. Now at the site of ancient burials there are stone slabs placed on edge, marking their location. In these tombs, archaeologists found real treasures - coins, jewelry, rings, bowls, daggers, swords made of gold, silver and bronze.

Dome and chamber tombs

Before building the fortress, the Mycenaeans buried their rulers in so-called dome tombs, which were shaped like huge domes. In total, archaeologists discovered nine such tombs dating back to the XV-XIV centuries. BC. The tombs were underground structures with a high, tapering dome that rose above the ground. After the funeral, the tomb was closed, and the corridor leading to the burial pit was covered with earth.

One of the most famous tombs of this type is the tomb of Atreus (XIV century), which could be reached through a long corridor, the dromos. The burial pit was underground and had a height of 13 meters and a width of 14 meters (unfortunately, it was not possible to find out what exactly the king took with him to the afterlife, since the grave was plundered in ancient times). A nine-meter square slab was installed above the entrance to the burial room. How exactly the ancient masters were able to establish it, scientists still have not figured out.

Aristocrats and representatives of their families were buried in chamber tombs located nearby. These were basically family crypts carved into the mountainside, into which you can walk along the dromos.

How to get to Mycenae

Those who want to see one of the most famous monuments of the Bronze Age should take into account that it is located on the territory of the Mycenae archaeological park, and therefore entrance to its territory is paid (a ticket costs about 8 euros).

The best way to get to the city of Mycenae from the capital of Greece is by regular bus; the journey in this case will take about two hours, and the ticket will cost 12 euros. You can also use a car and a map - first drive to the city of Argo, passing the Corinth Canal, and from there go to Mycenes.

The city of Mycenae was one of the main economic and political centers of ancient Greek civilization, existing from 1600 - 1100. BC. Mycenae is one of the most famous and impressive archaeological sites of the Bronze Age. It was here that the great Mycenaean civilization was born, which subsequently subjugated the entire territory of ancient Greece. Located in the Peloponnese, 90 km southwest of Athens near the village of Mykines.

Mycenae is the palace of the legendary king Agamemnon. On the territory of Mycenae there are the ancient tombs of the kings, the ancient acropolis and the lion gate (entrance to the acropolis) and other attractions.

Mycenaean Hill is located at an altitude of 278 meters and is separated from other surrounding slopes by steep gorges. It is believed that the city of Mycenae was inhabited by Indo-Europeans around 2000 BC, who were engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. During the Bronze Age, fortified walls and armory villages were created in the city. Over time, Mycenae became the capital of the eastern part of the Mediterranean territory.

Mycenae was an influential center of the ancient world. Unfortunately, our knowledge about this civilization remains incomplete, because scriptures and other direct evidence from this era have not been found. The main sources of our knowledge are the poems of Homer, the dramas of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, as well as the writings of the Hellenists and ancient historians.

According to legend, the city was built by Perseus. Here lived the descendants of Danaus and the Amyphaonids who migrated from Elis, and then the Pelonids, under whom the greatly elevated neighboring Argos subjugated Mycenae. Upon the return of the Heraclides, the city began to decline and, during the Greco-Persian Wars, finally died in the fight against the Argives.

The inhabitants moved to Kleoni, to Kerynia, to Achaia and to King Alexander the Great. According to Strabo, in his time there were no traces of the city, but Pausanias describes significant remains of the Cyclopean wall with the Lion Gate, the underground Treasury of Atreus and his sons, and the tombs of Atreus and Agamemnon. In the pre-antique period, Mycenae was one of the major centers of the Aegean civilization, which died as a result of the eruption of the Santorini volcano on the island of Thira in the Mediterranean Sea.

The palace complex was discovered by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1876, who discovered gold items in the shaft tombs and thereby confirmed the glory of “gold-rich Mycenae.” Mycenaean gold is kept in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Such citadels were built for the ruling elite. Not only noble people lived behind the fortress walls, but also artisans and merchants. The walls of the fortress reach a width of 14 meters. They are called "Cyclopean" because of the legend according to which these walls were built by the Cyclops.

From the huge royal palace, located on the top of a hill, only the floors remained. Traces of the fire that destroyed this magnificent structure can still be seen on the stones. The building was 23 meters long and 11.5 meters wide. The entrance from the north leads to the royal family's quarters. There are remains of foundations here including the red floor room - also known as the red bathroom - where King Agamemnon was killed.

The Lion Gate was built in the 13th century BC and leads to the acropolis. They owe their name to the bas-relief of lions crowning the doorway. Inside the acropolis, six royal tombs with rich funeral gifts were discovered - these treasures were found by Schliemann.

Before the construction of fortresses and cities, the Mycenaeans buried their kings in complex "dome" tombs - "tholos", built from huge stone slabs and shaped like giant domes. The best preserved are the treasury of Atreus and the tomb of Clytemnestra, they are almost completely preserved. There are 4 of them in total near the acropolis - two more tombs have no surviving dome roofs. If you take the path to the acropolis and look at the acropolis, one tomb without a dome is on the left, next to the museum. On the right there are two tombs side by side - Clytemnestra and another without a dome. And the treasury of Atreus (the tomb of Agamemnon) is a little away from the acropolis, you need to go down the highway about 1 km (usually all the buses pass by it on the way to the acropolis and make a stop).

One king owned up to 400 bronze foundries and many hundreds of slaves. Wealthy Mycenaeans highly valued gold imported from Egypt. Skilled craftsmen made goblets, masks, flowers and jewelry from gold, and inlaid swords and armor with gold.

7 km south of Mycenae is Argive Ereion (Ireon Argive). This sanctuary of Hera, revered for almost two thousand years, was, according to Homer, the very place where Agamemnon was chosen as leader of the Greek expedition to Troy. A whole complex of Mycenaean graves of the 7th-5th centuries BC. e. stretches over three terraces, around which Roman baths and a palaestra were found, and the temple itself is believed to have served as the prototype of the Athenian Parthenon.

Mythology

The name Mycenae is associated with the most famous Greek myths that have come down to us through the epic of Homer and other great tragedies of antiquity. According to legend, Mycenae was founded by Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, and his descendants ruled the area for many generations. The Perseus dynasty was replaced by the Atreus dynasty.

Atreus' son, Agamemnon, the proud leader of the Achaeans (the ancient name for the Greeks), led the Greek armies against Troy in the 13th century BC. When the army and fleet assembled at Aulis, east of Athens, to sail to Troy, the wind died down and the ships could not move. Then the Oracle told the Greeks that in order for the wind to rise again, Agamemnon must sacrifice his youngest daughter Iphigenia. After prolonged torment, the sacrifice was made and the army set off on a 10-year campaign, which led to the fall of Troy.

After his triumphant victory, Agamemnon returned to Mycenae; his wife Klymnestra, who had still not recovered from the death of her daughter and learned of her husband’s infidelities, together with her lover, killed Agamemnon while taking a bath. Mad with rage, her son Orestes, incited by his sister Electra, kills his mother and her lover to avenge his father's death.

Today, 3,000 years later, the Greeks still call wives who kill their husbands “Klymnestra.”