{"id":10966,"date":"2022-11-15T10:51:18","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T10:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/mycenae-greece\/"},"modified":"2024-07-16T13:17:51","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T13:17:51","slug":"mycenae-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/mycenae-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"The ancient site of Mycenae"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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About 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Athens, Mycenae (\u039c\u03c5\u03ba\u03ae\u03bd\u03b7 in Greek) is a must-visit archaeological site for any traveler exploring the Peloponnese! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the history of this extraordinary ancient city? What to see and do in Mycenae? How to get to Guimaraes? Where to stay near the site? Follow the guide!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Hot Tips<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca4 Accommodations:<\/strong><\/strong> Top hotels in the Peloponnese<\/a> & in Athens<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\ude97 Car Rental:<\/strong> compare the deals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfdb Plan Your Stay:<\/strong> The Complete Guide to the Peloponnese<\/a> and The Complete Guide to Athens <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brief history of Mycenae<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Legend<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The legendary city of Mycenae holds a special place in Greek mythology, especially in the Homeric stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city is said to have been founded by Perseus and later became the kingdom of Agamemnon, the iconic leader of the Achaean army during the Trojan War. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mycenae was also associated with a host of mythical characters who inspired poets, storytellers and playwrights through the centuries: Clytemnestra, Iphigenia, Electra or Orestes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to historians, Mycenaewas founded in the 3rd millennium BC, but that the city really reached its zenith one millennium later, in the 2nd millennium BC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mycenaean civilization, who appeared around 1700 B.C., was indeed to dominate Greece during more than four centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The importance of Mycenae was such that the city even gave its name to a whole period of Greek history at the end of the Bronze Age: the Mycenaean period, from 1600 to 1200 BC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mycenaean civilization disappeared rather suddenly around 1100 BC: the reasons for this brutal collapse remain to this day mysterious and unknown… (earthquake, pirate attack, revolution or all three at once?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\udd14 Where did Mycenae get its wealth from? \ud83e\udd14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One thing is certain: the remains discovered at Mycenae suggest that the city was incredibly wealthy! Historians have made a number of assumptions to explain Mycenaea’s wealth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– the city may have been created by a rich Cretan dynasty which brought its wealth to the continent when founding the city<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– the city’s treasures may have been be the result of plundering in Crete or in Egypt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– the Mycenaean wealth may have been amassed slowly, over the centuries<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The discovery of Mycenae<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ancient site of Mycenae was discovered by French archaeologists in 1822, but the excavations only began some fifty years later, under the direction of the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. Since then, the citadel has been the subject of much attention from specialists and historians!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1999, the archeological site of Mycenae was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mycenae<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the ancient site of Mycenae<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perched on a hill to the north-east of the plain of Argos, in the Peloponnese, the archaeological site of Mycenae invites visitors to discover the extraordinary civilization that dominated Greece for nearly 4 centuries: the Mycenaean civilization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vestiges<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Lion Gate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the entrance of the city, the Lion Gate is probably the most emblematic symbol of Mycenae. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surmounted by a bas-relief representing two lionesses on either side of a column, this imposing door is undoubtedly reminiscent of the Cretan aesthetic. Historians indeed assume that Mycenae maintained very strong links with Crete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dating from around 1250 BC, the Lion Gate was the main entrance to the city. Another simpler gate, the poster gate, is also to be found to the north of the site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lion<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The cyclopean wall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The surrounding wall, called “cyclopean” because it is made of large stone blocks, was built in 3 stages: construction began around 1300 BC and the wall was then enlarged around 1250 BC and finally around 1200 BC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same type of wall can be found on the neighboring Mycenaean site of Tyrinthe (listed with Mycenae as a Unesco World Heritage Site). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Cyclopean<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Mycenae<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Royal Palace <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately poorly preserved – according to historians it was destroyed in a fire – the royal palace was arranged around a large square room (called megaron<\/em>) with four columns supporting the roof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located on the heights of the citadel, the palace was terraced with three rooms, including the megaron, following one another in enfilade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site also presents the remains of other more or less modest dwellings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Heights<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The circle of graves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the late 19th century, German archaeologist Schliemann excavated a first circle of tombs (called circle A) inside the citadel walls, next to the Lion Gate, where he discovered pits topped by steles containing bones and rich funerary objects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

the famous mask of Agamemnon – a funerary mask gilded with gold leaf – was discovered in one of these tombs (tomb 5). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much later, in the 1950s, a second circle of tombs was excavated (circle B). Located outside the citadel enclosure, it contains burials much older than circle A, dating back to the 16th or 17th century BC!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Treasury of Atreus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nine domed tombs were discovered around the citadel of Mycenae, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the Treasury of Atreus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While these circular tombs – which are similar to beehives – are all of monumental dimension, the Treasury of Atreus, with its 14- meter ogive dome is the largest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Treasury
Wikimedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Museum of Mycenae<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Created in 2007, the Museum of Mycenae, located close to the archaeological site, exhibits impressive vestiges discovered on the site, among which the magnificent Mask of Agamemnon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mask<\/a>
Wikimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Captain Ulysses can only recommend exploring the museum to complete the visit of the archaeological ruins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\udd14 What about Tyrinth? \ud83e\udd14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Located some 20 kilometers\/12 miles from Mycenae (and only 5 kilometers\/3 miles from the center of Nafplio), Tyrinth is another emblematic city of the Mycenaean civilization, also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it is less impressive than the site of Mycenae, it is still worth a visit if you have the time. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Visitor Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to Mycenae<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Driving to Mycenae<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Located 120 kilometers\/75 miles from Athens and 25 kilometers\/15 miles from Nafplio<\/a>, Mycenae is quite easy to drive to. You’ll get to the ancient site in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1,5 hr or so. On the way, the Captain recommends stopping at the Corinth Canal and the theater of Epidaurus<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\ude98 Visiting the Peloponnese by car \ud83d\ude98<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you’re planning to explore the Peloponnese on your own, Captain Ulysses highly recommends renting a car:<\/strong> it’s by far the most convenient way<\/strong> to get around the peninsula. Not to mention that car rental in Greece is on the whole quite cheap!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find the best deal, <\/strong> Captain Ulysses suggests checking out Rentalcars<\/a><\/strong>, a platform that compares offers from a wide range of rental services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One last tip:<\/strong> since the Peloponnese is full of winding mountain roads, it’s best to choose a fuel-efficient car, even if it costs a bit more to rent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Explore car rental options<\/a><\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Getting the bus to Mycenae<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The buses shuttling between Athens and Nafplio stop in Mycenae. It is not the most convenient or fastest option to reach the site, but it is undeniably cheap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on schedules and fares, please visit the bus company’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day trips to Mycenae<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you are staying in Athens and want to explore the Peloponnese from the capital, the Captain advises opting for a day trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Captain Ulysses recommends two day-trips in particular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n