It was last inhabited over 2,000 years ago and even though its huge, “cyclopean” walls and its famous “Lion Gate” were visible, it wasn’t until it was completely excavated around 150 years ago that Mycenae emerged from being just a city of myths and legends. The archaeological remains date back to the 14th & 13th century BCE, when scholars agree that Mycenae was at the peak of its economic, political and religious power.
Heinrich Schliemann, the German businessman who excavated the site, was the person who made Mycenae world-famous again by finding beautifully crafted gold objects, such as: death masks, including the famous Mask of Agamemnon, diadems, drinking cups, bronze swords and daggers with gilded decorations, and other beautifully crafted objects such as the famous bull’s head. Most of these treasures came out of the shaft tombs of so-called Grave Circle A, a very special burial place which is situated on the right hand side just after entering the citadel through the Lion Gate.
Also intriguing are the Tholos or beehive tombs which replaced the shaft grave as the burial of choice for the Mycenaean elite at the beginning of the Late Bronze Age. These tombs can be found all around the southern Peloponnese, but one of the largest and most famous is called the Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae, which is located just outside the citadel walls.
Closeby are the Mycenaean citadels of Midea and Tiryns, whose ancient king, Eurystheus, famously imposed the Twelve Labors onto Herakles. Tiryns is located next to the lovely city of Nafplio (more on that next week) and both Mycenae and Tiryns are UNESCO Heritage Sites
