Archaeology Site & Museum of Mycenae
The Mycenae archaeological site is a grand ruin of the brilliant civilization of ancient Greece's Bronze Age—an ancient royal city that flourished some 3,500 years ago, famous for its Lion Gate and golden treasures, the center of Mycenaean civilization and the setting of heroic legends in Homer's epics. Mycenae sits on the Peloponnese peninsula near Nafplio, the center and most important site of the brilliant Mycenaean civilization (about 3,000–4,000 years ago) of ancient Greece's Bronze Age. The Mycenaean civilization was the most brilliant of mainland Greece's Bronze Age, a thousand years older than classical Athens—known for its strong kingship, grand citadels and astonishing golden wealth. By legend, this royal city of Mycenae was the capital of Agamemnon, the hero-king who led the Greek alliance against Troy in Homer's epics, full of legendary color. After more than three thousand years, Mycenae is now a grand, important archaeological site, listed as a World Heritage Site. The most famous and stunning feature is the grand Lion Gate—above the city's main gate stand two huge stone lion reliefs facing each other (among the oldest monumental sculptures in Europe), solemn and majestic, still standing after more than three thousand years, breathtaking; besides, the site has grand citadel walls (built of huge stones, solid and imposing), ancient palace ruins, and the famous beehive tombs (such as the magnificent beehive-shaped stone tomb called the Treasury of Atreus, of astonishing craftsmanship; Mycenae yielded many fine golden masks and other treasures, now kept in Athens). Walking into this ancient royal city ruin, recalling the glory of Mycenaean civilization and Homer's epic legends, is stunning. Visiting the suburbs of Nafplio, exploring the grand Mycenae site and recalling the glory of Bronze Age civilization is a deeply cultured sight.
Historic Ruins & Heritage