Mycenae Archaeological Site is situated just 55 miles Southwest from the Athens in Greece. This city gave a name to whole period in the history of Greece from 1600 BC till 1100 BC.
Location: 55 miles Southwest of Athens
Open: June- Nov 8am- 7pm
Nov- March 8:30am- 3pm
Entrance Fee: 3 Euro
Children (under
21): free
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Heinrich Schliemann (Jan 6, 1822- Dec 6, 1890)
Mycenae is an ancient archaeological site located in the
north-eastern Peloponnese region of Greece, specifically in Argolis,
about 120 kilometers southwest of Athens, 11 kilometers north of
Argos, and 48 kilometers south of Corinth. Situated 19 kilometers
inland from the Saronic Gulf, it occupies a strategic hilltop
position rising 274 meters above sea level, overlooking the Argolid
Plain. The site encompasses a fortified citadel (acropolis) and a
surrounding lower town, covering an area of approximately 32
hectares at its peak. During its height around 1350 BC, it supported
a population of up to 30,000 people and served as a dominant
military stronghold in the Mycenaean civilization, influencing
regions including southern Greece, Crete, the Cyclades, and parts of
southwest Anatolia.
This Bronze Age powerhouse is renowned as the
kingdom of the mythical Agamemnon and represents the pinnacle of
Mycenaean culture, which flourished from around 1600 to 1100 BC. Its
name has become synonymous with the entire Mycenaean civilization, a
period that laid foundational elements for classical Greek culture.
In 1999, Mycenae, along with the nearby site of
Tiryns, was inscribed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site (reference no. 941) for its outstanding
universal value, embodying the technical, artistic, and spiritual
achievements of this early Greek era.
Mycenae is an ancient archaeological site located on a small hill
between two larger hills in the fertile Argolid Plain in the Peloponnese
region of Greece, approximately 20 km southwest of Tiryns. It represents
the epicenter of the Mycenaean civilization, which dominated mainland
Greece, the Aegean islands, and parts of Asia Minor during the Late
Bronze Age, roughly from 1600 to 1100 BCE. This civilization, named
after the site, marked a pivotal transition in Greek prehistory,
succeeding the earlier Helladic period that began around 3000 BCE.
Mycenae's strategic position allowed it to control commerce between the
Aegean Sea and the mainland, contributing to its rise as one of the
richest and most powerful centers in Bronze Age Greece between 1350 and
1200 BCE. The site is inextricably linked to Greek mythology,
particularly the Homeric epics like the Iliad and Odyssey, where it is
portrayed as the kingdom of Agamemnon, influencing European literature,
art, and culture for millennia. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1999 alongside Tiryns, Mycenae exemplifies monumental
architecture, advanced engineering, and a sophisticated palatial system
that laid foundations for classical Greek culture.
Mythical
Founding and Legends
According to Greek legends, Mycenae was founded
by Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, who was the daughter of Acrisius,
king of Argos. Perseus reportedly employed Cyclopes—mythical one-eyed
giants—to construct the site's massive "Cyclopean" walls using enormous
stones that humans could not move. The name "Mycenae" is explained in
various ways: Homer attributes it to a nymph named Mycene; it may derive
from the mushroom-shaped pommel (mykes) of Perseus' sword; or from a
mushroom Perseus picked, which revealed a spring called Perseia. The
Perseid dynasty ruled for at least three generations, with Eurystheus
(the last Perseid king) famously assigning Heracles his twelve labors.
After Eurystheus' death in battle against the Athenians, Atreus seized
power, establishing the Atreid dynasty. Atreus' son, Agamemnon, is
mythically depicted as leading the Greek forces in the Trojan War, only
to be murdered by his wife Clytemnestra upon his return, as recounted in
ancient tragedies. These myths underscore Mycenae's role as a symbol of
heroic age power and tragedy.
Prehistoric Origins and Early
Development
Archaeological evidence reveals that the area around
Mycenae was first occupied during the Neolithic Age, as early as the 7th
millennium BCE, though early settlements left minimal traces due to
later overlays. By the Early Bronze Age around 1700 BCE, the first
aristocratic families emerged, evidenced by the construction of Grave
Circle B, a burial enclosure outside the later walls containing 25
graves, including shaft graves and a built tomb from the 15th century
BCE. These early burials yielded artifacts made of gold, ivory, and rock
crystal, indicating emerging social hierarchies and trade networks. The
Middle Helladic period (circa 2000–1600 BCE) saw continued development,
transitioning into the Late Helladic (Mycenaean) era.
The
Mycenaean Period: Rise and Peak
Mycenae flourished during the Late
Bronze Age, particularly from 1350 to 1200 BCE, when it became the
dominant palatial center in Greece. The Mycenaean civilization,
influenced by Minoan Crete but distinctly warlike, controlled the
eastern Mediterranean from the 15th to 12th centuries BCE. Construction
of the palace and initial Cyclopean walls began around 1350 BCE, with
expansions following. By 1250 BCE, the iconic Lion Gate was added—the
primary entrance featuring a monumental relief of two lions flanking a
column, carved in limestone and serving as Europe's first large-scale
representational sculpture. This triangular structure distributed weight
over the entrance, flanked by massive walls and secured by a heavy
wooden door.
The palace complex, atop the hill, included a central
megaron (great hall) with a porch, vestibule, hearth, four columns, and
a throne platform, surrounded by offices, shrines, storerooms,
workshops, and armories. A cult center on the southwest slope featured
building complexes with wall paintings and clay figurines, dating to the
early 13th century BCE but destroyed later that century. Engineering
feats included an underground cistern with corbelled tunnels and pipes
for water supply, and a northern Postern Gate for secondary access.
Burial practices evolved from shaft graves to tholos tombs. Grave Circle
A, enclosed within the walls in the 13th century BCE, was a
27-meter-diameter royal burial area with six shaft graves containing 19
skeletons, funerary steles, and immense wealth in artifacts. Tholos
tombs outside the walls, such as the Treasury of Atreus (also called the
Tomb of Agamemnon, mid-13th century BCE), featured domed chambers with
advanced masonry. Others include the Tomb of Clytemnestra (looted in
Ottoman times, with Hellenistic overlays), the Tomb of Aegisthus (15th
century BCE), and the Lion Tholos Tomb (14th century BCE).
Economically, Mycenae operated under a feudal system, producing goods
like weapons, jewelry, and vases for trade in oil, wine, and
commodities. The society engaged in mercenary activities, piracy, and
raids on Egyptian and Hittite coasts, amassing wealth reflected in grave
goods of gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones. Linear B tablets
found at the site provide the earliest written Greek, documenting
administrative details.
Decline and Post-Mycenaean History
Around 1200 BCE, Mycenae began to decline, with the citadel abandoned by
1100 BCE after fires and possible earthquakes. Theories for the collapse
include internal strife, invasions by Dorians or "Sea Peoples," natural
disasters like droughts or volcanic eruptions, or economic disruptions.
The broader Mycenaean world collapsed similarly, ushering in the Greek
Dark Ages.
Post-abandonment, sparse habitation continued until the
Classical Period (5th–4th centuries BCE). During the Archaic Period
(8th–5th centuries BCE), a temple to Hera or Athena was built on the
summit. Mycenae participated in the Persian Wars, sending 80 men to
Thermopylae in 480 BCE, which provoked neighboring Argos to conquer and
damage its walls. In the Hellenistic Period (after 323 BCE), Argos
established a village there, repairing walls and the temple, and
constructing a theater over the Tomb of Clytemnestra's entrance. The
site was abandoned again, and by the 2nd century CE, traveler Pausanias
described it as ruins.
Modern Excavations and Discoveries
Excavations began in 1837 under the Greek Archaeological Society, with
Kyriakos Pittakis clearing the Lion Gate, Treasury of Atreus, and Tomb
of Clytemnestra in 1841. Heinrich Schliemann's 1874–1876 digs uncovered
five shaft graves in Grave Circle A (a sixth by Panayiotis Stamatakis),
yielding treasures like gold masks and weapons. Christos Tsountas
excavated the citadel, tholos tombs, and chamber tombs from 1886–1897.
The British School at Athens, led by Alan Wace (1920s), explored further
sectors, tombs, and buildings. In the 1950s, George Mylonas and Ioannis
Papadimitriou discovered and published Grave Circle B. Mylonas continued
work until 1988, succeeded by Spyros Iakovidis (1988–2013), who
conducted surveys and published earlier findings. Recent efforts by
Christos Maggidis (2000s–present) include geophysical surveys revealing
a lower town, with excavations uncovering structures like houses, roads,
and fortifications. Artifacts are housed in the National Archaeological
Museum of Athens and the on-site Mycenae Museum. Restorations in the
1950s, 1990s, and 2000s have preserved key areas like the Lion Gate and
tombs.
Mycenae's history reveals a trajectory from prehistoric
settlement to Bronze Age superpower, influencing Greek identity through
myth and archaeology. Its ruins continue to draw scholars and visitors,
offering insights into ancient engineering, society, and artistry.
Mycenae's architecture is a testament to Mycenaean engineering prowess.
The citadel is encircled by imposing Cyclopean walls, up to 13 meters
high and 8 meters thick in places, with a perimeter of about 750 meters
(similar to Tiryns). The most famous entrance is the Lion Gate, built
around 1250 BC, featuring a monumental relief of two lionesses (or lions
without heads) flanking a central column, topped by a relieving triangle
to distribute the weight of massive lintel stones weighing over 20 tons.
This gate symbolizes the site's power and artistic sophistication.
Inside the citadel, the palace complex includes a megaron—a grand hall
with a central hearth, four columns supporting a roof opening, a throne,
and frescoed walls and floors. Access was via courtyards with columned
porticos and staircases. Other features include a secret passage to an
underground cistern for water supply during sieges and a sally port for
surprise attacks.
Outside the walls lie the tholos tombs,
beehive-shaped burial chambers exemplifying advanced corbelled vaulting.
The largest, the Treasury of Atreus (also called the Tomb of Agamemnon,
dated to LH IIIB), has a 14.5-meter-high dome and a 36-meter-long dromos
(entrance corridor). Other tombs include those of Clytemnestra and
Aegisthus. Grave Circles A and B contain shaft and cist graves with
elite burials. The lower town features houses like the House of Shields,
House of the Oil Merchant, and House of the Sphinxes, which served as
residences, workshops, and storage facilities. A temple within the
citadel housed artifacts like a scarab of Egyptian Queen Tiye,
indicating international trade links.
Mycenae stands as the epicenter of the Mycenaean civilization, which
profoundly shaped classical Greek architecture, urban planning, art, and
technology. It represents the transition from prehistoric to historic
Greece, with innovations like monumental fortifications and palatial
bureaucracies influencing later European cultures. The site's Linear B
tablets preserve the earliest Greek language, offering insights into
economy, religion, and society.
UNESCO recognizes Mycenae under
multiple criteria: as an example of human creative genius (e.g., Lion
Gate and tholos tombs), for its impact on classical Greek forms, as
unique testimony to Mycenaean political and economic development, and
for its direct links to Homeric epics like the Iliad and Odyssey, which
have inspired art and literature for millennia. Together with Tiryns, it
illustrates the peak of Aegean Bronze Age achievements, laying
foundations for Western civilization.
Modern exploration began in 1700 when Venetian engineer Francesco Vandeyk identified key features using Pausanias' descriptions. Early 19th-century visitors, including Lord Elgin, removed artifacts. Heinrich Schliemann's 1876 excavations uncovered Grave Circle A, yielding treasures like the gold "Mask of Agamemnon" (though predating the Trojan War era). Subsequent digs by Christos Tsountas (1884–1902), the British School at Athens (1920–1955 under Alan Wace), and Greek archaeologists like George Mylonas (1957–1985) and Spyros Iakovidis revealed the palace, tombs, and lower town. Recent efforts, including the Athens Archaeological Society's 2007–2011 lower town excavations, continue to uncover details.
Excavations have yielded extraordinary items, including gold death masks, inlaid daggers, swords, the Silver Siege Rhyton (depicting a battle scene), the Cup of Nestor, and votive weapons from shaft graves. Tholos tombs contained vases, stonework, and figurines like the Ivory Triad (deities and a child). Linear B tablets detail administrative records, while imported items like Queen Tiye's scarab highlight trade with Egypt and beyond. Many artifacts are displayed in the on-site Archaeological Museum of Mycenae, established in 2003.
Mycenae is deeply intertwined with Greek mythology, particularly the Homeric epics. It was the seat of the Atreid dynasty, including Agamemnon (Trojan War leader, murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus), Menelaus (brother and husband of Helen), Orestes (avenger), and others. The Perseid dynasty, founded by Perseus (who named the site after a mushroom or sword cap), included heroes like Eurystheus. Myths involve tragic family curses, sacrifices (e.g., Agamemnon's daughter Iphigenia), and ties to the Trojan War, inspiring works from ancient tragedians like Aeschylus to modern literature.
Today, Mycenae is managed by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports
through the Ephorate of Antiquities of Argolis. Protected under Greek
Antiquities Law No. 3028/2002, the site includes defined boundaries
encompassing the citadel, outer areas, and natural surroundings. A
scientific committee established in 1999 oversees conservation,
stabilization, and visitor enhancements like pathways and information
panels. The site maintains high integrity and authenticity, with
restorations adhering to international standards and reversibility
principles.
Ongoing archaeological research and EU-funded projects
focus on preservation, such as tomb restorations and connections to
nearby sites like Heraion. The agricultural landscape around it remains
intact, preventing modern intrusions. Mycenae is open to visitors,
drawing those interested in ancient history, with the museum providing
context through exhibits from prehistoric to historic periods.
By Car (Recommended for Flexibility)
Driving is the easiest and most
scenic option, taking about 1.5–2 hours from central Athens, depending
on traffic.
Take the E94/A8 highway west toward Corinth.
After
the Corinth Canal, continue on the E65/A7 toward Tripoli.
Exit at the
Mycenae/Mykines sign (after about 25 km past Corinth), then follow local
roads for a few kilometers to the site.
Total distance: ~120 km.
Expect tolls of €5–10 one-way. Parking is available at the site.
Tip:
Rent a car from Athens Airport or city center (e.g., via Hertz or local
agencies). Use GPS apps like Google Maps or Waze for real-time
directions. On the way, you can stop at the Corinth Canal for a quick
view.
By Bus (Budget-Friendly Public Transport)
Buses are
reliable and affordable, but there's no direct service right to the
site— you'll get off nearby and walk or taxi the last bit. Operated by
KTEL Argolida, buses run from Athens' Kifissos Bus Terminal (KTEL
Kifissou) to Nafplio, with a stop at Fichti (also called Fichtia), which
is about 3 km from Mycenae.
Getting to Kifissos Terminal from
Athens Airport or City:
From Athens Airport: Take express bus X93
(runs 24/7, every 30–40 minutes, €6, 45–60 minutes).
From central
Athens: Metro Line 3 to Elaionas station, then a short walk or local
bus.
Bus Schedule from Athens to Fichti/Nafplio (as of late
2025):
Buses depart frequently from ~6:00 AM to 9:30 PM, about every
1–2 hours (more on weekdays).
Examples: 6:00 AM (arrives ~8:05 AM),
3:30 PM (arrives ~5:26 PM), 5:00 PM (arrives ~6:55 PM), up to 9:30 PM.
Duration: 1.5–2 hours to Fichti.
Cost: €14–15 one-way (return ~€26).
Buy tickets at Kifissos or online via KTEL site. Ask the driver to stop
at Fichti for Mycenae.
From Fichti stop: Walk 3 km uphill (about
40 minutes, feasible but hot in summer) or take a taxi (~€10, 5–10
minutes). No regular local bus from Fichti to the site.
Return: Buses
from Nafplio/Argos back to Athens run similarly, with pickups near
Fichti.
By Train (With Connections)
Trains are comfortable but
require transfers, making them less direct than buses.
Take a
Proastiakos suburban train from Athens Airport or Larissa Station to
Corinth (or Kiato, further west). Trains run hourly, ~1 hour, €8–12.
From Corinth station: Taxi to Mycenae (~30 km, 30 minutes, €40–50) or
local KTEL bus to Argos/Nafplio, then another short taxi/bus to the
site.
Total time: 2–3 hours. Check Hellenic Train (trainose.gr) for
schedules.
By Taxi or Private Transfer
From Athens: ~€150–200
one-way, 1.5 hours. Book via apps like Beat or Uber, or airport taxis.
Convenient for groups or if you want door-to-door service.
Organized Tours
If you prefer hassle-free, join a guided day tour
from Athens (includes transport, entry, and guide). Options via
GetYourGuide or Viator start at €80–100, departing early morning and
returning evening. Covers Mycenae plus sites like Epidaurus or Nafplio.
For the latest schedules, check the KTEL Argolida website
(ktelargolida.gr) or Rome2Rio for real-time options. If arriving
internationally, fly into Athens Airport and connect from there. Public
transport is limited on Sundays/holidays, so plan ahead. Wear
comfortable shoes—the site involves walking on uneven terrain.