Mycenae

Mycenae is situated on a small hill, on the feet of mount Euboea, between two peaks of it and near the road leading to the Argolic gulf from North. The hill is inhabited since the Neolithic era but it enjoys its fame the later Copper era(1350 - 1200 B.C.). Huge Cyclopean walls surround the acropolis except for the south side where a steep ravine provides physical protection. The palace was built in top of the acropolis, with the room of the throne in the south-west side, along with the "Religion Center" and the central lion's gate. The findings from the First Grave Circle and the

royal chambers are excibited in the National Museum of Athens. In the south-east side of the hill, besides shops, a tunnel of Cyclopean walls was built, which led to an underground spring. Besides the walls there are also found residencies, the Second Grave Circle, as well as big arched graves.

Mycenae was habitated till 468 B.C. when it comes to the hands of the Argives and the population is chased. The acropolis is reinhabited, for a while, during the 3rd B.C. century, but the area was abandonded long ago during the 2nd B.C. century when Pafsanias payed it a visit.

In 1841, Mr Pittakis cleaned the liongate, and in 1876, Eric Sliman started the excavation of five graves of the First grave Circle. At the same time from 1952 till 1955, Mr Milonas and Mr Papadimitriou, from the Archaelogical Service of Athens excavated the Second Grave Circle. In 1950 the Repair Service with Mr Orlandos and Mrs Stika restored the grave of Clytaemnestra.