Mycenae,
the legendary home of the Atreides, is situated upon a small hill-top on the
lower slopes of Euboea Mountain, between two of its peaks, on the road leading
from the Argolic Gulf to the north (Corinth, Athens, etc.).
The site was inhabited since Neolithic times (about 4000 BC) but reached its
peak during the Late Bronze Age (1350-1200 BC), giving its name to a
civilization which spread throughout the Greek world. During that period, the
acropolis was surrounded by massive
"
cyclopean"
walls which were built in three stages (ca.1350, 1250 and 1225 BC)
except on its SE flank where a steep ravine provided natural defense.
A palace was built on the summit of the hill while towards the Argolic plain lay
the
wall - painted
"Cult Center", the main gate or "Lion Gate" and "Grave
Circle A" which contained the treasures now displayed at the
National Archaeological
Museum of Athens. On the NE side, a tunnel leading to a
subterranean fountain
was built in "cyclopean" masonry in around 1225 B.C.
More tombs, "Grave Circle B", and
large tholoi
as well as houses were discovered outside the walls. Mycenae was occupied
without interruption until 468 B.C. when it was conquered by the city of Argos
and its population banished. It was reoccupied in the 3rd century B.C. for a
relatively short period. It had been abandoned for some time when Pausanias
visited the site during the 2nd century A.D.
In 1841, K. Pittakis cleared the "Lion Gate" and in 1876, H. Schliemann started
the excavations of the "Grave Circle A" which P. Stamatakis continued in 1877,
bringing to light a sixth shaft grave. From 1864 to 1902, excavations at the
palace, the subterranean fountain, and many chamber tombs were conducted by Ch.
Tsountas while restricted excavations were also carried out by D. Evangelides in
1909, G. Rodenwaldt in 1911 and A. Keramopoulos in 1917. Further excavations
were conducted by A.B. Wace during three campaigns, in 1920-1923 on the
acropolis and the tombs, in 1939 and 1950-1957 on the houses and tombs at the
Lower City.
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