Mycenae, Greece:

Lion Gate in Mycenae

It was a short drive north from Nafplio to the UNESCO World Heritage Cite of Mycenae.

Mycenae was the most important settlement in southern Greece during the 2nd millenium BC. The interval of Greek history from the 16th to 11th century BC is called ‘Mycenian’ not for nothing – during its heyday, the city had a population of 30,000! The archaeological site is most famous for its massive fortifications constructed from very large stones, visible for example at the impressive Lion Gate, and the golden grave goods including the prominent Mask of Agamemnon discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876 and on display in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

view of the citadel

view of the citadel

Lion Gate

Grave Circle A

view from the citadel

ruins of Mycenae

view from the citadel

view from the citadel

landscape near Mycenae

almond blossoms

spring flowers

at the far end of the citadel

North Gate

entrance to the underground cistern

steps towards the cistern

steps towards the cistern

massive fortifications

museum at Mycenae

Lion Tholos Tomb

Treasury of Atreus

landscape near Mycenae

landscape near Mycenae

From Mycenae, the bus took me back to Athens in the afternoon. On the following day, I travelled north to explore another UNESCO World Heritage Site: Delphi.