Mycenae

IMPORTANCE

The "Multigolden Mycenae", as Homer characterizes it in his epics, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, was the richest and most important royal centre of the Late Bronze Age in Greece.

Its name has been given to one of the brightest cultures of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean.

DESIGNATION

According to Pausanias, Mycenae was built by Perseus who named it this way because either the pouch from his sword fell while he was there (mykis=pouch) or because, while he was thirsty, he found a mushroom (mushroom=mykitas) and, by pulling it, he discovered a spring. This spring still exists today and is called the Persian spring.

POSITION

Mycenae was founded- built between two tall conic hills, on a lower knob that loomed over the Argolic plain and had control of road and sea communications.

HISTORY

The earliest human activity in the area dates back in the 7th millennium BC, during the Neolithic era. The habitation was continuous up to the historical times, but most of the monuments that are visible today were built during the prime time of the area which was the Late Bronze Age between 1350 and 1200 BC.

At that time Mycenae was one of the largest centres of the Greek civilization, forming a strong military fortress that dominated most of southern Greece. At the peak of its glory, in 1350 BC, the castle and the lower city had 30,000 inhabitants and extended to 320 acres.

As the findings prove, the rulers of Mycenae were powerful and participated in a complex trading network with the Mediterranean countries.

LEGENTS

From Perseus and Andromeda to Agamemnon and the siege of Troy, the myths associated with the history of Mycenae survived through the centuries with the Homeric epics and the great tragedies of the Classical era, while they inspired and continue to inspire the intellectual creation and art.