Mycenae is where the Bronze Age becomes tangible: a citadel of cyclopean walls, a monumental gate crowned by lions, and royal tombs that still command silence. I visit often with our archaeologist-led tour groups, and this guide distils how to see the site well—what to prioritize, when to go, and how to make sense of what you’re looking at.
Overview: The Lion Gate forms the dramatic ceremonial entrance to the citadel. The sculpted relieving triangle above the lintel contains the carved heraldic motif — two animals flanking a central column — and this is one of the few large-scale Bronze‑Age reliefs you can see in situ.
Architecture & engineering: Note the massive lintel and the triangular opening above it (the relieving triangle) — a deliberately engineered solution that diverts weight off the central stone. The threshold shows grooves and wear from centuries of use; the holes in the jambs are where the wooden door bar was once fitted.
Photographic tip: Stand inside the gate and shoot outwards for the most dramatic composition; early morning light reduces shadow on the relief.
Why it matters: This gateway is both propaganda and protection — the imagery projected power to anyone approaching the citadel and marked the boundary between the elite space and the world below.
Overview: Immediately inside the Lion Gate lies Grave Circle A, a royal cemetery of shaft graves dating to the shaft‑grave phase (c. 17th–16th centuries BCE). These burials predate the palace and tell the story of elite display and wealth before the acropolis was fortified.
Key features: You’ll see circular enclosures and replica stelae on site. The most famous finds (gold face masks, weapons, and jewelry) are now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, including the fabulous “Mask of Agamemnon.” The site displays copies and explanatory panels.
Interpretive note: The grave goods indicate a sudden accumulation of wealth and foreign contacts; archaeologists interpret these burials as evidence of emerging elite power that later gave rise to the palatial center above.
Visitor tip: Walk the perimeter slowly and imagine the scale of labor and resources needed to produce such grave assemblies — it reframes the palace visit that follows.
Overview: The palace or megaron complex marks the administrative and ceremonial heart of Mycenae. You are standing where key political and ritual activities took place.
Layout & features: Identify the central rectangular hall (megaron), the remains of an altar or hearth, and evidence for painted plaster or fresco fragments. Look for the red‑painted features and the foundation stones that indicate room divisions and service areas.
You’ll only see the barest of traces of the original red paint on plaster and fresco fragments in the megaron, most colour survives only as small, often faint patches; the clearest examples are conserved in the site museum and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Architectural insight: The megaron plan (antechamber → main hall → hearth) anticipated later Greek civic architecture. Notice the sightlines — the palace overlooks the plain, a deliberate political statement.
Overview: The North Gate provides a quieter vantage that the Lion Gate for studying the cyclopean masonry and the defensive strategy of the citadel.
Masonry study: Examine the size and dressing of the limestone blocks; many weigh several tons and were fitted with great precision. The joints, slight batter (sloping walls) and packing stones show building techniques of the Late Bronze Age.
Strategic context: From here you can see how the acropolis controls the approaches to the Argive plain — a reminder that Mycenae was both fortress and symbol of regional control.
Overview: A narrow stairway descends to a water source cut into rock; bring a light and assess your footing. Not suitable for those with mobility or claustrophobia issues.
Engineering insight: The cistern demonstrates practical engineering — providing water security during sieges. The steps can be narrow and slippery; a small flashlight makes the visit safer and more rewarding.
Overview: The local museum is on the left of the main path before you turn toward the Lion Gate. It is compact but informative — the displays directly relate to the features you walked through on the hill above.
Key exhibits: Linear B tablets (administrative records), fresco fragments and pottery sequences that demonstrate cultural change over centuries. Small finds from the grave circles and palace allow closer inspection than the in‑situ stones.
Organization: The first hall covers the earliest occupation through prehistory, a second hall is devoted to tomb finds (Burial Circles A & B and vaulted tombs), and the third hall covers the later historic/Mycenaean phases.
Practical: The museum is a welcome air‑conditioned break in summer; plan to visit it when the outdoor heat picks up.
Overview: The Treasury of Atreus (a short drive or walk from the main site) is an outstanding example of tholos (a monumental beehive tomb) tomb architecture from the later Mycenaean period, the height of Mycenean power.
Architectural highlights: Walk the dromos (entrance passage) and study the massive corbelled dome; the precision of the stonework and the corbelling technique are immediately visible. Note the scale — the chamber’s height and diameter are imposing in person.
Visitor tip: Photograph from the dromos to capture the long approach; step inside to inspect the stone joints but respect any barriers and signage protecting the monument.
Context: Tholos tombs are associated with elite burial and ritual display; compare this monument to the earlier shaft graves you saw inside the citadel to understand shifts in funerary practice and political power.
Mycenae and the Mycenaean world (c. 1600–1100 BCE): A network of palatial centers across mainland Greece and Crete, with Linear B administrative records, far‑reaching trade, and monumental burial traditions.
Cyclopean walls: Massive limestone blocks stacked without mortar; ancient Greeks later attributed them to the mythical Cyclopes.
Shaft graves to tholos tombs: Evolution from deep shaft graves (Grave Circles A and B) to large beehive tombs such as the Treasury of Atreus.
Collapse: Around 1200–1100 BCE, palaces were destroyed and populations contracted. Explanations include seismic activity, environmental stress, conflict, and systemic breakdown—no single cause is universally accepted.
I’m Professor Monique Skidmore, anthropologist and founder of Take Me To Europe Tours. Our Archaeological Empires Peloponnese Tour and our Archaeological Wonders of Ancient Greece Tour itineraries include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mycenae and Tiryns. These are small‑group, expert‑led experiences (max 12 guests).
Our Mycenae visits are led by our Bronze Age specialist, Dr. Elena Soulioti.
If you’d like to learn more about our tours, click on the tours above or browse our Tour Calendar.
