Mycenae is the legendary home of Agamemnon, the ancient king who united and commanded the Greeks during the Trojan war. The ruins of Mycenae were thought to be a myth until Heinrich Schlieman proved otherwise.
At one time the city overlooked a large bay which is now the plain of Argos. The site is impressive and features the Palace of Agamemnon, the Treasury of Atreaus, and the tomb of Clytemnestra, the wife of the great king who stabbed him to death in his bath for either being unfaithful, sacrificing their daughter to get favorable winds for the journey to Troy, or both.
Mycenae was inhabited since Neolithic times but reached its peak during the Late Bronze Age giving its name to a civilization which spread throughout the Greek world.
Mycenae was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, along with the nearby site of Tiryns. The closely connected history of Tiryns and Mycenae make them ideal locations to visit in succession. Many of the most famous discoveries made at Mycenae, including the golden face mask of ‘Agamemnon’, can be seen at the National Archaeological Museum at Athens.
Distance from Athens: 120 km.