MYCENAE

Mycenae is located in the prefecture of Argolida. It is 46km away from the campsite and 15km north from Argoliko gulf. Mycenae was more of a fortification than a city, located northeast of Argoliko plain, on a rocky formation, which controlled the road from Corinth to the rest of Peloponnese. It was founded in 2900bC(approximately). According to tradition Perseus, son of Zeus and Danae, found it. Some of the most important kings who succeeded him were Evristheus, Atreus and Agamemnon. During the era of the latter (1400-1150) Mycenae knew its greatest fame. The radiance of the City-State was such as to become the most important prehistoric city in all of Greece. At the end of the 12th century bC Mykenae where destroyed by the advent of the Dorians and lost its glamour. In 448 bC it was captured by Argos and some time later recovered slightly. It declined again, and finally at the 2nd aD all that was left were ruins. The first excavations took place in 1876 by Eric Schliemann and revealed the Palaces, the Cemetery (with many treasures of great value) and the Acropolis which had an irregular triangular shape and was surrounded by a very strong wall (which remains in excellent condition) has two gates one of which the famous "Lion Gate" has a relief which is considered to be the most ancient sample of monumental art of the western civilisation.