The fortified city of Mycenae and the Mycenaean civilisation to which it gave its name were first introduced to the world by Heinrich Schliemann's excavations from 1874 onwards, which carried the history of Europe far back into the Bronze Age of the second millennium B.C.; and although many other
strongholds and settlements of the same period have since been discovered Mycenae still retains its pre-eminence.
When the first Greeks came to this region around 2000 B.C. they would no doubt establish themselves on the 278m/912ft high hill "in the farthest corner of Argolis, nourisher of horses". Thereafter they mingled with the indigenous population and a hybrid culture evolved. In religion Greek and pre-Greek elements interpenetrated one another; linguistically the newcomers soon established their predominance, but the pre-Indo-European name of Mycenae was retained. Shaft graves dating from the 17th century B.C. give evidence of this period. Then, around 1580 B.C., a radical change began to take place, as influences from Egypt and the refined Minoan culture of Crete made themselves felt. The Early Mycenaean period which now began (1580-1500 B.C.) is notable for the wealth of gold found in the shaft graves, including the famous gold mask laid over the face of some dead prince and wrongly identified by Schliemann as belonging to Agamemnon (who lived at a later period). From the Middle Mycenaean period (1500-1425 B.C.) date the first known defensive walls and the early tholos tombs. The Late Mycenaean period (1425-1100 B.C.) also yielded a rich harvest of finds. The 14th century saw the construction of the later tholos tombs, including the so-called Treasury of Atreus; the older Megaron on the acropolis (ca. 1350 B.C.), the first palace of some pretension; and the cyclopean walls enclosing the site. The later Megaron, the Lion Gate and the extension at the east end were built about 1250 B.C. After 1230 B.C., when the threat from new invaders coming from the north was felt to be pressing, five different phases of work on strengthening the defenses have been identified; and the history of Mycenae finally came to an end about 1100 B.C. as a result of an attack by the "Sea Peoples" who are referred to in Egyptian sources or by the Dorians who followed them.
The village of Mykínes is a station on the Corinth-Trípoli railroad line. Bus services from Corinth and Árgos.
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