The Ancient Power of Mycenaean Civilisation
Imagine feeling like the center of the world. The place where you live is the envy of every outsider. You know there is no city more elegant, more advanced, or more illustrious than yours. No other place will enjoy such prosperity, and despite the desire it arouses, no one will dare to pose a threat. If fate is decided anywhere, it is right here.
Surely, many of the inhabitants of ancient Mycenae must have felt this way. The city reached its peak splendor towards the end of the Bronze Age, between 1600 and 1100 BC. It became such an influential power center that it controlled major trade routes and political alliances in the Eastern Mediterranean. A realm of great prestige that gave life to heroes and dynasties, power struggles, and royal vendettas.
A city of significant importance with no less impressive history. How did it all start and what was its fate? Are you ready to find out?
The Kings Following its Divine Origins
As befits its stature, the city's origin is enveloped in grand mythology. Its founder was none other than the Greek hero Perseus, son of the god Zeus and the mortal Danae. Legend has it that he founded the city of Mycenae upon returning to his homeland, Argolis, after accomplishing the feat of beheading Medusa.
The city began to grow significantly after Perseus' death. His son Electryon succeeded him on the throne. Upon his death, Amphitryon, who had been a great ally of the king, took possession of the throne but only as a regent. It's worth noting that Amphitryon was the husband of Alcmene, who would later become the mother of Hercules.
Amphitryon's regency gave way to the reign of Sthenelus, also a son of Perseus and father of Eurystheus. In time, Eurystheus succeeded his father, having been born just before Hercules. This premature birth was orchestrated by the goddess Hera with the aim of thwarting Zeus's illegitimate son. Once king, Eurystheus received a beleaguered Hercules seeking redemption. With Hera's assistance, he imposed the twelve labours with the intent to end the life of the Greek hero. He would be the last king of the Perseid dynasty (related to Perseus).
The new dynasty, the Atreid, named after its first king, Atreus, would be endlessly pursued by a curse.
The Curse of Atreus
Following the death of Eurystheus, Mycenae needed a new king. The oracle consulted declared that the new sovereign should be one of the sons of Pelops, due to their divine lineage and the fact that their family already ruled elsewhere. This led the brothers Atreus and Thyestes to vie for the throne.
Despite this initial dispute, the gods had already cursed their lineage due to the crimes of their grandfather Tantalus, father of Pelops. The curse thus began to permeate the two brothers, intensifying the rivalry and deceitful schemes between them.
Initially, both agreed to compete in an act of virtue. However, Atreus, ambitious and seeing himself as the likely loser, sought Zeus's help to emerge victorious. Subsequently, Thyestes chose to exile himself as a precaution. Once declared king, Atreus invited his brother to return in an act of reconciliation. Far from reality, the king decided to serve his revenge in the form of a banquet. Unknowingly, Thyestes ate the flesh of his own children, until the truth was revealed at the end of the meal.
Thyestes cursed Atreus and all his descendants. Filled with hatred, he consulted the oracle to find a way to exact his revenge. "It will be completed through the son of your son", he was told. And so it was, beginning with the assassination of Atreus.
As a successor to the throne, Agamemnon, son of Atreus, became the new king of Mycenae.
The Trojan War
Agamemnon, no less ambitious than his father, was determined to become the king of kings. And thanks to the folly of Paris of Troy, who eloped with his brother Menelaus's wife, he managed to gather and lead all the kingdoms of Greece against the Trojans, in response to such disloyalty.
However, the curse remained very much alive within the lineage. The goddess Artemis was furious with the king for the multiple signs of disrespect he had shown her. She stilled the winds. Thus, no ships could sail to their destination. The wind would not blow again until a sacrifice was made in honor of the goddess. It required blood, blood from his own lineage, and the king complied by killing his own daughter.
After eleven years of war, Agamemnon returned victorious to Mycenae. However, his pride and joy were short-lived, as his wife, Clytemnestra, awaited him with eagerness. She did not forgive him for having sacrificed their daughter to satisfy his ambitions. With the help of her lover Aegisthus, grandson of Thyestes, they murdered the king upon his return from Troy. Thus, the second part of Thyestes's revenge was fulfilled.
Mycenae’s Fate and Its Remains
Despite all the tragedy that surrounds the Mycenaean monarchy, the city and its citizens enjoyed a life full of resources and well-being. Due to the power it accumulated, especially militarily, rivals or enemies did not consider confronting the kingdom. This allowed them to achieve significant economic and technological development. What remains of all this today?
The Citadel
The royal enclosure was within the great wall, still present at the site today. Due to the large stones used in its construction, it was called the Cyclopean wall. Only the Cyclopes would have been capable of placing such stones.
The fortification guaranteed the protection of the city's heart. For this reason, the city's only sculpture still visible today, the famous Lion Gate, was built at the main entrance.
The Treasury of Atreus
Traditionally known as the tomb of Agamemnon, though there is no historical evidence that he is buried there. It is indeed the tomb of one of the kings of Mycenae. He was buried with a good load of food, drink, and weapons to aid him on his journey to the underworld.
The structure is one of many tholos —circular monuments— present at the site. The royal tomb is located at the center of the structure. The top of the door features a lintel weighing over 120 tonnes, further proof that either giants built the city, or they had very advanced construction techniques for the time.
The Palace of Mycenae
Very little of the royal palace remains. Only its base and floors can be seen, with evidence of the fires that destroyed it around 1200 BC.
Other Elements Present
Most of the visible ruins are within the citadel area. However, outside the walls, there was also a great deal of activity from artisans and merchants. Around 1100 BC, the city was completely abandoned.
In addition to the main elements described above, other visible structures today include:
- The Grave Circles: One is located outside the citadel for citizens and another inside for the ruling class. Just inside the Lion Gate, these funerary pits that served as tombs can be seen. When discovered, they contained gold.
- The Tomb of Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon. Located to the west of the gate, it is as well-preserved as the Treasury of Atreus.
- The Museum of Mycenae: In addition to the ruins, the site features a museum that displays numerous items found during the excavation.
The complete visit can be done in one and a half to two hours.
Mycenaean Ideas
Despite the greatness they achieved, the city and kingdom of Mycenae could not avoid their decline. The end of the Bronze Age and a series of conflicts, both internal and external, precipitated their fall.
Although a civilisation may disappear, its ideas cannot be killed. Thanks to archaeology and the study of history, we know that Mycenae has left us a legacy that we still enjoy today. Here are some examples:
- Language: Many words and structures of modern Greek have their origins in the Mycenaean era.
- Architecture: Cyclopean architecture has inspired later Greek constructions.
- Agriculture and Trade: Mycenae is considered the origin of some practices still used today in the treatment of olives and grapes.
- Mythology and Culture: Stories like the Iliad, along with the gods and kings of Mycenae, are part of Greek identity and mythology.
