15 May 2025 - Astros and Mycenae

Walking in the footsteps of Agamemnon.

Today's cultural tour was to Mycenae. The ancient city was the centre of a great Helladic civilisation between about 1650 and 1100BC. It is widely accepted that the period dominated by the Mycenaea (the Mycenaean period) fits in with the Achaeans of Homer's Odyssey and Illiad. The Mycenae were a militant race who quickly came to dominate Greece.

The ruins of the city are on hilltop, with several layers and the Palace complex at the very top. Relatively few recognisable buildings remain, but the foundation structures are clearly visible and the archaeologists have interpreted what they would have been, from the finds within them.  








The scale of the walls make it seem impregnable




The model is gives the best impression of how the site fits into the hilltop

There are many legends emanating from the city's glory days. Tradition says that it was founded by Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, the daughter of the King of Argos (nearby). Perseus inadvertently killed his grandfather, fulfilling a prophecy and then exchanged the Kingdom of Argos for that of Tiryns. He founded the city of Mycenae for himself, using the mythical Cyclopes to build the walls. His decedents ruled the Kingdom for three generations.

Atreus one of the later rulers, brought the wrath and curse of the gods to the family. His son Agamemnon, who led the Greek expedition to Troy (in modern day Türkiye) was later murdered by his wife Clymtemnestra, with the help of her lover Aegisthos. These in turn were killed by Clymtemnestra's son and daughter.

The Trojan War.
Three goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite quarrelled over which one of the was the fairest. Paris, the son of the Trojan king Priam was the judge and he chose Aphrodite, who rewarded him with the promise of the most beautiful woman, Helen. She was the wife of Menelaus, the King of Sparta (also nearby in the Peloponnesus. In response to her abduction, Menelaus called on other Greeks to support him and assembled an army of more than 100,000 and 1186 ships, to be led by his brother Agamemnon.  The siege of Troy lasted for ten years, included Hector, Paris' brother being slain by Achilles, the subsequent Trojan Horse ruse and the sacking of Troy.

Distance today -          0 miles

Distance this year - 700 miles 

Steve (and Tricia) 

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