Plan of Citadel, Mycenae, Citadel
| Context: | Mycenae |
| Type: | Fortification |
| Summary: | Citadel walls of Mycenae protected the palace, administration buildings and some habitations. |
| Date: | 1350 BC - 1200 BC |
| Dimensions: | Main walls average 6 m. thick and enclose an area of ca. 30,000 square m. |
| Region: | Argolid |
| Period: | Late Bronze Age |
Plan:
A roughly triangular fortress around a low hill (280 m. above sea level) with 1 main gate, a postern gate and 1 or 2 sally ports. A paved ramp-road winds from the main gate, past Grave Circle A, past buildings of lower citadel, and up to the palace.
History:
3 stages of construction: 1) ca. 1350 BC, walls enclosed highest portion of hill; 2) ca. 1250 BC, area enlarged to S and W, enclosing Grave Circle A. Lion Gage and postern gate added: 3) ca. 1200 BC, NE Extension encloses access to water reservoir. SE section of citadel lost to later natural erosion.
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