GREECE ULYSSES PASSED
THIS WAY
Mycenae
'Gold-rich' Mycenae, the mightiest state in prehistoric
Greece -centre of the Mycenaean civilization that flourished for five centuries (1600-1100
BC) - dominated the political, economic and social life of the region. Mycenae had
contacts with many other cities, not only in the Peloponnese and Central Greece, but also
in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
It was at Mycenae that the Achaean kings held council to prepare the expedition against
Troy, acknowledging its king, Agamemnon, as their leader. it was at Mycenae, and at other
cities that were seats of Achaean kings Sparta, Argos, Corinth, Pyles, Ithaca - that many
of the events narrated by Homer in the Iliad and the odyssey took place.
Visible at Mycenae today are the Lion Gate guarding the entrance to the citadel, the
palace, the fortification walls, the magnificent royal tholos tombs, houses and workshops,
temples and sanctuaries. Close to Mycenae are Argos, home of Ulysses' friend, Diomedes,
and Epidaurus, within the territory of Argos, with the sanctuary of Asclepius and its
splendid theatre, where a festival of ancient Greek drama is held each summer. Not far
away is Nauplion, home of Palamedes, Ulysses' rival in the Trojan campaign.
Nauplion, a coastal town at the far end of the Argolic gulf,
the first capital of newly-liberated Greece (1828-1834) before Athens was chosen, is
closely linked with Modern Greek history. A quiet, picturesque town with neoclassical
houses and a noble ambience, it is dominated by the impressive fortified citadel of
Palamidi Offshore is the fortified islet of Bourtzi, while nearby are excellent beaches.
It is also the venue of an annual summer music festival.
One hour's drive from Nauplion and Argos is Sparta, the Homeric kingdom of Menelaus, whose
beautiful wife Helen was the cause of the Trojan War. In Sparta there are important
remains of the Classical period and on a nearby hill outside the town is the now deserted
Byzantine city of Mystras, seat of the Despotate of the Morea (1250-1460), with a palace
and several wonderful Byzantine churches with mosaics and wallpaintings in excellent
condition.
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