Epidaurus Theater was our first stop on a cloudy day and it was amazing! Built in the 4th century BC with 14,000 seats, the theater was never remodeled in antiquity, and because of its remote location, the stones were never quarried for secondary building use. It was buried at some time in antiquity and remained untouched until uncovered late in the 19th century. The acoustics of the theater are considered perfect and it is thought of today as the most magnificent theater of the ancient world. We also spent time looking at the ruins of the Sanctuary of Asklepios that includes the Theater, as the whole of it was considered the most famous healing center of the ancient world. The Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Our next stop was the ancient citadel of Mycenae, built around 1500 BC, about 1000 years before the Acropolis in Athens, on top of a hill with a view to the Aegean Sea. Mycenae was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 along with Tiryns, a few kilometers away. Homer described Mycenae as “rich in gold.” We entered the citadel through the Lions Gate, with massive cylopean rocks perfectly fitted to form the entry walls. The granary is just inside the Lions Gate, and was full of clay storage vessels filled with wheat grains when found in the mid 1800’s. The site had interior stone walls of a complete city, with dwellings and workshops, temples, a throne room, a massive north stone doorway, a lion tomb, and Agememnon’s tomb nearby. The countryside surrounding Mycenae is primarily agricultural and still shows signs of ancient terracing.
Driving down the road from Mycenae, about 8 km away, we followed a sign to Ancient Heraion. Heraion was part of the Mycenaen culture, with its temple complex, baths, gymnasium, and market area. We happened to be the only people there, and walked all about, enjoying “our find.”
After a late lunch, we went to Tiryns, a hill fort dating back 7000 years. Tiryns reached its height between 1400 and 1200 BC, as part of the Mycenaean world. It’s most notable features were its palace and cyclopean walls. Tiryns fell into ruin and is mostly reconstructed today.
We drove to one other ancient citadel, Midea, but there was a gate and we couldn’t get in. We’ve been known to go under or over fences but Midea is a Mycenaean Acropolis at the top of a steep hill. We had an incredible day of exploration! We are really enjoying seeing this part of Greece, with its terraced hills and mountains, agricultural fields and groves, and wide roads.
