Mycenae tour: in the bath with Clytemnestra

An offbeat self-guided audio walking tour in Mycenae with credible & original stories written by top local professionals. Take your tour now & enjoy it instantly on your smartphone device.

“Mycenae: in the bath with Clytemnestra” is the companion you need to explore the expansive ruins of Mycenae, as you delve into the bloody story of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, the mythical royal couple made famous by Homer. A journey to Mycenae in pursuit of myths. Each accursed family is unhappy in its own way, but none can compare to the tragedies that befell Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. They had everything: an impressive palace with majestic views, wealth, children, divine relatives, slaves, immortal glory. And they lost it all one night in the bathtub.

The greatest city of the Mycenaean civilization is infused with an unparalleled mythological tradition, full of atrocities that seem to have no equal in the history of humankind. As you walk the alleys of Mycenae, and take in the magnificent view from the top of the hill, you can almost feel the presence of the mighty king, and hear the sinister whispers of his duplicitous spouse, as she prepared to bring down her sword on his defenceless head.

The tour begins outside the acropolis, where the visitor can best appreciate the magnificent Cyclopean Walls. The size of the boulders and the perfection of the construction can not help but impress anyone who sees them. The Lions’ Gate is unforgettable, with the two lions that guard the city and intimidate all intruders. But Mycenae was above all else a place where people lived; the Granary by the Gate reminds us of their dietary requirements. The Grave Circle A was long considered to be the burial ground of King Agamemnon and amazed the archaeologists with the famous gold masks and other precious objects they unearthed. The Great Ramp was the main thoroughfare that everybody followed on their way to the palace.

The Megaron, with its impressive hearth, was the heart of the acropolis, where Agamemnon would hold council and welcome his guests. The Secret Cistern remains as impressive and dark today as it was back in the day, nested in the foot of the hill where the signal announcing Agamemnon’s return first appeared. As you leave the acropolis, you come across the last tholos tomb ever built, traditionally attributed to Clytemnestra herself, as well as the undistinguished ruins of the House of the Oil Merchant, that may not seem like much but once contained a thriving industry that supplied the palace with luxurious furniture. And since you are here, don’t neglect to walk the short distance to the Treasury of Atreus, perhaps the single most impressive architectural monument of the Mycenaean civilization.