Places We Visit

The Lion Gate

The Lion Gate was the main entrance of the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae Archaeological Site, southern Greece. It was erected during the 13th century BC on the northwestern side of the Acropolis of Mycenae.

The gate is named after the famous relief sculpture of two lions (often interpreted as lionesses) in a heraldic pose positioned above the entrance.

The Lion Gate is the sole surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean Sculpture, as well as the largest known sculpture from the prehistoric Aegean. It is also the only known monumental relief of the Bronze Age Aegean that survived in situ, and it was already known in classical antiquity through literary references, making it famous long before modern archaeology.

The Lion Gate at Mycenae was already known in antiquity through the descriptions of Pausanias, the 2nd-century AD Greek traveler and geographer. His accounts helped later scholars and travelers identify the ruins of Mycenae. The site was fully confirmed and systematically excavated in the 19th century, most notably by Heinrich Schliemann.

During the Late Helladic IIIB period, the citadel of Mycenae was expanded, and the massive Cyclopean walls were constructed as part of this development. The Lion Gate was built as part of this fortification system.

The surrounding archaeological area also includes important structures such as the royal graves traditionally associated with Agamemnon and other figures of Mycenaean tradition.

Admire the Lion Gate in Mycenae Archaeological Site on one of our Guided Tours and explore one of the most iconic monuments of the ancient world.