Places We Visit

The Tomb of King Agamemnon

The Treasury of Atreus, commonly known as the Tomb of King Agamemnon, is an impressive tholos (beehive) tomb located on Panagitsa Hill near the Mycenae Archaeological Site. It was constructed during the Late Bronze Age, around 1250 BC.

The tomb is renowned for its monumental scale. The massive lintel stone above the entrance weighs approximately 120 tons and measures about 8.3 × 5.2 × 1.2 meters, making it one of the largest of its kind in world.

History and Identification

The exact period during which the tomb was in use remains unknown. It was described in antiquity by Pausanias, indicating that it was still visible in the 2nd century AD.

In the 19th century, the site gained renewed attention through the excavations of Heinrich Schliemann, who uncovered the famous shaft graves within the citadel of Mycenae.

Despite its popular name, the tomb is not believed to belong to either Atreus or King Agamemnon. Archaeologists suggest that it predates the traditional era associated with these legendary figures. The tomb is traditionally known as the Treasury of Atreus, a name that dates back to antiquity and has remained in use ever since.

Architecture and Significance

The tomb belongs to a group of tholos tombs found throughout the Mycenaean world. Around Mycenae alone, several such tombs have been discovered, with many more across the Argolid region.

However, the Treasury of Atreus stands out for its exceptional size, symmetry, and construction. Its monumental form and impressive engineering make it one of the finest and best-preserved examples of Mycenaean architecture.

You can visit this remarkable monument as part of a Guided Tour to Mycenae and experience one of the most extraordinary surviving structures of prehistoric Greece.