May 2, 2025 - Greece
Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae

The Treasury of Artreus was a couple of hundred yards down the hill from the parking lot, and we knew there was no parking there, so we just hoofed it down the hill.

"Mycenae's royalty were buried in massive beehive-shaped underground chambers called tholoi, which replaced shaft graves (like the ones at Grave Circle A) beginning in the 15th century BC."  ... Rick Steves

Here we are about to enter the Treasury of Artreus.
   
"The lintel over the doorway is mind-boggling big -- 26 feet across by 16 feet by 3 feet -- and weighs 120 tons.  (For comparison, the biggest stones of the Egyptian pyramids were 30 tons)."  ... Rick Steves
   
Looking up at the lintel.  Sure hope it doesn't break and 120 tons of stone come down on me!
   
And then we're inside.  Pretty amazing to think this was built 3,300 years ago.
   
But, it has been picked clean, as you can see.  Any treasure it once held is long gone.
   
You really get a good look at the massive lintel in this shot.  Apparently that triangular arch over the lintel distributes the weight of the dome.  Without it the lintel would have cracked in the center and the dome woudd collapsed.  I take their word; never was very good at engineering.
   
"Kings were elaborately buried in the center of the room along with their swords, jewels, and personal possessions.  At some point grave robbers got in, and modern archaeologists have not found any bodies or treasures."  ... Rick Steves
   

Remarkable!

Dave and I walked back up the hill to get the car.  The parking lot was absolute chaos.  It was so jammed with tour buses and cars that I had difficulty just getting out.  But we finally did, drove down the hill, picked up the girls, and headed for the ancient Greek theater of Epidavros.
   
 
   
Previous
Home
Next