MYCENAE (city in Argolis)
Ancient city, now an archaeological site in Argolis, Greece
- Also called
- Mycene
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Argolis
- Landmarks
- Royal Hall Seneca, Hercules Furens act 4 ¶5; City Walls Euripides, Heracles 815-1015 part 3
- People of myth here
- Aegisthus, Agamemnon, Andromeda, Atreus, Chrysothemis, Clytemnestra, Electryon, Eurystheus, Hippomedon, Iphigenia, Orestes, Perseus, Sthenelus, Son of Perseus
- Where
- 37.73° N, 22.76° E
Mycenae is a well-built city in the Peloponnese region, described as the town of the Cyclopes in the Catalogue of the Ships. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 265-276 Parts of the city wall and a gate with lions still remain. Pausanias 2.16.5 Mycenae is described as a place rich in gold. Sophocles, Electra 1-22
Described in the sources
Mycenae is the city ruled by the king Eurystheus, who marched out of it with his weary warriors to attack Athens. Apollodorus 2.4.5 +4 Agamemnon ruled Mycenae and the land extending to Corinth and Sicyon, leading its forces with one hundred ships during the Trojan campaign. Iliad 2 ¶42 +3 The city was located within fifty stadia of Argos, with its ruins on the left side of the road leading to Argos, which also passes by a hero-shrine dedicated to Perseus. Pausanias 2.15.4 +2 Mycenae is located in the region of Argolis. Pausanias 7.25.5 +1 Mycenae is the place where Orestes was born and raised. Euripides, Iphigenia Among the Tauri 492-539 +1 Mycenae provided forces that joined the expedition against Troy. Aeneid 2.318 +1 Mycenae is Iphigenia's home, and Orestes intends to return her there. Euripides, Iphigenia Among the Tauri 939-986 +1 Hera is described as the deity who rules the altars located in this city. Euripides, Electra 671-698 +1 The Heraeum is located ten or fifteen stadia from Mycenae, depending on the source. Pausanias 2.17.1 +1 Hercules brought the captured Erymanthian boar to the entrance of the market-place in this city. Apollodorus 2.5.4 +1
Gods and worship
Mycenae prays to the image of Perseus. Statius, Thebaid 7.391-418 ¶2 A temple of Hera in Mycenae served as a common shrine for both cities. Strabo 8.6.10 Mycenae claims the right to enforce its own legal sentences independently. Euripides, Heracleidae 134-180
Stories and history
Perseus is identified by the Greeks as the founder of the city, having established it after exchanging kingdoms with Megapenthes and fortifying it after taking control of the region, with a cap falling from his scabbard on the site seen as a sign to build there. Apollodorus 2.4.4 +3 The city is described as being utterly ruined, desolate, and no longer existing at the time of writing, with no trace of the city of the Mycenaeans remaining. Pausanias 8.33.2 +2 The murder of Orestes' father occurred in this place. Aeneid 11.243 +1 The Argives destroyed the city out of jealousy toward its people. Pausanias 2.15.4 +1 Mycenae sent eighty soldiers to join the Greek forces at Thermopylae during the Persian invasion. Pausanias 10.20.1 +1 Mycenae is presented as a potential ally for the city being addressed, in the context of Argos demanding the surrender of strangers. Euripides, Heracleidae 134-180 +1 Eurystheus purified Copreus within this city. Apollodorus 2.5.1 Mycenae is brought to equal ruin alongside Troy. Seneca, Agamemnon act 5 ¶1 The Heracleidae later became masters of the city. Strabo 8.6.19 Hercules aims to burst the doors of the royal hall. Seneca, Hercules Furens act 4 ¶5
Myths set at Mycenae
- Flight to Phocis. Orestes lives in seclusion in Phocis, avoiding his family while Electra waits for him to return and avenge their father. He builds a city in the region, but his death destroys Electra's hopes for the future. Sophocles, Electra 154-173 +5 Orestes
- The Assignment of the Twelve Labours. Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae, imposes a series of harsh labours on Heracles as part of a twelve-year service. Heracles accepts the commands and sets out to complete the twelve specific tasks assigned to him. Apollodorus 2.4.12 +5 Eurystheus
- The Betrayal and Murder of Agamemnon. Agamemnon returns home to Mycenae, only to be lured into a trap by his wife Clytaemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. He is murdered in his own house, bound and struck down while attempting to dress or bathe. Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1242-1294 +5 Agamemnon
- The Mourning of Polynices. Argia, newly wed to Polynices, abandons her royal home in Mycenae to seek her husband in Thebes. She journeys through the night to find his body, mourns him, and gathers his blood as a keepsake. Apollodorus 3.6.1 +5 Argea
- The Murder of Agamemnon. Aegisthus conspires with Clytemnestra to murder Agamemnon upon his return to Mycenae. He rules the city for seven years until his own death is anticipated. Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1431-1447 +5 Aegisthus
- The Return of Thyestes and the Oath at Hera's Altar. hook: "Thyestes returns to Mycenae as a homeless exile, seeking safety from his brother Atreus who had previously expelled him.", "goal": "Thyestes aims to secure his safety and reclaim his position, though he suspects Atreus' invitation is a trap.", "outcome": "Thyestes is captured along with his three sons after being deceived by Atreus' false pretense of friendship and forced to swear an oath."}, Aeschylus, Agamemnon 1577-1616 +5 Thyestes
- The Sack of Athens and Capture of Eurystheus. Eurystheus sacks Athens and captures Heracles' children, but is himself captured alive and brought to Athens. Heracles demands his death to complete purification rites, leading to Eurystheus's execution by Iolaus. Euripides, Heracleidae 869-891 +5 Eurystheus
- The Seduction of Aerope and the Golden Lamb. Thyestes claims the throne of Mycenae should belong to the owner of a golden lamb. He seduces his brother's wife, Aerope, to obtain the lamb and secure his rule. Apollodorus, Epitome 2.10 +5 Thyestes
- The Siege of Thebes. Antigone climbs to a high tower to observe the Argive army besieging Thebes, hoping to see her brother Polynices. She pleads with him to stop the fighting, but he commands his troops to silence, and she vows never to be enslaved. Euripides, The Phoenician Maidens 103-144 +5 Antigone
- The Birth of Eurystheus. Zeus prophesied that a descendant of Perseus born at that time would rule Mycenae. Hera hastened Eurystheus' birth to ensure he was born before Heracles, securing his claim to the throne. Apollodorus 2.4.5 +2 Eurystheus
- The Flight from Mycenae. Pylades sees armed men securing the streets of Mycenae to kill Orestes and his sister. He urges them to flee the palace and guides Orestes to his father's tomb for help. Euripides, Orestes 729-762 +2 Pylades
- The Murder of Atreus by Aegisthus. Aegisthus kills Atreus and restores Thyestes to the throne of Mycenae. Thyestes accepts the kingdom but remains fearful of his brother's lingering influence and hatred. Apollodorus, Epitome 2.14 +2 Thyestes
7 more
- The Cerynitian Hind. Heracles is commanded to capture the sacred Cerynitian Hind alive and deliver it to Mycenae. He succeeds by using sagacity to capture the beast without killing it, appeasing Artemis, and delivering the living hind to complete the task. Apollodorus 2.5.3 +1 Heracles
- The Founding of Mycenae. Perseus traveled to Larisa to visit his grandfather Acrisius with kind intentions. He founded the city of Mycenae after interpreting a falling cap as a divine sign. Pausanias 2.16.2 +1 Perseus
- The Return of Heracles. Heracles returns from the underworld and declares he must kill King Eurystheus before performing purification rites. He threatens to destroy Mycenae and bring the king's head to his father. Euripides, Heracles 442-654 part 4 +1 Eurystheus
- The Theft of the Cattle from Polyxenus. Amphitryon's cattle are harassed by a lion, prompting him to send Hercules to the farm to stop the violence. Hercules then buys back stolen cattle from Polyxenus and returns them to Mycenae. Apollodorus 2.4.6 +1 Amphitryon
- The Prophecy of Mycenae. Zeus fathered multiple children in Mycenae and made a public announcement to the gods. He declared that the descendant of Perseus born at that time would rule Mycenae. Apollodorus 2.4.5 Zeus
- The Threat Against Eurystheus. Heracles, driven by rage, demands his weapons to kill King Eurystheus. Zeus physically restrains him to question his sudden violent intent. Euripides, Heracles 815-1015 part 3 Heracles
- The Threat to Mycenae. Heracles threatens to destroy Mycenae with iron levers. He kills the local king and claims to have reached the city of Nisus. Euripides, Heracles 815-1015 part 3 Heracles