Mycenae and Epidauros

About half an hour away from Napflion is Mycenae. We first stopped at the Treasury of Areus. It was a huge beehive tomb, the most well preserved. It was empty because of grave robbers in the past.

Beehive construction (ceiling)

Then we went up the road to the Acropolis of Mycenae. I saw the Lion Gate!! It was so cool, and Roula said the lintel stone under the triangular relief weighs like 30 tons!

Once we went through the gate we saw Grave Circle A, which was thought to be Agememnon's grave. Another myth is that in the mountains across you can se the forehead and nose profile of a sleeping man and that this is where he lies.



The next day we went to the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidauros, the Ancient Theater of Epidauros, and the Ancient Theater of Argos.

 The Sanctuary of Asklepios included a Tholos (round) temple, a stadium, and dormitories. Asklepios was a doctor, the first doctor I think (but don't quote me on that).

His symbol was the snake because it could go under the earth and above so it must know the meaning of life and death. This is why today the symbol for doctors and hospitals is a snake. At the sanctuary ancient doctors could perform brain surgeries and c-sections. A cure/treatment for some visitors was exercise which is why there was a stadium.




The Theater also served as a distraction to those that were ill or hurt and could help them get better.

The Theater of Epidauros is the most well preserved ancient theater and has perfect acoustics! Roula demonstrated by clapping around in the center as we all sat high up. The theater is still used today for festivals and performances,

We then continued on to the Theater of Argos. This theater is the second largest and had a unique basement under the stage. The Romans used it after the Greeks and added some brick structures, What was really cool about this theater was that the seats were all carved out of the rock from the hillside.