We had not planned on stopping at the Archaeology Site of Ancient Tiryns during our Aug 2024 trip to Greece, as many people have told us to give it a miss. But since we passed right by it, and we had the time we decided to check it out. It was quite hot this day and it was early afternoon, but Tiryns appeared to be a quick site to explore and we went through it quite quickly. A big surprise to us is Tiryns sits alongside a busy road so it was convenient to stop by and take a peak. In addition, this site is situated on a low hill; therefore, there is no snaking hill to drive up!
Although this site does not appear to be on many people’s radar as a bucket list item, it is a great piece of history. If you love history, this is a must-see. Now, you will not find many signs or any maps here explaining what you are seeing, but if you know a bit of the history of Tiryns and can see beyond the rubble, this is an extraordinary site. Just being able to marvel at the huge stones and walk among them is quite humbling.
Location
The Archeology site of Ancient Tiryns is located in the Peloponnese area of Greece. It is between Nafplio and Larissa Castle of Argos.
History
The Mycenaean fortress of Tiryns dates back 7,000 years, even prior to the Bronze Age! In Greek mythology, some believe it may have been the birthplace of Heracles. Tiryns was in its prime between 1400 BC and 1200 BC and boasted 10,000 inhabitants. Being close to the sea, Tiryns was also an important Mycenaean stronghold.
Cyclopean Walls
Tiryns is well known for its large defensive walls protecting the palace within. In Homer’s 8th-century writings, he mentioned “Tiryns of the Mighty Walls.” These walls are made of huge boulders, which are fit together loosely. The walls look rough, and there are also smaller rocks filling the gaps between the boulders. Some of these walls are up to 13 meters high by 8 meters thick and weigh several tons. In ancient times, it is said these walls were built by giants. It did not seem feasible that mere humans could move these huge stones. Specifically, the giant one-eyed Cyclops is the force responsible for building Tiryns. In Greek mythology, Cyclops are not only known for their large one eye, they are also expert craftsmen. Therefore, this type of architecture is referenced as Cyclopean Masonry.
The site at Tiryns has both a lower and upper citadel. The lower citadel allowed for access in and out of the fortification, while the upper citadel housed the palace.
Entrance to the Lower Citadel
Although there was no map and very few signs, we followed the path to the entrance to the Lower Citadel, where we confidently ascended the stairs to enter.
Historically, Tiryns had a steep cobblestone ramp for access. The ramp followed the east wall and made a sharp right turn just before reaching the citadel. This design was intentional, crafted to thwart any would-be invaders. That turn was a major challenge to navigate, and the uneven cobblestones provided a significant obstacle. Meanwhile, the defenders stationed within the walls had a perfect vantage point to spot their enemies. They unleashed a hail of arrows down upon them, ensuring their stronghold remained secure.
Back in ancient times, the Lower Citadel contained houses which would shelter those from the area during times of attack.
You can see some arches in the walls at Tiryns. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to explore these as they are blocked off. These arches may have led to cisterns, escape routes, or hiding spots. They are corbel arches. Made by stacking stones so they meet in the middle, the corbel arch forms a pointed top, like a triangle. This type of architecture supports the weight of the stones from above.
Ramp to Upper Citadel
In ancient times there was a large ramp that ascended from the lower citadel to the upper citadel. It was also off limits when we visited.
Upper Citadel
We exited the lower Citadel, following the signs we walked along a path on the outside of the Cyclopean Walls.
Corbel Tunnel Passage and Stairs to Upper Citadel
We saw the opening for the passage to the Upper Citadel. After marveling at the really cool tunnel, we ascended the many, many stairs. They truly seemed never-ending and were quite the challenge on such a hot day!
Upper Citadel Palace Complex
The Palace Complex was located on the Upper Citadel, surrounded by strong fortified walls. It is famous for its megaron, a large rectangular room with a fireplace and a throne. There was also a porch and a vestibule, held up by large columns. The megaron in Tiryns was two stories high and had two columns supporting the porch. The throne was positioned against a wall, and the round fireplace was surrounded by four columns. Beautiful frescoes decorated the room, which included living spaces for the royal family and accommodations for visiting guests, as well as a bathroom.
Conclusion
Stopping at Ancient Tiryns was a great decision for us after visiting many historical sites in Greece. The massive stones helped us understand Mycenaean architecture and also the importance of security. We are amazed by the history present here. Coming from the US, we don’t have such incredible ancient wonders. If someone advises you to skip Ancient Tiryns, go anyway and see this important ancient fortress of Greece for yourself. Like us, you could incorporate visiting Tiryns with visiting other sites such as Larissa Castle, Argos Theater and Agora, and visit Nafplio as well.
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Click on the links below to follow my 2024 Greek Travels and also my Past Greek Travels:
Argos Theatre and Agora-August 2024
Exploring the Larissa Castle of Argos,Greece-August 2024
Snorkeling the Sunken City of Epidaurus. August 2024
Ancient Epidaurus: Birthplace of Modern Medicne August 2024
Mycenaean Bridge and Acropolis of Kazarma-August 2024
Ancient Nemea Greece-August 2024
Ancient Mycenae Greece-August 2024
2 Weeks in Greece-Delphi, Meteora, Corfu, Santorini, Athens, Sept 2022
14 Days in Greece-Crete,Naxos, Santorini Sept 2021
10 Day Greece Itinerary-Crete, Santorini, Athens, September 2019
8 Day Greece Itinerary-Athens, Milos, Santorini, September/October 2018
Greece at Home
I have had a hard time finding Greek items that I love to import to my home in the United States. Below are a few links to items I have found to be dependable and great items. I actually use all of these items almost on a daily basis!
- For true Greek honey, mountain tea, and and also olive oil, I order online through Kilo Tea. They are prompt and in addition, I have never had problems with any of my orders. I highly recommend ordering from here as everything is delicious. You can click here to view and also order the Klio Tea products.
- A Greek product I love that I can order from home is Korres Skin care. This line of skin products uses natural products from around Greece and I really can feel and see the difference. You can check out their products by clicking here.
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Even though many people advise to give the Archaeology Site of Ancient Tiryns a “miss,” it looks like it was far from a miss! Very interesting site full of history, and it appears to be worth the slight detour to see it 🙂
I thought it was definitely worth a visit!
Very interesting!
It was a great experience!
Something interesting to explore!! You captured it beautifully!!
Thank you! It took some imagination to picture how it was! A great site!
The site looks like another excellent example of the Mycenaean civilization. I love the impressive walls which are built of such large stones – it can easily be regarded as a creation that goes beyond the human scale. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
I was glad we stopped. It really showcases the Cyclopean walls. Thanks for reading. Lori
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Homeros paideiuo tous adelphous. Homer teachers his brothers.
Among the few sentences I remember from Ancient Greek in college. The history you visited is mind-blowing. Beautiful photos.
Thank you. It is really interesting to be in these places and think about all of the history here.