Mycenae: A Guide to its Ruins and History

by George Emmanuel Mylonas

An excerpt from the preface by the writer, Professor E. Mylonas - Director of the Excavations at Mycenae."Thirty years of excavation have brought about the need for a Guide book such as this, which contains the latest results of the archaeologists' work at Mycenae. The illustrations and the many plans it contains will, I hope, make easy the study of the ruins which at first glance seem labyrinthine. In Part I of the Guide I give a full description of the remains on the acropolis of Mycenae; in Part II, an account of the tombs and houses to be found outside the acropolis. In Part III, I offer a concise account of the history and legends of Mycenae, of the excavations and of the excavators whose work has made possible the study of the Mycenaean civilization. In this way a rounded picture of the site and its historic role in the affairs of Greece may be obtained from reading the Guide and inspection of the site. It is hoped that the visit to the City of Agamemnon will prove a memorable experience for the reader."

Genres: Greece, Nonfiction

95 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Ginevra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My version is from 1996. 96 pages.
A good guide, excellent pictures, a couple of maps of the citadel and of the surrounding area and the archaeological remains within it.
As with all guides, I wanted more information and was frustrated by some of the shorthand declarations or one line mentions that had no further explanations. So, he mentions cisterns and rain collection (as an aside to the underground cistern) having been in place in Mycenae, as in Tiryns, but doesn’t say how or where or why he supports this theory. He also mentions the buildings on the lower level of the citadel, as being interesting… and doesn’t go into it further. So, a typical guide book, but a good one.
I liked the clear organization of the information he does give, the suggested path for visiting, his suggestions for visiting (such as take a torch) and the photos which were very good and very relevant. I also like the end section with a little of the history and some hints as to further reading.