What Is Tiruyns?
Tiryns was a hill fort dating back to before the Bronze Age. It reached its height between 1400 and 1200 BC, when it was one of the most important centres of the Mycenaean world.
Its most famous features were its palace, its Cyclopean tunnels and its walls. Tiryns is linked with the myths surrounding Heracles, as the city was the residence of the hero.
It became a World Heritage Site in 1999.
History
A lesser Neolithic settlement lived in the area during the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. The first Greek inhabitants settled at Tiryns during 2000–1600 BC, though the city underwent its greatest growth during the Mycenaean period.
The Acropolis was constructed in three phases and the surviving ruins of the Mycenaean citadel date to the end of the third period around 1300–1200 BC.
At the beginning of the classical period Tiryns became a relatively insignificant city. In 468 BC Argos destroyed both Mycenae and Tiryns and it is said that many moved to settle in the city of Halieis, the modern Porto Heli.
Archaeological Remains
The Acropolis was first excavated by the German scholar Friedrich Thiersch in 1831 followed by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876. The next period of excavation was under Wilhelm Dörpfeld, a director of the German Archaeological Institute. After WWII, the work was continued by the Institute and the Greek Archaeological Service.
The walls of the Acropolis extend to the entire area of the top of the hill. Their bases survive throughout all their length, and their height in some places reaching 7 meters.
The palace of the king consists of three areas: the outer portico with the two columns, the prodomos and the domos with the cyclical fireplace that was surrounded by four wooden columns. The lateral compartments of the palace seem to have a second floor. The decoration of the walls of the outer arcade was rich and some were decorated with paintings.
In the ruins of the mansion, which burned during the 8th century BC, a Doric temple was built during the Geometric period.
Interest For Today
The ruins of a great city of the Mycenaean civilization that dominated the Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century BC. It played a role in the development of classical Greek culture and influenced European art and literature for more than three millennia.
Location
Tiryns is in Argolis, Greece, at the coordinates 37°35′58″N 22°48′00″E.
Tourist Information
The sites at Tiryns can be visited daily all year round.
