I approached the Cyclopean Masonry filled with admiration and respect. Those walls stand here since time immemorial and even the Ancient Greeks couldn't figure out how they were built. It was them that named them "Cyclopean", speculating that only Cyclopes, the mythical giant one-eyed creatures, could have moved those huge stones. Even today there is a mystery around the superhuman engineering skills of the Mycenaeans who lived roughly 3.000 - 3.500 years ago. Myself I have no idea how they were building such amazing marvels but they were, for sure, obsessed with fortifications!
Join me for a walk in the citadel of Tyrins, one of the miracles of the Mycenaean civilisation!
On a much different aspect of our walk, nature was screaming that spring is coming. The wild flowers were blooming all over the plot, creating a colourful and enjoyable scenery. My focus kept shifting from prehistoric boulders to delicate flowers, in a constant pendulum between awe and admiration!
I ended up with dozens of flower pics, some of which you can see in my yesterday's post. But let's move on exploring the archeological site.
I took a few pictures of @traisto, as she was making her own photo tour of the space, to give you a comparison to the size of the rocks used in those walls. Even the crews that came with the archeologists to restore the damaged parts of the citadel, with all the modern technology and equipment in their disposal, had a very hard time completing the restoration program. This is just too much for humans, let alone prehistoric ones!
Tyrins along with the archeological site of Mycenae has been inscribed upon the World Heritage List of UNESCO about 25 years ago.
The archaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns are the imposing ruins of the two greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilization, which dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century B.C. and played a vital role in the development of classical Greek culture. These two cities are indissolubly linked to the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey , which have influenced European art and literature for more than three millennia.
source UNESCO
I have already visited Mycenae and have written this, this and that post about it, as well as that one about the museum. All together are forming a puzzle about a long gone but amazingly important civilisation.
The Mycenaean civilisation in Argolis and the Minoan civilisation in Crete are the oldest in our part of the world and has been the predecessors of what is commonly known as Ancient Greece. In fact they influenced so much all the greek territory that it is not an exaggeration to tell that we owe to them all the marvellous things that came from antiquity.
Do you remember in which two regions of Greece I share my life?
Crete and Argolis :)
I realised this as I was entering to the upper citadel through the small opening on the walls and the stone staircase behind it. The one you can see in the two pictures above.
Living in a place that people have chosen for their habitation for a few thousands years is certainly impressive but it also gives a sense of continuation and a (false?) comforting feeling.
Apart from anything else, the view was also wonderful from the upper citadel. In every direction the beauty of the scenery unfolds unobstructed and calming. Even the controversial neighbour of the archeological site looks idyllic. I am referring to the plot in the picture below that looks like a farm but it is actually a prison!
I am closing with a picture of poppies since they seem to have a big fun club, judging from the comments on my previous post :)
Unless stated otherwise, all the pictures and the words are mine.
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
Commenting, upvoting and rebloging are highly appreciated!
Great shots!
Thank you very much for your support, I really appreciate it!
Hi Stef!
Please say hi to Fotini from me, I Saw her in the photos :)
I loved all the photos, and If you see the last two of them are very similar
Enjoy your weekend both!!
I told her and she says hi too!
Thank you very much from both of us. Have a lovely weekend yourself :)
😊
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Η Ελλάδα έχει πιο πολλά αρχαία από μοντέρνα χαχαχα και να σου πω την αλήθεια, είναι πιο όμορφα.
Παπαρούνες 😸😻
Χαχα ναι, όπου και να ψάξεις κάτι αρχαίο θα το βρεις :)