Lion Gate

The Lion Gate is the main gate of the ancient city of Mycenae, located in the northwest of the fortified complex. It leads to the so-called big ramp that continues up through the city to the palace (Megaron ) leads.

The Lion Gate dates from the middle of the 13th century BC. It got its name because of the relief to which the relief triangle located above the gate was decorated. It shows two opposing lions. The lion relief is the oldest monumental sculpture in Europe.

Shaping

The external route to goal fringed left an approximately 45 meter long wall. Right is the gate protected by a thickening of the wall, which may have served a tower. This construction forms a 17 meters long and ten meters wide passage, which facilitated the defense of access. Directly behind the gate on the right, leads a narrow staircase up to the wall.

The gate consists of four monolithic blocks forming an opening having a height of 3.1 meters and a width of three meters. The blocks are assembled without mortar. The supporting monolith blocks are provided with two recesses, into which a cross bar was used to close the gate. The goal is to have consisted of two wooden, reinforced with bronze wings. The Angel submissions for the leaves are still visible today in the gate threshold and the lintel.

The lintel consists of an approximately twelve -ton monolith. Above him is the eponymous relief triangle with the lion relief. The Lions are on the left and right of a central pillar that stands on two hollowed sacrifice altars. The front legs of the lion resting on this pedestal-like base. The column, which is the symbol of the royal family of Mycenae, has a uniquely designed capital. Immediately on the Kapitellabdeckplatte there are four circles which are likely to mimic the ends of supporting beams of a roof. The heads of the lions were made of bronze or steatite, however, were not found in the excavations.

History

The construction of the gate is attributed to the Mycenaean King Atreus. It should have been built around 1250 BC. It testifies to the cyclopean wall ring size and the unique richness of the ancient city.

During the first excavations at Mycenae in 1841 under the leadership of the Greek archaeologist Kyriakos Pittakis the Lion Gate was discovered, excavated and rebuilt. The wall sections in this area were almost completely below the surface. 1874 Heinrich Schliemann began excavations continued throughout the grounds.