Grave Circle A, Mycenae
A 16th-century BC royal cemetery at Mycenae.
Grave Circle A, a royal cemetery dating to the 16th century BC, lies just south of the Lion Gate, the main entry to the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae in southern Greece. Originally built outside the city walls, it was later enclosed within the acropolis when the fortifications were expanded in the 13th century BC. Along with Grave Circle B, it marks a key feature of the early Mycenaean civilization.
The circle measures 27.5 meters (90 feet) in diameter and holds six shaft graves. The largest grave is about 6.5 meters (21 feet 4 inches) long and 4.1 meters (13 feet 5 inches) wide. Nineteen bodies—men, women, and children—were buried here, with two to five per shaft. It is thought that a mound was raised over each grave and that funeral stelae were set up. The grave goods included gold death masks, complete sets of weapons, ornate staffs, gold jewelry, and gold and silver cups. These items are more valuable than those found in Grave Circle B. In total, Circle A contained roughly 15 kilograms of gold (not all high purity)—a significant amount, but far less than what was found in Tutankhamun’s inner coffin alone.
The site was excavated in 1876–77 by Heinrich Schliemann and Panagiotis Stamatakis, guided by descriptions from Homer and Pausanias. One of the five gold death masks they uncovered became known as the "Death Mask of Agamemnon," the mythical king of Mycenae. However, the burials have been dated to about three centuries before Agamemnon is thought to have lived.
The rich grave goods suggest that powerful rulers were buried here. Although Agamemnon lived later, these graves may have belonged to an earlier ruling dynasty—in Greek myth, the Perseids. Later mythology describes a period when Mycenae had two kings, and archaeologists have proposed that the dual graves might correspond to both rulers.
**Background**
Around 2200 BC, at the end of the 3rd millennium, the indigenous people of mainland Greece underwent a cultural shift due to climate change, local events (such as the destruction of the "House of the Tiles"), and ongoing contact with regions like western Asia Minor, the Cyclades, Albania, and Dalmatia. These Bronze Age people used horses, surrounded themselves with luxury goods, and built elaborate shaft graves.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Mycenae
- Area
- Argolis, Greece
- Formed
- 16th century BC
- Built For
- Resting place of the Mycenaean ruling families
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Grave Circle A was formed circa 1600 BC as a new elite burial place, probably first restricted to men, and seems to be a continuation of the earlier Grave Circle B. The site was part of a more significant funeral place from the Middle Helladic period. During the Late Helladic I (1600 BC), there might have been a small unfortified palace on Mycenae, while the Mycenaean ruling family graves remained outside the city walls. The last interment took place circa 1500 BC. Immediately after the last interment, the local rulers abandoned the shaft graves in favor of a new and more imposing form of tomb, the tholos. Around 1250 BC, when the fortifications of Mycenae were extended, the Grave Circle was included inside the new wall, and a double-ring peribolos wall was built around the area. The site became a temenos (sacred precinct), and a circular construction, possibly an altar, was found above one grave.
Reader's Guide
Grave Circle A is significant as a key archaeological site that revealed the wealth and early phase of Mycenaean civilization. The valuable funerary gifts—including gold death masks, full sets of weapons, ornate staffs, gold jewelry, and gold and silver cups—suggest that powerful rulers were buried here. Although the burials date approximately three centuries before the traditional time of Agamemnon, the graves might have belonged to the former ruling dynasty of Mycenae, the Perseids. The site was excavated by Heinrich Schliemann and Panagiotis Stamatakis in 1876–77, following descriptions of Homer and Pausanias. One of the five gold death masks became known as 'The Death Mask of Agamemnon,' though it has been proven that the burials are dated earlier than when Agamemnon is supposed to have lived. The combination of luxury goods from different societies represents an 'international style,' with Minoan influences in design and Mycenaean motifs in fighting and hunting scenes.
Did You Know?
- Grave Circle A contains six shaft graves and a total of nineteen bodies of men, women, and children.
- The largest shaft grave measures about 6.5 m in length and about 4.1 m in width.
- It has been estimated that Circle A contained about 15 kilos of gold in total, not all of high purity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grave Circle A, Mycenae?
Grave Circle A is a royal burial ground from the 16th century BC situated just south of the Lion Gate at the Mycenaean citadel in southern Greece. It contains six shaft graves holding the remains of nineteen individuals and is one of the defining monuments of early Mycenaean civilization.
Where exactly is Grave Circle A located?
It sits immediately south of the Lion Gate, the principal entrance to the Bronze Age fortress at Mycenae. The site was originally built outside the city walls but became enclosed within the acropolis when the defensive walls were expanded in the 13th century BC.
Who excavated Grave Circle A and when?
Heinrich Schliemann, working alongside Panagiotis Stamatakis, uncovered the cemetery during a 1876–77 dig. Their excavation brought the site to public attention and sparked widespread fascination with the Mycenaean world.
What are the physical dimensions and layout of Grave Circle A?
The circular enclosure measures 27.5 meters (about 90 feet) across and holds six shaft graves. The largest of these graves stretches roughly 6.5 meters in length and 4.1 meters in width.
Why does Grave Circle A matter to fans of Agamemnon?
It anchors the legendary king to a real archaeological site, giving the Agamemnon cycle a tangible Bronze Age setting. Together with nearby Grave Circle B, it represents the material heart of the Mycenaean ruling class that the epics dramatize.
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