Tesoro de Atreo en Micenas
The Treasure of Atreus: An Overview
Historical Context and Discovery
- The Treasure of Atreus, located in Mycenae, is a prime example of chamber tombs or tholos tombs, constructed around 1250-1220 BC. It was interpreted as a storage place for the wealth of princes and was accessible to visitors in antiquity.
- Discovered by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1874, it was later considered to be the tomb of Agamemnon in 1876 due to its grandeur and historical significance.
Architectural Features
- The entrance features a dromos (a long corridor) that is open to the sky, measuring 36 meters long and 6 meters wide, with walls reaching up to 14 meters high.
- A trapezoidal door leads into an inner passageway covered by two stone lintels each one meter thick. This design showcases advanced engineering techniques used during that era.
Chamber Design
- The sepulchral chamber is carved into rock with walls made from stone courses that taper towards the top, forming what is known as a false dome. The height of this dome reaches approximately 14 meters.
- A small door on one side opens into a smaller room also excavated from rock, indicating additional burial practices or storage within the structure.