Summary:
The two cities, Tiryns and Mycenae, were both built in the Mycenaean Period, and became the two greatest cities of Mycenaean Greece. They became cultural epicentres for the Greeks because of the beautiful architecture and temples.
The two cities, Tiryns and Mycenae, were both built in the Mycenaean Period, and became the two greatest cities of Mycenaean Greece. They became cultural epicentres for the Greeks because of the beautiful architecture and temples. The two cities lay very close to each other, not more than twenty kilometres away on the Argolid Plain in the North East of the Peloponnese. Tiryns lay on top of a hill, over looking the marshy Plain of Argolis and was situated three miles from the sea. This allowed Tiryns to have good farming, good trade, from the sea and road as the Argolid was a key trade route and an easily defendable city. Mycenae also lay on top of a naturally defendable hill, over looking a fresh water supply. To both sides of the city, lay large mountains, providing more fortifications for the city. Both cities' walls were surrounded by fertile soil suitable for farming, with good irrigation because of the slopes. The geographical specifics of the two cities are very alike, allowing both cities to become very prosperous through farming and trade. This is what allowed the two cities to develop into the two greatest cities of Mycenaean times.
Both cities, being very rich and important were targets for enemy attacks, so both cities built great cyclopean walls. The walls at Tiryns reached a maximum of 17m thick and a maximum of 7m at Mycenae. Both sets of walls were mentioned by the ancient traveller Pausanias.
Another likeness of the two cities is their entrances. Mycenae had its gigantic Lion gate and Tiryns had its equally huge Main gate. Tiryns' gate differed massively in the way that it had a number of sections after the main gate in order to stop enemies if they had breeched the first gate. Along with the main gates, both cities had postern gates. These could be used for escape during attack against the main gates as they were both on the opposite side of the main gates. Tiryns had two more postern gates on the other sides of the city. Also all the gates could have been used for convenience, in times of peace. Both cities also had sally ports. These are underground passage ways to water supplies, which are especially useful for times of siege against the city.
In both cities, there was segregation of the people. There was one area for the rich and noble people and another area referred to as the Unterberg for the poorer people. The rich areas contained the palaces; both palaces were of the same design with a grand propylon as the entrance followed by a forecourt and then by an area containing an altar for sacrifices. This altar was always in line with the passage through the megaron. The megarons had a pro naos, with distyle columns in antis, then through to the anteroom and then through to the throne room. In the centre of the throne room sat a hearth and to the right of the hearth stood the kings throne. This was the same layout for Mycenae and Tiryns and many other Mycenaean cities.
Perhaps due to Tiryns' thick walls, the city seems to be a bit cramped, for instance, the palaces main grain store was joined onto the gallery. This is not the case in the citadel of Mycenae where a specific grain store was built. Mycenae had many more buildings outside the walls as well, which allowed the inside of the citadel to be more spaced out.
Mycenae and Tiryns, despite their small differences were very similar citadels, with great architecture and great wealth. All these points allowed the two cities to be famous through out the Mycenaean world.
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