Lion Gate Monument

The Lion Gate is the main surviving monumental entrance to the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae in Argolis, Peloponnese. The carved limestone relief above the lintel, showing two felines flanking a central column, dates to the late second millennium BC.

The gate forms the principal approach to the archaeological site and is seen in context with the Cyclopean masonry of the surrounding fortification walls. Close by are other major features of the site, including the entrance area, the palace remains and nearby grave circles with rich Mycenaean finds.

The gate was constructed by Mycenaean builders in the late Bronze Age as a fortified monumental entrance to the citadel and survived in situ through antiquity. Excavations of Mycenae in the 19th century brought the gate to wider scholarly and public attention and helped define early understandings of Mycenaean culture.

The Lion Gate stands at the entrance to the archaeological citadel of Mycenae in the Argolis region of the Peloponnese, Greece, and is accessible from the modern visitor route through the excavated ruins.

• Bronze Age relief: The gate’s carved relief of two animals flanking a column is a rare surviving monumental stone sculpture from the Mycenaean late Bronze Age (13th century BC).

What to See#

• Grave Circle A: An adjacent group of royal shaft graves known as Grave Circle A that contained rich Mycenaean gold and funerary finds uncovered in the 19th century.
• Citadel ramparts: The citadel ramparts in which the gate is set, built from large Cyclopean blocks that form the defensive enclosure of Mycenae’s acropolis.

Lion Gate (Mycenae) is on the archaeological site just outside the village of Mycenae in Argolis. By car it is roughly 120 km southwest of Athens (about 1.5-2 hours) - drive from Athens toward Corinth and the Argolic peninsula, then follow regional roads to Mycenae; from the nearby town of Nafplio it is about a 20-30 minute drive. Regional KTEL buses serve Nafplio and Argos from Athens and there are local buses/taxis that can take you to the Mycenae site; a short walk (a few hundred metres) from the site car park brings you to the Lion Gate.

• Aim for first light or the early morning opening at Mycenae to see the Lion Gate before tour buses arrive and to get unobstructed photos of the relief against the Argolic plain.
• Enter the archaeological site via the main ticketed gate on the road from the parking area (the gate leads directly toward the Lion Gate); follow the established path up to the citadel rather than trying to approach from the sides where access is restricted.
• Don't rush past the Lion Gate-walk the short perimeter and look closely at the masonry and the lintel relief; many visitors miss the view back down the sacrificial road and the panorama over the surrounding valley, which are excellent for photos and context.