Treasury of Atreus, Beehive tomb in Mycenae, Greece.
The Treasury of Atreus is a beehive tomb in Argos-Mykines Municipality, Greece, and ranks among the largest structures of this type from the Bronze Age. The inner chamber has a circular form built with layers of cut stone blocks tilted inward to create a vaulted ceiling.
The structure was built around 1250 BCE during the late Mycenaean period and shows the technical advances of that era in the Mediterranean region. For centuries the construction remained hidden underground until excavations in the 19th century brought it back to light.
The approach passage runs between walls made of massive blocks fitted without mortar, showing construction methods from the Mycenaean period. This site served as a burial place for high-ranking individuals and demonstrates through its size the social hierarchy of people living in the region at that time.
The tomb sits outside the walls of Mycenae and remains open year-round, though sturdy footwear is recommended due to uneven ground. The interior stays cool and provides shelter from the sun, offering relief even on hot days.
The entrance doorway is spanned by a colossal stone lintel that ranks among the heaviest building elements ever used in prehistoric times. Those who look closely can still spot traces of the tools used to shape the blocks along the walls.
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