Out of the Jurisdiction: Mycenae and Epidaurus

The last day before heading back to the States was in Mycenae and Epidaurus, archeological sites about 30 minutes out of Nafplion, Greece.  

Mycenae is home to a UNESCO World Heritage citadel, the setting of Homer's Iliad.

It is also home in mythology to Agamemnon.  It is a beautiful site with ongoing excavations,

high on a hillside overlooking Nafplion and the Aegean Sea.

The Mycenae site is entered through the lion gate, constructed with huge stones.  

In the center is a triangle with two lions facing each other and a column.

A granary from 1300 BC is in remarkably good shape.

There are many overlooks back over the hillside to Nafplion and the sea.

And up the hillside beyond the archeological site.

A short distance away is the Treasury of Atreus, also know as the Tomb of Agamemnon, constructed in the Bronze Age, around 1350 BC.  Also made from huge stones,
inside is a high stone wall shaped like a huge beehive.

Not far away is the impressive ancient theater of Epidaurus.  It was built in the 4th century BC, 

holds about 14,000 spectators and has excellent acoustics.   Even today the theater 

offers sold-out performances of the famous Greek plays.