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Grave Circle A ca. 1600-1500 B.C. is located just inside the Lion Gate and is about 27m in diameter. It was excavated by H. Schliemann and found to contain 13 cist graves bearing the remains and treasures of Mycenaean nobility. The remains of 19 inhumations (8 men, 9 women and 2 children) were found accompanied by rich grave goods.A large number of bronze swords and daggers, many with engraved decoration on their blades, accompanied the males along with spearheads, arrowheads and knives.Gold masks had been placed on the faces of five men, the most accomplished of which is the so-called 'Mask of Agamemnon'. Women wore gold diadems or gold bands on their heads and their clothing was decorated with gold discs. Over 700 such discs, decorated with spirals, floral patterns and animals, were found in Grave II alone. Gold rings with carved bezels and gold figures, gold buttons and boxes covered with gold-leaf were also found. Whoever the personnages of Grave Circle A were, the conservation of their tombs was deemed so important by the inhabitants of Mycenae in 1200-1100 BC, that they deliberately constructed the massive Cyclopean walls around the Grave Circle to include it within the defenses, even while abandoning Grave Circle B and the Tholos Tombs outside.
Related Links:
The Grave Circles
The Shaft Graves of Mycenae

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The Cult Center is a complex of buildings located just south of Grave Circle A and southwest of the palace, on a series of terraces extending from just inside of the fortification wall to the slopes directly below the palace. It was names so because the buildings contained altars, shrines, clay idols, and frescoes with representations of divinities and priestesses. The best known of these buildings are the "Temple", the "House with the Fresco" and "Tsountas' House". The buildings seem to have been destroyed at the end of the 13th century. Partially rebuilt, they continued to be in use until the end of the 12th century. This area is still currently investigated, thus not open to visitors.

Related Links:
The Religious Center of Mycenae
Mycenaean Religion and Religious Architecture

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Interactive map of Mycenae

Panoramic view of the North Slope of the Citadel of Mycenae.

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The Palace complex was built on the summit of the Citadel of Mycenae and along massive terraces on the south-western and eastern slopes of the hill. The palace was the abode of the king who was considered to be semi-devine and most likely exercised much influence over the spiritual life of his subjects, performing sacred rites for the community as a whole inside the palace.
The most important parts of the palace lie on the south side - a courtyard approached by a stone staircase of Mycenaean date which has been preserved, and the throne-room and megaron of the rulers of Mycenae. In the center of the megaron is the circular sacred hearth. From here there are fine views of the Argolid.

Related links:
The Palace of Mycenae and its design
Mycenaean Residential Architecture: Palaces and Ordinary Housing

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On the east part of the Citadel of Mycenae, the ground sloped away rather steeply but had been terraced to support the Eastern Wing of the palace. The buildings were arranged on three different levels but little is preserved of the upper two. The lowest, however, has the remains of a number of substantial structures. There is a large block consisting of a narrow courty flanked by four rooms on the eastern and western sides. This is generally interpreted as having been a workshop and quarters for various craftsmen and artists. Below it, and separated from it by a long corridor to the east, was a building known as the House of Columns. The corridor leads to a small courtyard with porticoes on three of its sides (some of the column bases are still in place). There is a megaron to the east of the court which suggests that it was a residential unit, probably for a member of the royal family. A stairway led to a second story to the south of the court but only the cellars of that part of the building have survived. Two other buildings stood nearby and seem to have been used for storage but, again, only the basement rooms survive.