CHAPTER II.

TOPOGRAPHY OF MYCENÆ.

GATE OF THE LIONS AND TREASURY OF ATREUS.

The road from Argos to Mycenæ--The Plain of Argos: its rivers and hills, horses and vegetation--Myth regarding its arid nature--Swamps in the southern part; and fable of the Lernæan hydra--Early social develop-ment here--Legend of Phoroneus--The Pelasgian Argos--The Achæan states of Argos and Mycenæ--Situation of Mycenæ--The _Citadel_ and its Cyclopean walls--The term defined--"Gate of the Lions"--The postern gate--Cisterns--Poetical confusion of Argos and Mycenæ.

The _Lower City_: its house-walls, bridge, treasuries, and pottery--Its partially enclosing wall--The undefended suburb, and its large buildings--Its extent--The only two wells in Mycenæ--Three Treasuries in the suburb--Treasuries in the Lower City--Description of the "Treasury of Atreus"--Dodwell's Argument for regarding the building as a Treasury--Uniqueness of these structures--Excavation of the Treasury by Veli Pasha 23