Ancient Mycenae and Ancient Delphi

Ancient Mycenae and Ancient Delphi played a significant role in the myths of Herakles. Ancient Mycenae is where Herakles received his twelve labors after he went to consult with the Oracle of Delphi on what he should do to redeem himself for killing his family. We recently visited both of these sites.

Entrance to Ancient Mycenae

We traveled from Athens to the town of Nafplio and stayed there for several days, including going to the ruins of Mycenae where Herakles was assigned his labors. This was also the place where King Agamemnon sacrificed one of his daughters for good luck in the Trojan war. He survived the war, but when he came back his wife poisoned him for killing their daughter. Then she got killed by their other daughter and son who then ran away (this is a story told in  Homer'sThe Illiad). In Athens at the Archaeological Museum we saw King Agamemnon's gold burial mask. The site we visited didn't have much architecture left so it was not what I expected of the place that Herakles was assigned his labors. It was cool thinking about all the stuff that happened there and seeing the huge rocks that were supposedly moved by the Cyclops (really it was likely slaves, but it's fun to imagine one-eyed giants carrying what would be boulders for us and average sized rocks for them).

The ruins of Mycenae

Herakles with a view

Cyclops's average sized rocks

Yesterday we arrived in Delphi and today we went to its Ancient ruins. Herakles went here to consult with the Oracle of Apollo after killing his family in a rage set upon him by Hera. Herakles was told by the Oracle to go to King Eurythseus in Mycenae who would assign him his punishment. We saw the temple of Apollo where the Oracle gave out her advice after breathing in smoke from chasms under the temple and eating laurel leaves. I also read that Delphi is thought to be the middle of the world because Zeus put two golden eagles on ether side of the world and they met here. 

Aiming for the temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Theatre frieze at Delphi depicting Herakles's labors

After visiting both of these places I can see why people would build temples and so many myths would be based here. Both of these spots are really beautiful and have a spectacular view.