On a dry hilltop encircled by mountains are the ruins of Mycenae, described by Homer as “rich in gold”. This fortified settlement was in the second millennium BC a distinct civilisation, which greatly influenced later Greek culture. Ruled by the Atreids, this society’s imposing ruins are not only beautiful and rich in artefacts, but also evoke a past which seems distant and yet familiar. A visit to the museum will allow visitors to fully understand the archaeological site of the ancient city.