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The ruins are in an oblong shape, about 984 feet long and 131 to 328 feet wide, and constructed in three sections on a limestone rock outcropping up to 98 feet high.  This citadel was further supported by a lower city on the surrounding plain.  The remains of an imposing circular structure on the citadel surrounded by other buildings of the same period have shown that an important community was established on the hill in the early Bronze Age; the remains date back to the Helladic II period (ca. 2500-2200 B.C.), but Tiryns seems to have been occupied during Helladic II as well as during the Middle Helladic (2000/1900–1550 B.C.) that followed.

The ruins are in an oblong shape, about 984 feet long and 131 to 328 feet wide, and constructed in three sections on a limestone rock outcropping up to 98 feet high.  This citadel was further supported by a lower city on the surrounding plain.  The remains of an imposing circular structure on the citadel surrounded by other buildings of the same period have shown that an important community was established on the hill in the early Bronze Age; the remains date back to the Helladic II period (ca. 2500-2200 B.C.), but Tiryns seems to have been occupied during Helladic II as well as during the Middle Helladic (2000/1900–1550 B.C.) that followed.

During the Mycenaean period (ca. 1600-1050 B.C.) Tiryns was one of the most important centers of Cretan-Mycenaean culture, along with [[Mycenae]], [[Thebes (Ancient Greece|Thebes]], [[Pylos]] and [[Knossos]].  It was during this period that the site acquired a palace (ca. 1350 B.C.) and thus affirmed its power by its importance.

During the Mycenaean period (ca. 1600-1050 B.C.) Tiryns was one of the most important centers of Cretan-Mycenaean culture, along with [[Mycenae]], [[Thebes (Ancient Greece)|Thebes]], [[Pylos]] and [[Knossos]].  It was during this period that the site acquired a palace (ca. 1350 B.C.) and thus affirmed its power by its importance.

The ancient splendor of the city bears witness to the well-preserved ruins of a royal residence on the upper part, whose walls were decorated with precious frescoes, as well as the remains of the Cyclopean construction compound.  The stones of the ramparts were ten feet long and over three feet thick, and were placed without the use of any binder or mortar; the enclosure had walls 26 feet thick and 59 feet high.  The wall around the high citadel was built in several stages, from 14th to the middle of the 13th centuries B.C., ending with the completion of the lower walls and the integration of the cisterns.

The ancient splendor of the city bears witness to the well-preserved ruins of a royal residence on the upper part, whose walls were decorated with precious frescoes, as well as the remains of the Cyclopean construction compound.  The stones of the ramparts were ten feet long and over three feet thick, and were placed without the use of any binder or mortar; the enclosure had walls 26 feet thick and 59 feet high.  The wall around the high citadel was built in several stages, from 14th to the middle of the 13th centuries B.C., ending with the completion of the lower walls and the integration of the cisterns.

==Archaeological work==

==Archaeological work==

Between 1876 and 1885 excavations were carried out by Schliemann. He was able to uncover on the highest part of the rock the so-called upper castle, a Mycenaean palace. The later excavations between 1905 to 1929 were carried out under the direction of [[Wilhelm Dörpfeld]], Kurt Müller and Georg Karo, giving further conclusions on the once outstanding importance of the city in ancient times. Since 1976, Tiryns has been systematically researched by German archaeologists, until 1986 under the direction of Klaus Kilian, later under the direction of other researchers from the University of Heidelberg and the German Archaeological Institute. As of 2017 Joseph Maran leads the research projects in Tiryns.

Between 1876 and 1885 excavations were carried out by Schliemann. He was able to uncover on the highest part of the rock the so-called upper castle, a Mycenaean palace. The later excavations between 1905 and 1929 were carried out under the direction of [[Wilhelm Dörpfeld]], Kurt Müller and Georg Karo, giving further conclusions on the once outstanding importance of the city in ancient times. Since 1976, Tiryns has been systematically researched by German archaeologists, until 1986 under the direction of Klaus Kilian, later under the direction of other researchers from the University of Heidelberg and the German Archaeological Institute. As of 2017 Joseph Maran leads the research projects in Tiryns.

== See also ==

== See also ==