Situated approximately halfway between the historic sites of Mycenae and Tiryns on a hill rising some 270 metres above sea level, the Acropolis of Midea dominates the eastern edge of the Argive plain. Although less famed than Mycenae or Tiryns, Midea is nonetheless considered one of the three principal Mycenaean citadels in the Argolid region.

The archaeological record attests to long-term habitation—from the Late Neolithic through the Bronze Age and later periods—with its apogee in the Late Bronze Age (circa 14th–13th centuries BCE). Its strategic location, impressive fortifications, and diverse material culture testify to its role as a settlement of both defensive and administrative importance in Mycenaean times.

The acropolis was established on a hill, approx. 268 meters high that dominates the eastern end of the Argive Plain. It held a strategic position with an unhindered view in all directions and it was in communication with the other centers of the Argolid, as observed from the traces of a Mycenaean road system in the region.

circa 4800-1100 BCE

Archaeological evidence reveals that the hill-site of Midea was occupied continuously from the late or final Neolithic (circa 4800–3100 BCE) and into the Early Bronze Age (Early Helladic I–II, circa 3100–2200 BCE). During the Middle Helladic and early Late Helladic periods, the settlement evolved toward a major centre. By the 14th and especially the 13th centuries BCE (Late Helladic III), the citadel’s fortifications were constructed in monumental Cyclopean style, reflecting the growth of elite power and the need for enhanced defence.

Like its sister sites in the Argolid, Midea appears to have suffered a major destruction event, widely attributed to an earthquake and fire at the end of the 13th century BCE. After this phase, there was limited reuse into the 12th century BCE, though the site never regained its earlier prominence. In later centuries the acropolis was intermittently reoccupied, but it does not exhibit the palatial scale or continuity of the core Mycenaean centres.

In classical literary sources, the surrounding region of Argolis is referenced, and the settlement of Midea appears in mythological traditions, for example linking it with the hero Perseus. However, the archaeological significance lies principally in its Late Bronze Age role rather than any later prominence.

circa 4800-1100 BCE

The Acropolis of Midea occupies a steep, cone-shaped hill rising above the eastern plain of Argolis, providing commanding views of the surrounding terrain. The main fortification circuit encloses an area of approximately 24 stremmata (about 24,000 square meters). The circuit wall is constructed of large limestone blocks in Cyclopean masonry, measuring about 5–7 metres in thickness and standing up to 7 metres high in some sections. Because the southeastern slope is naturally steep, it was left unfortified, while the remaining sides were enclosed.

The acropolis is divided into an upper and a lower zone, with terraces on the slope forming the lower area and the rocky summit forming the upper. Excavations have revealed the remains of substantial architectural complexes—workshops, storerooms, and living quarters—on both terraces and summit, and evidence of craft production such as moulds for jewellery and administrative activity including sealings bearing Linear B inscriptions. The presence of such features, alongside prestigious tombs in the nearby cemetery at Dendra, underlines the elite nature of the settlement.

circa 4800-1100 BCE

Eastern and Western Gates
The documentation of specifically named palace or megaron structures at Midea remains modest compared to Mycenae or Tiryns, yet certain architectural highlights have been identified. Two monumental gates, the East Gate and the West Gate, have been uncovered on opposite sides of the fortification circuit. In the West Gate sector, excavators revealed a complex of approximately fifteen rooms, interpreted as workshops and storerooms, built against the inner face of the wall.

Near the East Gate, a large rectangular building—sometimes termed a mansion—has been identified on the terrace of the lower acropolis, which appears to have been used and reused until the 12th century BCE. Although the term “palace” is not firmly established for Midea as it is for Mycenae, the presence of elite architecture, administrative areas, and extensive fortifications justify treating these remains as the notable built elements of the site.

circa 4800-1100 BCE

Fortifications
The cyclopean fortification wall of Midea acropolis surrounds the north-east and south-west upper slopes of the hill protecting the summit and a large sloping terraced area north of it, known as the Lower Terrace or the Lower Acropolis of Midea. The south-east side, wher the precipitous rock provided natural protection, remained unfortified.

The wall is constructed in the polygonal-cyclopean order, like those of the citadels of Mycenae and Tiryns. Large boulders were used for the inner and outer facades, while the interior of the wall comprised a filling mainly of smaller stones. The fortification is preserved for its full length of approx. 450 meteers and encloses an area of some 2.4 hectares. The walls are approx. 5.5 to 7 meters wide and preserved to a height of some 7 meters. Three gates, one at the north and others at the east and west sides of the fortification provided access to the acropolis. A postern gate (syrinx) was also revealed in the western section of the wall.

The fortification wall was constructed around the middle of the thirteenth century BCE at a time when important additions and extensions were being made to the cyclopean-fortifications of Mycenae and Tiryns. The way of its construction shows a single building phase, without later extensions. It appears, however, that repairs were made to certain sections fo the wall, notable to its north- west section, at a later time, most probably after the devastating earthquake which struck Midea at the end of the 13th century BCE.

The remains of the ancient cyclopean-fortifications hve been visible through out the centuries. Work of consercation and presentation of the site during the years 2012-2014 included the removal of thick earthen deposits, washed down from higher areas of the hill, which had covered a large part of the north-west section of the fortification wall. It was at this time that the northern gate was discovered.

Outside the north section of the fortifiction a massive terrace wall, 2 meters wide, was exposed, built with boulders according to the cyclopean system. It is preserved up to a height of approx. 1.5 meter(s) and has been cleared for a length of some 50 meters. Although it is ruined in places, its construction and length suggest that it was a strong wall, built probably to surround the lower town of Midea on the north-west slope of the acropolis hill, outside the earlier fortifications.

circa 4800-1100 BCE

Megaron
A maze of walls and related structures have deen excavated on the lower terraces of the citadel area of Midea. The walls were built in the prime of the Mycenaean period, the 13th century BCE, and constitute a series of building structures, which probably were costructed consecutively, i.e. the original building with its foundation walls was rebuilt and somewhat altered as time went by. The building has been identified as a "megaron", and its architectural appearance is paralleled at nearby Tiryns. Significant are the rectangular form and also the stone bases, which may have held wooden columns. The structure was deserted after a destruction sometime during the 13th century BCE, however, it was reused again in the 12th century BCE.

The artefacts discovered at the so-called megaron complex are exceptional and include prestige and ceremonial items, such as sword pommels in precious materials, a faience necklace, a bronze arrowhead, a carnelian head and also three clay nodules, two of which are inscribed with Linear B signs. The "megaron" area of the acropolis was also inhabited during the Late Antiquity.

circa 4800-1100 BCE

Postern Gate (Syrinx)
In addition to the three main gates associated with the cyclopean-fortifications of Midea is another remarkable techical work of engineering, resembling similar constructions at Mycenae and Tiryns. This is a narrow passage called "syrinx", running through the thickness of the west section of the fortification wall, which was used a sally port, a concealed passage providing an escape in times of dangeroran assault exit for defence of the acropolis. The walls of this postern gate are corbelled and the roof consistes of enormous slabs. The floor is cut in to the natural rock, sloping downward with steps at intervals.

Within the fortification, next to the opening of the postern gate but on a higher level, part of a room was revealed adjacent to the inner facade of the fortification wall. The room clearly belongs to the building constructed after the destruction of the acropolis by the earthquake at the end of the 13th century BCE. The repairs ofthe fortification wall and in other buildings of the acro, including the room next to the postern gate, demostrate that soon after the earthquake, in the beginning of the 12th century BCE, a programme of repairs and rebuilding had been under taken at Midea.