Note: Day 55 refers to 5th June 1973. I am a day late in posting this in real time.
The day began with a visit to the Treasury of Atreus (or Tomb of Agamemnon). These names were probably confected in the 18th century because the structure dates back to around 1300 BC, during the Aegean Bronze Age. It is a tholos – a beehive tomb. My archeological eye was obviously working well when I recorded the visit in my now infamous travelogue…
…like a giant beehive; very well preserved and constructed…bricks tapering beautifully to apex
I then visited the ruins of ancient Mycenae, with the amazing Lion Gate, forming the imposing entrance to this Bronze Age citadel. Somehow a German guy appeared in my account of this visit – it seems we went quite a way underground to explore the ancient cistern. He was reluctant to go further because it descended steeply into unknown depths and we could feel the cold dampness of the slimy walls. I think I agreed with the decision to turn back – and, after all, it was his torch we were using.
A lot of my thoughts today have been quite serious, speculating about what I want in my future life, imagining these ancient sites and their people all those tohusands of years ago, how they are linked to us through the lovely mountainous landscape, the things they left behind, the moon and stars. I was feeling mellow rather than melancholic, starting to feel tired. I decided to give Corinth a swerve…
…must seek out my island paradise and rest, rest, rest!!
Until re-reading my travelogue for this project in reminiscence, I did not realise I had such a plan. As on other occasions, I continue to be surprised by the mismatch between my memories and the notes I made at the time.
Tomorrow finds me in the chief port of Greece.
Psychologist on the Move 