Aegean civilizations

The Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens presents "Crete - Emerging Cities: Aptera, Eleutherna, Knossos," an exhibition illustrating the trajectory of the three ancient cities from their initial settlement and development to their abandonment and rediscovery through archaeological excavations.

The Badisches Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe, Germany, is dedicating a major exhibition to the Bronze Age civilization of the Mycenaeans.

Titled "Mycenae - The Legendary World of Agamemnon," the exhibition runs to June next year and aims to provide comprehensive insights into the Mycenaean era, which stretched from 1600 to 1200 BC.

A 3,000 year old ancient fortress was discovered by archaeologists near the South Bulgarian town of Zlatograd. The fortification is from the times of Troy and Mycenae and is one of the first evidence that ancient Thrace was part of the Cretan-Mycenaean culture, believed to have been the first civilization in Europe.

An intact tomb from the early Mycenaean era (1650-1400 BC) has been unearthed by archaeologists in the region of Nemea, southern Greece.

According to the Culture Ministry, the tomb is among the largest ever found in the region and is set apart by the short yet wide path leading to its entrance along with other features that place it in the early phase of the Mycenaean civilization.

A Minoan-era tomb discovered earlier in the month by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Crete is intact, the Culture Ministry said Thursday. The late Minoan (1400 to 1200 BC) tomb contains a well-preserved adult skeleton as well as funerary vessels.

With Greece entering peak tourism season, electronic tickets for some of Greece's most popular museums and archaeological sites can now be purchased online at www.etickets.tap.gr, the Culture Ministry said on Thursday.

Replicas of clothes worn by the Minoan and Mycenaeans in the period stretching roughly from 2000 to 1200 BC are currently on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

The Bronze Age civilization of the Mycenaeans collapsed due to an extended drought in the western Peloponnese, according to a study conducted by researchers Martin Finne and Karin Holmgren of the Navarino Environmental Observatory in collaboration with archaeologist Shari Stocker.

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are seen during their visit at the the ancient site of Knossos on the southern Greek island of Crete, on Friday. The British royals are on a three-day official visit to Greece. [EPA]

On the third and last day of an official visit to Greece, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were on Crete on Friday. 

The royal couple flew into the port of Irakleio on a private aircraft and were received by the Archbishop of Crete Irinaios, the regional governor Stavros Arnaoutakis and the Mayor of Irakleio Vasilis Lambrinos among other local officials.