Mycenae
/maɪˈsiːniː/noun
An ancient city in northeastern Peloponnese, Greece, famous as a major center of Mycenaean civilization.
Did you know?The name Mycenae is ancient and uncertain in origin, but Greek writers already connected it with myths of founding and bloodline power, making it a place where language, legend, and royal destiny were fused together.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Μυκήναι
“Mycenae, the ancient city-state and legendary royal center”
Classical Antiquity
Greek
μύκης
“Mushroom; also used in some contexts for a rounded knob or boss”
Classical Antiquity
Greek
μύκος
“A sheath, scabbard, or covering”
Latin
Latin
Mycenae
“The Greek city-name adopted into Latin historical writing”
Modern English
English
Mycenae
“The ancient Greek archaeological site and Bronze Age city”