Mycenian tholos tomb of Vapheio excavated in 1889 by Christos Tsountas. This undisturbed burial consists of a vaulted chamber (10 m in diameter) accessible by a 30 m long narrow walled passage.The actual grave was cut in the middle of the chamber floor. The pottery in the tomb dates to around 1500 to 1450 BC, but the gold and carved gem seals seem to be older. The equipment consists of many carved gem seals and amethyst beads, together with articles in gold, silver, bronze, iron, lead, amber and crystal.The famous pair of golden cups decorated with scenes in relief, showing two different methods of capturing bull.
The main objects found there were transferred to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
See:
- Chrestos Tsountas, & J. Irving Manatt: The Mycenean Age: a study of the monuments and culture of pre-Homeric Greece. London: Macmillan, 1897.
- Daux Georges. Vaphio. In: Bulletin de correspondance hellénique. Volume 87, livraison 2, 1963. p. 764. , www.persee.fr/doc/bch_0007-4217_1963_num_87_2_20004