Mycenae Secret Cistern. Mycenae is located on a hilltop, overlooking the Argolis plains. A strategic place, and the home of the Mycenaean kings, the most famous of them probably Agamemnon, who led the Greeks in the Trojan War. Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. The so called Secret Cistern is entered via a flight of 99 steps which leads down into a small chamber deep beneath the citadel. A continuous supply of water was obtained by a system of pipes connected to the nearby Perseia Fountain.The cistern is now dry.