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This article is about the scenario in Age of Empires. For the map, see Acropolis (map).

Acropolis (named Citadel in the original) is the second scenario of the Glory of Greece campaign in Age of Empires. In the scenario, the Athens (blue) must confront the Greek city-state of Thebes (red).

A slightly altered version - called Fall of the Mitanni - is the fourth scenario of the Reign of the Hittites demo campaign.

Scenario instructions[]

Description[]

NuRoR bowman idle
Mycenae, 1400 BCE

Your people are now largely settled, and they have prospered for the past several generations. You are not alone, however – other city-states have risen and begun to expand as well. As border clashes begin, it becomes clear that growth is possible only at the expense of neighboring rivals. The Tirynians covet the lands that you now control, and have begun to aggressively press the issue. This outrage must not be allowed to continue. Secure your control over this region by capturing the ancient Ruins close to the nearby town of Tiryns. Build two Sentry Towers adjacent to the Ruins to deter any further enemy incursions.
—In-game section

Starting conditions[]

Objectives[]

  1. Capture the Ruins.
  2. Research Sentry Tower at the Granary.
  3. Construct 2 Sentry Towers beside the Ruins.

Hints[]

  1. The Mycenaeans are restricted to the Bronze Age.
  2. Utilize your initial stone stockpile wisely – it will prove useful in several situations.
  3. Seize and defend as many stone and gold mines as you can, for they are the key to victory.

Description[]

Mycenae, 1400 BCE

Your people are now largely settled, and they have prospered for the past several generations. You are not alone, however—other city-states have risen and begun to expand as well. As border clashes begin, it becomes clear that growth is possible only at the expense of neighboring rivals. The Tirynians covet the lands that you now control, and have begun to aggressively press the issue. This outrage must not be allowed to continue. Secure your control over this region by capturing the ancient Ruins close to the nearby town of Tiryns. Build two Sentry Towers adjacent to the Ruins to deter any further enemy incursions.
—In-game section

Starting conditions[]

Objectives[]

  • Capture the Ruins.
  • Construct 2 Sentry Towers beside the Ruins.

Hints[]

  • Utilize your initial stone reserves wisely—stone will prove useful in several situations.
  • Seize and defend as many stone and gold mines as you can, for they are the key to victory
  • The Mycenaeans are restricted to the Bronze Age—you cannot advance to the Iron Age.

Description[]

1500 BC

Greece is now largely settled and growth is possible mainly at the expense of neighbors. The Thebians are beginning to expand and covet the lands that you now control. They must not be allowed to continue. Gain control of this region by capturing the ancient Ruins close to the nearby Thebian town. Build two Sentry Towers adjacent to the Ruins to ensure your control.
—In-game section

Starting conditions[]

Objectives[]

  • Capture Ruins.
  • Establish 2 Sentry Towers beside Ruins.

Hints[]

  • Use your initial stone reserves wisely -- stone will prove useful in several situations.
  • Seize and defend all stone and gold mines, for they are the key to victory.

Players[]

Player[]

  • Player (Greek AOE DE ROR icon Greeks): The player starts out in the Tool Age and occupies the southernmost area on the map. This area is directly connected to the enemy's base by a land bridge just east of the player's starting position which should be defended from early attacks. They have a Town Center, Market, Storage Pit, Granary, and four Houses.

Enemies[]

  • Tiryns (Greek AOE DE ROR icon Greeks): The Tiryns occupy much of the northwestern area of the map and are already in the Bronze Age. Besides having an Age advantage, this player has all available Tool Age buildings with the exception of a Market and an Archery Range. They also have a Dock located just south of the Ruins which is protected by two Watch Towers and has three other Watch Towers protecting all of the gold mines scattered throughout the map. There are two more Watch Towers protecting a gap between the cliffs just south of its base. They also start out with an army composed of Axemen and Scouts. This is the only opponent on the map and will train a Bronze Age military consisting mostly of Cavalry given enough time.

Player[]

  • Player (Greek AOE DE ROR icon Greeks): The player starts out in the Tool Age and occupies the southernmost area on the map. This area is directly connected to the enemy's base by a land bridge just east of the player's starting position which should be defended from early attacks. They have a Town Center, Market, Storage Pit, Granary, and four Houses.

Enemies[]

  • Tiryns (Greek AOE DE ROR icon Greeks): The Tiryns occupy much of the northwestern area of the map and are already in the Bronze Age. Besides having an Age advantage, this player has all available Tool Age buildings with the exception of a Market and an Archery Range. They also have a Dock located just south of the Ruins which is protected by two Watch Towers and has three other Watch Towers protecting all of the gold mines scattered throughout the map. There are two more Watch Towers protecting a gap between the cliffs just south of its base. They also start out with an army composed of Axemen and Scouts. This is the only opponent on the map and will train a Bronze Age military consisting mostly of Cavalry given enough time.

Player[]

  • Player (Greek AOE DE ROR icon Greeks): The player starts out in the Tool Age and occupies the southernmost area on the map. This area is directly connected to the enemy's base by a land bridge just east of the player's starting position which should be defended from early attacks. They have a Town Center, Market, Storage Pit, Granary, and four Houses.

Enemies[]

  • Thebes (Greek AOE DE ROR icon Greeks): Thebes occupies much of the northwestern area of the map and is already in the Bronze Age. Besides having an Age advantage, they have all available Tool Age buildings with the exception of a Market and an Archery Range. They also have a Dock located just south of the Ruins, which is protected by two Watch Towers, and has three other Watch Towers protecting all of the gold mines scattered throughout the map. There are two more Watch Towers protecting a gap between the cliffs just south of its base. They also start out with five Scouts and ten Axemen. This is the only opponent on the map and will train a Bronze Age military consisting mostly of Cavalry given enough time.

Strategy[]

To the east of the player's starting position, the shallows allow the Thebians to enter the player's base. Build a few military unit production buildings to impede their way, and research Watch Tower at the Granary if needed. Having several Docks and maintaining consistent production of several Scout Ships will provide additional support in securing the gold mines that are closest to the player as well as securing the only land bridge leading to the player's base. This will guarantee naval superiority over the long run. It is best to start collecting wood immediately at the beginning of the match so the player can block the entire shallows area with Docks and start training Scout Ships there.

As soon as you've built up to the Bronze Age, you can start winning control of the map. Find one of the mine sites (there's one to the far west, another one to the far north, and one near the center of the map). Send a dozen or more soldiers there to take down the Tower and eliminate the incoming enemy soldiers with a navy to secure the area if needed, and start mining. Once the player has enough Gold, the player can build a few Stone Throwers to deal with the Towers, and head towards the Ruins to the northwest. Destroying the Towers will allow access to the Ruins, at which point the necessary towers can be constructed and then upgraded to Sentry Towers to win the game.

Hint: There is a small strip of unclaimed land located just west of the player's starting area that has a single Stone Mine and several Gazelles. Players can establish a base on this area and use it as a jumping point for the eventual acquisition of the Ruins.

In the Definitive Edition, there are enemy Scouts preparing to attack the player as soon as possible near the player's side of the island. Quickly wall off the nearest chokepoint and defend it with Watch Towers until the player could build a sizable force to fend off the incoming enemies.

History[]

Historical notes[]

As the Mycenaeans gradually became more established in the region, their settlements and lifestyle grew increasingly complex. One particularly notable development was the construction of palace complexes, known in the local language as megaron. From within these, the wanax (king) of each growing City-State watched their realm carefully. As territorial borders expanded, aspirations did as well, and city-states found themselves locked in deadly conflicts over farmland, mineral resources, lumber sources, and trade routes. The most notable of these city-states was located at Mycenae, where nineteenth-century excavations unearthed large fortifications, a sophisticated palace complex and priceless treasures, many lying in burial mounds. Other significant centers of power included Tiryns, Argos, Pylos, and Menelaion, near the modern City of Sparta.

Despite the volatile and variable political situation, the Mycenaean people Who were spread across Attica, Boeotia, and the Peloponnese had a considerable amount in common. They shared an early form of the Greek language, polytheistic religious systems, and common cultural norms.

The Mycenaeans were almost certainly extremely warlike, as shown by numerous fortifications and various art forms valorizing warfare, such as ceramic artwork, wall frescoes, carvings, and funerary objects.

The palace complexes on the acropolis of a town served as both government and military centers. The king and the nobility ruled from a position of strength, and soldiers could be drilled nearby and outfitted With weaponry from the armory. In times of war, the acropolis was a secure Place to take refuge from invaders, and the surplus food stored in the local granary could sustain a citadel under attack until the siege was broken or abandoned. It was often more prudent to destroy a city-state's economic wealth: farmland, crops, pastures, mineral deposits, port (if applicable), and trade routes. The Mycenaean City-states gradually formed alliances and trading agreements, however, and often displayed a loose sort of solidarity when facing outsiders.
—In-game section

Victory[]

The demoralized Tirynian troops flee before the blades of your disciplined soldiers! With the ruins and mineral resources of the region secured, the conflict will surely not last much longer. Soon, your enemies will humbly kneel before you, offering their wealth and begging for peace. With the nearby region secured, your people can now look beyond their borders, making alliances and even expanding overseas. Lead them onward!
—In-game section

Loss[]

Alas! Your armies marched into battle, but most did not return. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered by their Tirynian foes, they fell like stalks of wheat before a scythe. The survivors have regrouped for a final stand, but the future looks bleak. The Tirynians descend upon you, the spirit of Nike, the goddess of victory, at their backs. lt will not be long before you are all slain or carried off into slavery.
—In-game section

Historical notes[]

The political landscape of Bronze Age Greece was a checkerboard of hilltop palaces that controlled the farmland, mining, manufacturing, and trade of the peninsula. The best known of these palaces was located at Mycenea, where nineteenth-century excavations uncovered large fortifications and fabulous tomb treasures. The palaces of the Myceneans were never unified politically, a situation that remained characteristic of the region until the fourth century BC. The Myceneans were linked by their culture, however, sharing an early form of the Greek language, religious beliefs, and a common way of life.

The Myceneans appear to have been very warlike, based on the evidence of fortifications, pottery decorations, wall frescoes, and grave goods. The kings and nobles were warriors. The hilltop palaces acted as a barracks and armory for the local army, and a storeroom, workshop, and home for the king. The kingdoms fought over the economic means of wealth-farmland, grazing land, olive groves, metal deposits, port facilities, and trade routes.

Typical of the conflict in Greece was that on the eastern edge of the peninsula. The people who settled the plains of Attica were often at war with their neighbors to the north. Attica had farmland and an excellent port, making it an important stop for traders. Peoples to the north did not have these advantages and were a constant threat to raid.
—In-game section

Historical outcome[]

The Mycenean culture prospered for nearly one thousand years. For most of this period the palaces waged war against each other and against barbarians to the north. No palace was able to establish control over the entire region, but a few powerful palaces dominated. The Athenians pushed back the Thebians but a stalemate ensued in this area.

The mainland Myceneans may have absorbed the Minoans near the end of that culture's existence. Around 1200 BC the Mycenean culture disappeared. Its heavily fortified palaces fell one after the other to forces still not clearly identified, but probably barbarian invaders from the north. The Greek culture entered a Dark Age out of which arose in time a new and glorious Greek culture that was in many ways the apogee of ancient civilization.
—In-game section

Bug[]

  • An as of yet undocumented bug in the original Age of Empires can cause the scenario to result in a win for the player prematurely by capturing the Ruins, but not building the Sentry Towers as instructed.
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