 The construction of defensive structures was closely linked with the establishment of the palatial centers in mainland Greece . The principal Mycenaean centers were well @-@ fortified and usually situated on an elevated terrain , such as in Athens , Tiryns and Mycenae or on coastal plains , in the case of Gla . Mycenaean Greeks appreciated the symbolism of war as expressed in defensive architecture , thus they aimed also at the visual impressiveness of their fortifications . The walls were built in Cyclopean style ; consisted of walls built of large , unworked boulders more than 8 m ( 26 ft ) thick and weighing several metric tonnes . The term Cyclopean was derived by the Greeks of the classical era who believed that only the mythical giants , the Cyclops , could have constructed such megalithic structures . On the other hand , cut stone masonry is used only in and around gateways . 
