The palace occupies a central location atop the citadel. It was accessed from the south through two guard rooms (foundations visible on the right of this photo). The state rooms were arranged around a central court (center area of this photo) which led to the Megaron with its four columns arranged in a square around the sacred hearth (just off view to the left of the photo). In Mycenaean times the palace was lavishly decorated with vivid frescoes and mosaics.