The Amphipolis site is believed to be the largest ancient tomb to have been discovered in Greece, and has spurred speculation as to whether the ancient conqueror or a member of his family was buried there. Alexander died in Babylonia - in present day Iraq - but his burial site is not known.
The skeletal remains are being examined for identification, Greece's culture ministry said in a statement. Archaeologists in the past have said the grave likely belonged to a prominent Macedonian and that the site had been looted.
"It is probably the monument of a dead person who became a hero, meaning a mortal who was worshipped by society at that time," the statement said. "The deceased was a prominent person, since only this could explain the construction of this unique burial complex."
The dead body had been placed in a wooden coffin, which disintegrated over time. The skeletal remains were found both inside and outside the grave buried underground in the innermost chamber at the site.
Iron and bronze nails as well as bone and glass decorations from the coffin were also found scattered in the grave.
Excavations at the site in northeastern Greece near the city of Thessaloniki began in 2012. They captured global attention in August when archaeologists announced the discovery of vast tomb guarded by two sphinxes and circled by a 497-metre marble wall.
Since then the tomb has also yielded a mosaic made of coloured pebbles depicting the abduction of Persephone, the daughter of Zeus, as well as two sculpted female figures also known as Caryatids. The tomb dates to 300-325 B.C. Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C. after a military campaign through the Middle East, Asia and northeast Asia.
[buenosairesherald.com]
***Image: Greek Ministry of Culture
12/11/14
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Tomb dating to Alexander the Great's era discovered in Greece ...
ReplyDeleteArchaeologists have found skeletal remains belonging to a man who died during the reign of Alexander the Great (336-323 BC) inside an unlooted grave in northern Greece, the country's culture and sports ministry said on Wednesday.
Archaeologists believe that the grave could have belonged to a prominent Macedonian as they found impressive burial offerings inside, while the burial site was surrounded with the 500-meter marble wall, the ministry said.
The grave was discovered among the ruins of the ancient town of Amphipolis.
http://en.itar-tass.com/non-political/759353
12/11/14
Τι καταγράφουν τα διεθνή ΜΜΕ για την ανακάλυψη στην Αμφίπολη ...
ReplyDelete«Ο σκελετός θα μπορούσε να λύσει το αίνιγμα του αρχαίου ελληνικού τάφου», αναφέρει η Washington Post, προβάλλοντας ανταπόκριση του ειδησεογραφικού πρακτορείου Assosciated Press.
Την ίδια ανταπόκριση προβάλλουν αρκετές ιστοσελίδες αμερικανικών ΜΜΕ. Σχετικές αναφορές γίνονται και σε ραδιοφωνικές εκπομπές.
Μεταξύ άλλων, καταγράφεται η επίσημη ενημέρωση του υπουργείου Πολιτισμού για την αποκάλυψη μεγάλου κιβωτιόσχημου τάφου και σκελετού νεκρού στον τύμβο της αρχαίας Αμφίπολης.
Η ιστοσελίδα του αμερικανικού τηλεοπτικού δικτύου ABC προβάλλει επίσης το θέμα με τον ίδιο τίτλο, για το ενδεχόμενο ο σκελετός «να λύσει το αίνιγμα» της Αμφίπολης.
Όπως σημειώνεται, μεταξύ άλλων, ο σκελετός θα μπορούσε να βοηθήσει τους αρχαιολόγους να λύσουν το αίνιγμα για το ποιος θάφτηκε στο μεγαλειώδη τάφο, γύρω στα τέλη του 4ου αιώνα π.Χ., στο λυκόφως της βασιλείας του Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου.......................http://www.tovima.gr/culture/article/?aid=650104
12/11/14