Did archaeologist excavate the tomb of Alexander the Great in Northern Greece? There is a lot of speculation in local media and websites whether the impressive ancient artificial mount located in Amphipolis near Serres -600 km north of Athens – contains the remains of ancient Macedonian warrior king Alexander the Great.
Some Greek media have claimed the tomb unearthed by archaeologists in Amplipolis is the royal tomb of Roxane, the wife and son of 4th century BC king Alexander the Great. Some other speculate that the tomb may be of Alexander the Great himself.
Greece΄s Culture Ministry has warned against “overbold” speculation that an ancient artificial mound being excavated could contain a royal Macedonian grave or even Alexander the Great. Site archaeologist Aikaterini Peristeri has voiced hopes of finding “a significant individual or individuals” within.
The excavations had started in the 1960’s. The Greek Archaeological Society under D. Lazaridis excavated in 1972 and 1985, uncovering a necropolis, the rampart of the old town (see photograph), the basilicas, and the acropolis. Thourough excavations were resumed during the last two years.
“Greek websites enthused that it could hold the long-sought grave of 4th-century B.C. warrior-king Alexander the Great — thought to lie in Egypt.
A Culture Ministry statement Thursday said the partly-excavated mound has yielded a “very remarkable” marble-faced wall from the late 4th century B.C.
It is an impressive 500 meters (yards) long and three meters high. But the ministry warned it would be “overbold” to link the site near ancient Amphipolis, 370 miles (600 kilometers) north of Athens, with “historic personages” before the excavation is completed.” (Associated Press)
The funeral Lion of Amphipolis, excavated in 1934 by French archaeologists
According to ancient Greek and Babylonian sources, Alexander the Great died in 323 BC in Babylonia (ancient Iraq). His body was removed to Egypt two years later.
“By the 4th century AD the resting place of Alexander was no longer known; later authors, such as Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam, Al-Masudi and Leo the African, report having seen Alexander’s tomb, but do not specify its location.” (more information here)
impressive excavated wall
More pictures from excavated site here
More on ancient Amphipolis here
It might be worth noting that Amipolis is on the very borders of 4th century Macedonia. That’s significant because Alexander was born in Macedonia, a kingdom his father, Philip ruled.
Calling Alexander a “warrior king” is like calling George Washington a soldier. Born into power, educated by Aristotle, he conquered most of the know world all the way to India. Although I find it hard to distinguish between heroes like Alexander and mass murderers. we have to recognize that he was one of the most important figures in the ancient world.
Among other historical data it is reported that West Punjab in Pakistan was named as the Country of
Yonana (Yonana=Yonan=Yunan=Ionia=Land of Ancient Greece in Asia Minor) , because in the time of Menander , the Hellenized Members of the local aristocracy and the descendants of the Greekmacedonian men of Alexander the Great were the ruling members of the society. The high Society used the Greek language. According to testimony of Philostratos , the King of Taxila spoke Greek fluently.
– As Strabon states , the message of Indus King Por to the Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD) was written in Greek. Some scholars hold that Greek was fostered as a living dialect at the Court of the Saka Rulers in NW area ,what is called today Pakistan.
– One of the main historical interesting things of Chitral Valley in Northwest Frontier of Pakistan and Afghanistan is the Kalash Valley , the home of Kafir-Kalash Tribe or the “Wearers of the Black Robes”.
– The legend says that five soldiers of the legions of the Alexander the Great settled in Chitral and these soldiers are the progenitors of the Kafir-Kalash. -It is worth to mention that the Hellenic Daily Newspaper APOGEVMATINI , No 15946 , page 7 , Tuesday 28 January 2003 issue , reported that the Great Seal of the Bank of Afghanistan stamped in new currency notes of 2 and 50 Afghani (the new official currency Notes after the Taliban period) has a synthesis of two horns of Amaltheia in the base where coins coming out the horns and two warriors of the Alexander the Great , while there is in
Greek the phrase «Vassileos Megalou Eukratilou » or possibly «Vassileos Megalou Eukratidou». It is known
that Amaltheia was a goat in the Mountain of Ide (Idi) in Kriti Island (or Crete Island) which gave her
milk to Nymphes Adrasteia and Ide (Idi) in order to feed the God Zeus. The horn of Amaltheia is the symbol of wealth and prosperity. Eukratides was Greek King of Baktriani (2nd century BC) who took over the dynasty of Eufthydemos A , Greek King of Baktriani. Eukratides fighted against Sogdians , Arahots and Indians and installed a special currency system in the area , while Eufthydemos had created a powerful Kingdom with the support of native people there . This was the reason why the Bank of Afghanistan – after the fall of the Taliban – honoring Eukratides printed his name in 2 and 50 Afghani Notes. People there are proud about Alexander the Great (Iskender in their language).
Even nowadays humanity has only studied in depth 20% of the achievements of the Ancient Greek Civilization and due to high level of the Ancient Greek Civilization Alexander the Great tried to Hellenized the Ancient World and transfer knowledge in the known world at that time. Alexander the Great was the first who applied “logistics” during his expedition in the Far East . He was accompanied by botanologists , geographers and so on. To show his willingness for multicultural civilization he was married with Roxani , a Persian Lady and had with her a son Alexander. I could quote more and more but space is too small for more.
Your writing “I find it hard to distinguish between heroes like Alexander and mass murderers” leaving a hint that Alexander the Great might be a “mass murderer” is not fair ,to my opinion , as humanity does not forgive “mass murderers” .This is why his name remains for more than two thousands years in all Books , Scientific Periodicals and above all in History as Alexander the Great . Have you ever heard a “mass murderer” to be called Great ? Alexander the Great ,as student of Great Ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotelis could never be or could never been approached as “mass murderer”.
P.S. I think the Roxanne was Alexander’s wife and not his daughter. And I have to correct my earlier pos, and not just the comma I left out. By Alexander’s time Amhipolis (Amphipolis?) had been conquered and absorbed by Macedonia. I am looking for other facts pertaining to that city.
Alexander’s wife, of course. I think there was some information of wikipedia (-generation lol) link in the post.
Hi, may I ask for the source of the aerial photograph? I think the Greek Culture Ministry’s statement is a bit odd when it comes to the size, shape, and measurements of the wall.