Largest ancient tomb found of a prominent Macedonian

[Amphipolis]

The main parts of today's announcement:

-There's no 4th chamber (unless it is under the 3rd chamber)

-The 3rd chamber is 1,5m lower than the two previous ones

-More parts of the sphinxes wings were found, also the neck of the western sphinx and... more of the missing parts of the mosaic were found at the 3rd chamber

-It's quite obvious that the Tomb is looted and the covering with soil did not take place with the construction but later, though this has to be more carefully studied.

-We’re close to the end.

-Photos of the wings and the reconstruction of the sphinxes were also given

[Amphipolis]

Interview (google translation)

Question: The tomb is looted?
Answer: The tomb has recognized clearly human intervention, so here we are. Since the beginning of the renovation we say-and we often repeated- we have very strong evidence of grave robbers action.

Question: How is it possible after so much luxury to have a measly floor, the third chamber? Is it horizontal wall seal?
Answer: It is for our working hypothesis. So we can not rule out, nor to confirm with current data.

Question: The monument has created great expectations. Is someone buried king?
Answer: Who is buried, we can not say before completing the excavation and quite possibly before it is completed and the design of the monument which can last several years. But all our expectations in the monument has already satisfied, because of its uniqueness. It is extremely important as a development resource for the country. It is a unique find for the science of History and Archaeology, which will be discussed for many years, the specialists.

Question: Echelon of Egnatia SA visited the monument?
Answer: Yes, in consultation with the Ministry of Infrastructure c n. Stratos Simopoulos, engineers Egnatia SA Specialised in tunnels, with whom we have collaborated on other archaeological projects, visited the monument in order to strengthen our machinery installation log static behavior. Egnatia SA offered to provide us the necessary equipment as required.

Question: How do you comment on the suspension of k.Nt.Kigk on finding signs in the yard?
Answer: In 2013, when it was discovered the marble part of the precinct, whose images released by the excavator identified masonic symbols, signs that the craftsmen of the time. These are individual letters of the Greek alphabet, which suggest the dating of the monument.

[Amphipolis]

[Amphipolis]

At the moment the soil is about 1m high in the third-last chamber, though they have reached the floor (which is poor and simple) at some parts. This means there's no new mosaic, or painting in the wall, or something higher than 1m, e.g. a throne.

In Greece some people are crying of disappointment. The optimists (who expected nothing less than Alexander the Great to be found... alive) hope there may be a trapdoor or a passage to a burial chamber beneath the floor. If you want my early opinion (since we don't have any essential info yet), this does not seem like a ravened tomb, it looks more like an empty & unfinished one.

Being a pessimist by nature I often wondered what the worst scenario might be; well this is it. The “that’s all folks” scenario. Nevertheless, we’ll have to wait for one more week.

[SoutherNeighbour]

Well Alexander's cenotaph scenario seems to be the opinion of UK based specialist in Ancient Greek architecture Dr King after the last video from Greece's culture ministry.She seems really passionate about Amphipolis from what I can tell.

http://phdiva.blogspot.gr/2014/10/amphipolis_28.html

Amphipolis ...
... ain't over yet.

Look, they are still digging as the press release made clear, and will continue digging for a dew years, if not decades.

I'm still trying to take it easy to get over the 'flu and a fever, and get on with writing, so please don't read too much into this, but as I've replied to questions in the posts.

Based on my experience with other similar tombs, there are probably many more letter / mason's marks / mongrams / whatever you want to call them on other blocks, and if people want to pore through the photographs released I know you'll find another one.

Based on other examples, and the fact that there was a lion on a base on top of the mound, I'd bet that there was other architectural sculpture on the exterior, for example it would be highly surprising if there were not a frieze. Since the lion etc were found some way from Kasta, the archaeologists will be looking around the area.

The chambers were probably used for a cult of Alexander whilst they waited for his body to come home. The items once in there would have been removed before it was filled with soil to prevent it collapsing.

The weight of the mound should not have been enough to make the chamber collapse if there rest of the core was solid, so it is possible that there were other sets of rooms in the mound.

It is highly likely that there were other structures, whether the sarcophagi of later deceased or naiskoi to heroes and gods, around such an important tomb, and I am sure the archaeologists would have been looking for these and mapping them.

Also based on parallels with the mound at Vergina, although there won't be remains from the pyre since there wasn't one, there are likely to be painted stele and other items deposited there.

Again, this is not based on leaks. I have eyes, I've been doing this a long time, and I'm good at it.

The short version is that the empty rooms and dead end support a cenotaph and heroon for Alexander the Great, which was not reused for anyone else since doing so with such an important tomb might have seemed presumptuous.

More soon ;-)

[George S.]

Seeing its a macedonian tomb its easy to say its alexanders tomb.THe jury is still out.

[Nikolaj]

The first official video from the excavation

Δείτε το πρώτο βίντεο από την ανασκαφή στην Αμφίπολη! - YouTube

If I were to assume an inscription to be on that flooring, it'd be in the centre where the big hole is.

I'm only kidding Amphipolis, to a extent. Haha

Such an amazing piece of art to recover from the ancient period though!

[SoutherNeighbour]

Dr King's remarks today have become viral in the Greek press.She claims (providing pics from Amphipolis) that Alexander's monogram was found in the tomb

http://www.protothema.gr/culture/article/422020/dorothi-king-to-monogramma-tou-megalou-alexandrou-vrethike-stin-amfipoli/

http://phdiva.blogspot.gr/2014/10/amphipolis-marks-spot.html

[Amphipolis]

Dr King's remarks today have become viral in the Greek press.She claims (providing pics from Amphipolis) that Alexander's monogram was found in the tomb

http://www.protothema.gr/culture/article/422020/dorothi-king-to-monogramma-tou-megalou-alexandrou-vrethike-stin-amfipoli/

http://phdiva.blogspot.gr/2014/10/am...arks-spot.html

I can hardly see anything. If Alexander wanted to leave his mark he could have done better.

The Greek Ministry admits there are several typical marks of the masons that DO bring information about the dating. I hope they're more clear than the one in this picture.

[Amphipolis]

Dr King's remarks today have become viral in the Greek press.She claims (providing pics from Amphipolis) that Alexander's monogram was found in the tomb

The Top 3 Hottest Archaeologists

No 3 Dorothy King (right after she refused to pose for Playboy)



No 2 Angeliki Kottaridi (a hottie in the 70s, a hottie in the 80s, a hottie in the 90s, she was still great around 2005, well nothing lasts for ever)



No 1 Aekaterini Peristeri (blonde bomb)

[Philosopher]

The Top 3 Hottest Archaeologists

No 3 Dorothy King (right after she refused to pose for Playboy)



No 2 Angeliki Kottaridi (a hottie in the 70s, a hottie in the 80s, a hottie in the 90s, she was still great around 2005, well nothing lasts for ever)



No 1 Aekaterini Peristeri (blonde bomb)

Apart from the first girl, you have some really bad taste in women Amphipolis.

[SoutherNeighbour]

The Top 3 Hottest Archaeologists

Meaning the top 3 hottest female archaeologists.I am sorry to break it to you but women are not my cup of tea

Besides your above post apart from being a troll answer seems also a tad sexist tbh.

On a serious note Dr King's opinion on it being Alexander's cenotaph is gaining more and more attention in mainstream Greek media

http://www.protothema.gr/culture/article/422183/dorothi-king-stin-amfipoli-upirhe-kenotafio-tou-megalou-alexandrou/

[George S.]

Into milfs and gran ies??a.nd nothing in between.

[Amphipolis]

There was a new announcement on Friday:

-There's a slight sedimentation at some parts of the floor in the 3rd Chamber

-They found an artificial trench at one side of the floor and a part of the broken marble door buried (?) there!

-They probably believe there's something UNDER the floor, or hope that the whole floor is some sort of a horizontal septal wall.

-It's also clear that the tomb was raided at some point, the people gathered and buried (respectfully?) the pieces in the burial chamber and the whole thing was covered with soil. It's also possible that looting attempts occurred even after that.

[George S.]

why is it all taking so long.?Have they worked out whose remains they got there??