“Famous Greek landmarks” - Τσιναρόπουλος Παναγιώτης

The Tomb of Philip the second

What is that?

• It is a part of the archaeological site of Vergina and one of the three tombs found there. Despite being very impressive (for a grave), the reason it is important is because of the findings found inside it. They play a major role in our knowledge of the Macedonian culture.

Pictures

Design and findings• The tomb gives the impression of a small Doric building. It is

decorated by a big painting illustrating a hunting scene, which is unfortunately not well preserved.

• Inside the tomb archaeologists found an impressive gold larynx, decorated with plant motifs and marked with the star of Macedon, which included male bones. In the room we also found the golden and ivory panoply of the dead, the richly-carved burial bed on which he was laid and later burned , silver utensils for the funeral feast, a large quantity of silver and bronze vessels, decorated furniture (an ivory couch), a splendid gold oak wreath (which adorned the cremated bones), a silver gilded diadem, weapons, armor and wine drinking vessels among others things. In the antechamber a second, less impressive larynx was found, containing the bones of a woman.

Who’s inside there?

• The middle aged man in the larynx is thought to be Philip the second, but some archaeologists believe it may be the tomb of Philip the Arrchidaeus, mentally challenged brother of Alexander. This version however is less popular. The female bones seem to belong to Cleopatra, sister of Alexander.

SOURCES

• http://en.wikipedia.org

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