The new discovery of a grave made of limestone allegedly containing a wooden coffin with an integral human skeleton inside the Kasta Hill tomb in Amphipolis, brings archaeologists closer to solving the mystery of the person buried in the monument.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the Kasta hill burial monument is the biggest ever built in Macedonia, made of the largest quantity of marble ever used. It is an extremely expensive public work, impossible to have been funded by a civilian.
It is certain that the person buried inside the tomb was considered a hero at the time. He or she was a prominent member of Macedonian society of the time. This is the only explanation considering the tremendous cost of the monument
The 2-metre-tall door weighs about 1.5 tonne and was found in good condition
Another amazing discovery has surfaced in Amphipolis Greece. The missing head of the Sphinx “guarding” the tomb’s entrance was finally discovered inside the third chamber.
The Greek ministry of culture released today a set of pictures of the newly-excavated Amphipolis tomb mosaic. The mosaic is now fully uncovered, exposing a figure of a woman whom archaeologists have identified as Persephone.
Amphipolis tomb 3d presentation
These two marble sphinxes stand watch at the main entrance to the tomb and were uncovered in August by archeologists. They would’ve been over 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall with their heads and wings, pieces of which were found nearby. A wide path and 13 steps lead to the entrance of the tomb, which is the largest ever discovered in Greece. The burial mound alone measures 1,500 feet (457 meters).
Large blocks of white marble are surrounding the tomb of Amphipolis.
ancient amphipolis – amphipolis port
Representation of the Tomb in graphics
Archaeologists have unearthed two sculpted female figures, known as Caryatids, as they slowly make their way into an ancient tomb recently discovered in Greece’s northeast, the country’s culture ministry said on Sunday. They mark a significant new finding in the tomb on the Amphipolis site, which archaeologists have hailed as a major discovery from the era of Alexander the Great.
The face of one of the Caryatids is missing, while both figures have one hand outstretched in a symbolic move to push away anyone who would try to violate the tomb. Archaeologists have said that the Amphipolis site appeared to be the largest ancient tomb to have been discovered in Greece. It’s thought to have been the resting place of a general or high-ranking official from the reign of Alexander, who died in 323 B.C.
Two caryatids were discovered in Amphipolis, as officially announced by the Ministry of Culture,after the removal of sandy soil in the area in front of the second septal wall. There, beneath the marble architrave and between marble pilasters, two exceptional caryatids made of Thassian marble were discovered.
The face of the Caryatid in the west was salvaged almost intact, while the eastern is missing. The caryatids have rich curls that cover their shoulders, while they wear a sleeved tuned. Traces of blue and red colour found were found upon the marbles. Among the soil, fragments of sculptures were found, such as a palm portion and smaller finger fragments. All this suggests that this is a standing monument of particular importance.
The Caryatids of Amphipolis at light -2.27 m. Height, colors and art
After removing three rows of limestone which had been used to seal the wall, archaeologists were able to fully uncover the two caryatids reaching a height of 2.27 meters. They statues are dressed in long chitons and long fringed dresses with folds.
