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August 12, 2014

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Is Greece Getting Ready To Unveil Alexander's Tomb At Ancient Amphipolis? (VIDEOS)

Accompanied by his wife Georgia and Culture Minister Constantinos Tassoulas, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Tuesday visited the excavation site of Ancient Amphipolis, in the northern Greek region of Serres. This was not a common visit, and Samaras was not in the area for his holiday enjoyment. rumor has it that an important archaeological discovery is about to be announced to the world and an important tomb (maybe Alexander's) is about to be revealed.

The findings were already presented in March by the head of 28th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Katerina Peristeri during the 27th archaeological scientific meeting. Over the last two years, excavations at Casta hill have unearthed a unique grave circle which dates back to the last quarter of the 4th century BC.

Samaras met with locals and when pressed about the mysteries surrounding the site, he was quoted as saying: “Be patient for a few (more) days.”

The Greek Premier did not make any comments to journalists and did not allow the press to enter the excavation site either (only adding to the mystery).

The site was founded by Athenians in eastern Macedonia on the Strymon River in 438-437 B.C. The Tomb of Casta Amphipolis, which was discovered in 2013, captured the immediate attention of archaeologists who have openly expressed the hope of finally discovering the ancient tomb of a Macedon king (maybe Alexander).

Samaras visited the Kasta Tomb and was guided through the excavation site by the archaeologist in charge Katerina Peristeri who briefed him on the findings.
     “It is clear that we stand before an extremely important finding,” the state news agency quoted him as saying.
He added that the land of Macedonia continues revealing unique treasures that “weave the unique mosaic or our Greek history.”
     “This is a monument with unique features: A surrounding peribolos of 497 meters, almost a perfect circle carved in Thassos marble. The Lion of Amphipolis over 5 meters high, 5.20 meters; let΄s imagine it as being on the top of the tomb," he said while also referring to the wide path that leads to the tomb entrance and the two Sphinxes that seem to be guarding it.
     “I believe all these findings have allowed archaeologist Katerina Peristeri to be optimistic that this is a unique burial monument, which –as she said- dates between 325 and 300 BC.
Regarding the key question, the excavation will reveal the identity of the person who is buried there and will continue.

Constantinos Melitos later told the sate news agency ANA-MPA that “the premier’s visit means the excavation is expected to reveal something significant” adding that the “area and the whole of Greece will become known around the world.”

Looks like it since ProtoThema said that guards have already been posted outside the excavation site and the area will be guarded around the clock. This obviously further fuels speculation about the person buried there.

Funding of 100,000 euros have already been allocated to the site by the Ministry of Culture for the completion of the excavation of the marble-faced wall.

The wall was built with Thassian marble that was brought to the area with special ships and marble domes from Aliki of Thassos were placed with special cranes, made of wood, iron and lead. Traces of these were found in the area, however portions of the perimeter wall appear to have been removed during Roman times. Some of the missing portions were found at the area of the Lion monument of Amphipolis, causing archaeologists to believe that the structure may be linked to the Amphipolis Lion.

Others are in the opinion that it was placed at the highest point of the mount.

The pyramid-shaped mound is 498 meters long and three meters high, ten times larger than the tome of Alexander’s father, Philip II of Macedon.

The grave can also belong to Roxana. She was a Bactrian princess and wife of Alexander the Great. She was born before 343 BC, and died in ca. 310 BC. In 327BC Alexander married Roxana despite strong opposition from his companions and generals. After Alexander's sudden death at Babylon in 323 BC, she bore him a posthumous son called Alexander. Roxana and her son were protected by Alexander's mother, Olympias, in Macedonia, but her assassination in 316 BC allowed Cassander to seek kingship. Since Alexander IV Aegus was the legitimate heir to the Alexandrian empire, Cassander ordered him and Roxana to be killed ca. 310 BC. 

But... If this is the mysterious and until today unknown tomb of Alexander the Great my dear Frappers, then we are living historical moments. After the beating Greece has received over the issue of Macedonia and the political, social and especially economic woes it has endured over the past two decades, an announcement such as this would not only lift the spirits of the people of this country, but Greeks all over the world. Speculating that this is the tomb of Alexander is not as far-fetched as it sounds, because when experts first began excavations at the site, they had said that they believed that the remains of a king or at least a very important royal Macedonian official were buried here. Imagine if it is true? It will surely upset our neighbors to the North who have spread propaganda and lies about their history -for territorial gains as we all know- and will glorify and vindicate the grander of Greek history! It will indeed be something!



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