Mystery over massive Alexander-era tomb unearthed in Greece

Yahoo ^ | Aug 12, 2014

[ApplegateRanch]

Archaeologists have unearthed a funeral mound dating from the time of Alexander the Great and believed to be the largest ever discovered in Greece, but are stumped about who was buried in it.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Tuesday described the find as "unique" after he visited the site, which dates to the era following Alexander's death, at the ancient town of Amphipolis in northern Greece.

"It is certain that we stand before an exceptionally important find," Samaras said in a statement. "This is a monument with unique characteristics."

Hidden under a hill at the ancient town, the Hellenistic-era mound containing the tomb has a near-circular circumference of 497 metres (1,630 feet), Samaras said.

A five-metre marble lion, currently standing on a nearby road, originally topped the tomb, he said.

"The tomb is definitely dated to the period following the death of Alexander the Great (in 323 BC), but we cannot say who it belonged to," supervising archaeologist Katerina Peristeri told Mega channel.

[ApplegateRanch]

Video at link.

If it's Amphipolis, it should be obvious: Xena's tomb!

[ApplegateRanch]

*ping*

[ApplegateRanch]

Pardon me; it’s a slide show, with all of two photos; no a video, as advertized.

[IronJack]

I suspect it’s either Jimmy Hoffa or Amelia Erhardt.

[Red Badger]

It may actually be the tomb of Alexander the Great, that was started and never finished.
It was common for kings, emperors and pharaohs to start work on their tombs when they come into power.
They may find no body home............................(sic)

[BenLurkin]

Is this where Persdient Grant is buried?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Red Badger. Related: Greek tomb at Amphipolis is 'important discovery'.

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops! Sorry! Thanks ApplegateRanch. Kudos for pointing out the Xena connection.

[wildbill]

That might be a good guess, especially if someone can find some evidence of a link between Alexander and the city of Amphipolis that would have made this site his choice for a tomb. Modern Vergina is usually credited with being the site of the tomb of Phillip, Alexander's father. According to Wikipedia, "The town became internationally famous in 1977, when the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos unearthed the burial site of the kings of Macedon, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. The finds established the site as the ancient Aigai (Greek: Αἰγαί)."

[Red Badger]

A five-metre marble lion, currently standing on a nearby road, originally topped the tomb, he said.

A clue.......................

[Bigg Red]

Is there a reason to believe that Alexander would have chosen a city different from the one where previous kings were buried?

[ElkGroveDan]

but are stumped about who was buried in it.

Grant?

[wildbill]

I don’t see any reason why he would have wanted another city at that point. That’s why I’d hope to see some link to this location. On the other hand, the sheer size of the tomb seems to point to someone with tremendous power and prestige.

Later on, after his Orientalization, he apparently decided on a final tomb somewhere in Egypt

[Bigg Red]

OK, thanks.

[ZULU]

Kass Ander was a lying bastards and murderer. My guess is it belongs to Alexander’s wife and child.