Massive marble tomb dating to Alexander\'s time

[Theodosius the Great]

(Sorry if this was posted already)

"Have archaeologists discovered the grave of Alexander the Great? Experts find enormous marble tomb fit for a king under a massive mound in Greece":

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/a...reece.html


~Theo

[Epictetus]

...experts have discovered a marble-faced wall dating from the 4th century BC.

Famous Romans Pompey, Augustus and Julius Caesar are all said to have visited his tomb in Alexandria, with Caligula reportedly swiping the warrior's breastplate for a souvenir.

I think the Daily Mail might be a bit confused. If Alexander's body was in Alexandria in the first century AD, how could be be buried in a tomb in Greece dating to the fourth century BC? This sounds like celebrity archaeology again to me.

The tomb itself sounds very interesting, though.

[Lyceum]

Oh I didn't know there was an English version out yet. I'm surprised that the DM of all places was the first to get it. But given the quality of the news it is fitting. See here: http://www.newsit.gr/default.php?pname=A...14&catid=6 for what I think is the original? with the typical unfounded bombast. At least some of the commenters are making some sense! Idiots. We're far, far, far, away from the days of Boardman friends...

Let's throw in something less bizarre like: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/au...ers-tivoli

EDIT: I love the term "celebrity archaeology" btw and might adopt it, so much nicer than attention whoring or ineptitude. But yes, this will become interesting when someone pours over the requisite history books and, more importantly, the epigraphic record since such a tomb would fit in with certain behaviour patterns. I suspect there will be a lot of candidates however...

[Macedon]

Well.. the size of the thing is monumental and I really really hope it will be unspoiled once opened. However, I, and I am sure lots and lots of others here in Greece, have known of this tomb's existence for decades now and this is why there is no real enthusiasm until it is opened and evaluated. About it being Alexander's grave, it certainly is very doubtful but it could be that of Roxane and of Alexander's son. Anyways... wherever the state has a word, we are not exactly famous for our fast work here in Greece and so it might still be decades until we know more.... (I certainly hope not but optimism is something rare nowadays here)

[Epictetus]

Once again, Rogue Classicism comes out with a great blog post. I really should read that website daily.

In short (or TLR), no archaeologist has actually made any suggestion that Alexander the Great might be buried in this mound. The only coverage where archaeologists have actually said anything comes back in October and then in March. All this speculation seems to have been made by some reporter at Greek Reporter with too much time on his hands who probably was chatting with some business folks in Serres who are trying to get some tourist bucks while the Culture Ministry was quick to try to bring some sanity back.

Alexander the Great Tomb in Amphipolis? Yeah... about that

[Paralus]

Clearly not Alexander's tomb.

Alexander's body was to go to Ammon until Perdiccas decided Aegae, with himself and new wife Cleopatrea as escort, was a better destination. He just had to deal with Ptolemy first and Ptolemy, reading tealeaves, nicked the body burying it at Memphis. Even had it ever made it to Macedon it would not be at Amphipolis.

"Celebrity archaeology" indeed. Or creative reporting.

[Eleatic Guest]

Should I read the Daily Mail?

[Idomeneas]

It really suprises me that there are not 100000 threads here in RAT about the excavation work in Amphipolis tomb.

http://www.theamphipolistomb.com/

[Paralus]

A rather more lively discussion can be found here Yannis. They're all Romans at heart here....