Today, 29/11/2014, in a “pale” and “disappointing” (as presented by the media) presentation the excavation group presented the activities of the excavation in the Tumulus Kasta.
At first sight it seems that did not provide any new element, instead disappointed those expecting something shocking. But it is indeed so things ;
THE archaeologist Luminous Anastasopoyloh managed to attend the presentation today and to record in the form of practical What happened
Today me and sent them to the post.
I quote the accompanying text sent to us and practical of which pumped very important information You can someone noticed only if read “between words” that eipwthisan.
In general the situation as recorded were as follows :
-The kataskeyastike Memorial for a afirwismeno dead, was controlled access and in Roman times esfragisthike with Backfilling We met that There were physical.
– During that were visited esylithi (?)
– Not found no funeral gifts in the burial chamber which There are, however, not excluded elsewhere in the mound!
– If you saved the library of Alexandria may have written sources to the monument.
– The holes in leg walls was deliberate to become the Backfilling
Here created quite questions, the most important of which are as follows :
– Why Romans they were both zeal to seal a monument which It was not Roman and indeed it was sylimeno ;
– Why If you saved the library of Alexandria may have written sources to the monument; It has nothing to do with the Alexandria the monument, which will interpret the recording need of ;
– Why There is no record from the Romans This monument and for the Backfilling He's been pretty elaborate and costly, While we know that tracked anything ;
These questions force us now to focus our attention in the Roman period. By doing this we observe the following :
– THE last emperor who saw the Alexander It was the Caracalla and theSeptimius Severus It was he who sealed the Tomb so don't visit one again.
This prima facie does not create any problem, But if careful that the Severus was the father of Caracalla then arises a paradox. How the Caracalla visited the grave of Alexander and had him stamp his father and that after him no longer saw Alexander;
The returned to John the Chrysostom of instructions “Who is Mark Alexander, deixon Moi” does it imply that tthe body of Alexander was no longer in Alexandria and not what is commonly attributed to, that longer then echathi the memory of Alexander ;
THE Caracalla He is known for the cult that harbored for the Alexander.
“Historians agree that the main-if not unique – cause for the campaign of Caracalla against the Parthians stemmed from unlimited and rather unhealthy admiration for Alexander the great, and not by any particular strategic need of the time. Besides, the Emperor's desire to emulate the Macedonian King and his achievements seem to define in general the whole policy of the“
Even the army of served and 16.000 Macedonians.
Therefore formed a another reality that we can assume, which is as follows :
THE Septimius Severus seals the tomb of Alexander in Alexandria because the body of Alexander metafereta(j) to be buried in the grave that originally meant for him, in Amphipolis. The Tomb he had remained empty due to the fact that the body of Alexander by Ptolemy and yfarpachtike ended up in Egypt.
Nevertheless inthe unused tomb at Amphipolis of hero/God values have been paid. The tomb of It was built from the outset with earthing specification for this and there were openings in leg walls and the marble slab connecting these two openings.
When well esfragisthi the Tomb stinAlexandreia, the body must bySeverus or the Caracalla in Amphipolis, where and enetafiasthi and embargo on the Tomb immediately. The fact dthat was in the Imperial archives definitely with the Emperor's command, apparently not to uncover exactly what happened there.
Caracalla therefore worships Alexander in Amphipolis Finally and not in Alexandria and stamping the grave excludes most visiting from any other.
It should be noted that at the point where there is the Hill Kasta found a milliario (ododeiktis) of Caracalla.
This explains also the saying of Ms. Peristeri because (a)n was the library of Alexandria may have written sources to the monument. Because very likely was recorded there the transfer of remains of Alexander of Alexandria in Athens.
One also very important element is that the excavation team considers that the funeral gifts be buried elsewhere the mound.
It is clear, therefore, that from the evidence that the excavation team shows such a scenario, but apparently cannot be adopted in public and so expect to “tie” this case with more items and after the announcement of the results of the measurements. For this and is sparing at announcements the.
Of course this remains to be proven or refuted by the upcoming announcements.
Pending well… Perhaps future surprises…..
E Also, mention again pulled all the videos that I have uploaded.
Part of the presentation of Ms. Peristeri. Not 1
Part of the presentation of Ms. Peristeri. Not 2
Part of the presentation of the Ku. Lefantzi
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After I managed to get your press conference today give away all the notes that I managed to keep it to use all or part of the, that you look more appropriate.
To know that I have recorded the bulk of what was said.
The question-and-answer process ended on 15.30 again many who had requested to ask questions is not prevented (me neither).
Ms. Peristeri was excited but also joyful and answer spontaneously, smiling and looking in the eyes of the interlocutor. Ms. Hardly intervened and mendoni k. Panagiotarea was present but dumb person.
Conspicuous by their absence many kathigitarades that make the lap of channels to bless their beard. Mere presence of very famous teachers were Ms. Kokoroy-Alevras, He was given the honorary first why questions.
There were no special revelations except that found and currencies of Max. Alexandrou in Th2 and Θ1 whereas the British tried to steal pieces of Leo and the base of the, something that revealed Mr.. Lefantzis who said that it is also historically confirmed.
Solved the mystery why have not shown photos of the skeleton and why still no estimate if it was male or female.
Also I think it was important that possibly the funeral gifts-gifts of the deceased be present in another area of the mound.
Many questions remain unanswered, but also the chance to be the tomb of Alexander the great in my humble opinion not only shot down but grew.
These, My buddy and I hope those who look forward to prove scientifically and to live to see and comment on.
Official press conference at the MINISTRY of CULTURE for the funerary monument of Amphipolis
The event began the two rapporteurs, Claus Lambrinoudakis, Emeritus Professor of Classical Archaeology, University of Athens and Nikos Staboulidis, archaeologist, Director of the cycladic Art Museum who coordinated the questions.
Speech by Ms. Peristeri
Initially stated that today there will be a presentation of the findings so far of the excavation and that it remains much study and work to interpret what the excavation revealed hoe.
Did a flashback to previous excavations that were done on the Tomb during the Decade of Kasta 50 by Mr. Lazaridis and revealed Iron Age graves and the Hellenistic period.
Modern research on the Tomb began in 2012. There was a folk tradition in the region that the tumulus hides the "Tomb of the Queen". Initially attempting to delimit the Tomb until finally discovered in the yard and then antithima himself the marble courtyard of thassian marble. Uncovered slowly saves only its lower stones, stanchions and ridges and emerged, in collaboration with architect k. Lefantzi, that the diameter of the enclosure is 158,40 m. the height 3 m.
The first year had found only scattered architectural parts of the enclosure. Not only saves only its lower stones found in the archaeological site but also beside the point Leo.
It seems that the 3the century a.d in Roman times there was a crane yard xekollise pieces of which were used in other structures such as dams, etc.
End, found spot 80 m. the yard with all the architectural members, cornices, epistylia, bases.
In the last 30-40 the enclosure measures revealed the 2014, detected and the entrance of the funerary monument.
Leo's base is constructed from sections of the enclosure.
Among the sections of the enclosure found in Lithotopos may exist and pieces belonging to the grave.
The basis of the first septal wall behind the Sphinxes relied only on a downtown domo, the rest was in the air!
The cornice above the caryatids had the same details with cornices of the enclosure.
From plank that has collided (in obscure time) and that found in the excavation of a destroyed person Karyatidas (This located to the right, to a.).
We had no desecration of the monument by Christians as not found typical crosses used to scratching.
As in the grave removed soils and diafragmatikoi walls were parallel clamp.
Marble funerary Chamber door panels can be welded a and found broken in large pieces.
This is for devotional funerary monument with dead afirwϊsmeno.
Have passed since permit your persecutors'defiled hands monument which caused a lot of damage and disorder particularly in the burial chamber.
The skeleton has problems due to moisture and should be restored to give conclusions. Has moved with the soils from the grave at the Museum of Amphipolis to best studied by a team of anthropologists.
Speech by Ms. Lefantzi
Leo and Tumulus
A British Brigade tried to convey the 1916 1000 Lion tracks with 4 barges but Bulgarians and Austrians sank the boat and portions of Leo sunk in the Strimonas.
The archaeologist Miller imprinted material and made an first documentation.
When a few days ago, descended the Strimonas level revealed 52 marble pieces which the next day rose by 5 (It seems that some residents ' returned ' some pieces that had their homes!). Some pieces of the enclosure may be located at the base of the dam of kerkini and which will never recover.
The basis of Leo might have sculptures and frieze.
The manufacturer of the precinct knew that π = 3.14 and made use of the golden section with basic dimension 0,528 which all the rest are multiples.
Masonic signs found, letters a and e in the yard design plates, confirming the dating in the last quarter of 4th century b.c..
Leo looked to.
Leon and the Tomb belongs to a wider group including and the nearby Hill 133.
Studied all the topography of the area.
In Roman times, removed marbles of the enclosure and then became the katachwsi of the Tomb. The excavation revealed the counterweights Roman crane and one of the Sandals of edrazotan in the territory of the excavation.
500 the yard tracks found in Lake kerkini, which the Group gathered up last Sunday. The restoration work will give at the end a good representation of the enclosure.
Speech by Ms. Englishman, (She) Architect
The tomb was with excavating and epanepichwsi.
The external removal of soils, especially over the burial chamber, will become if they first completed fixatives works inside of the monument. Otherwise the weight of the machinery and the tremors will damage.
In the Tomb have been placed 19 strain sensors, most in the burial chamber.
The construction of the burial trench seems that was before the construction of the monument.
Major earthquakes in the region made during the 6-7the century. a.d. as well as the 1829 focusing on Drama. Is limited the damage from quakes caused at the Memorial.
As regards the question of whether katachwsi has a great flood, This did not happen because in this case would have collapsed the walls sfragistikoi.
The skeleton of the deceased is disturbed by ancient tomb robbers.
QUESTIONS
Followed questions – alternately from archaeologists and journalists- which were answered by 3 who did the presentation (KC Peristeri, Lefantzis, Englishman) and in a case of Ms. Mendoni.
K. Kokoroy-Alevras
(Professor of Archaeology at the University of Athens)
(E): For the burial trench, How is chronicles the construction of the rest of the Tomb or simultaneous;
(A): The excavation prior to we do not know if it was at the same time.
(E): Lithoplinthoi found in the excavation of his investment;
(A): There is investment in the lower portion of trench. From the findings it is concluded that there was an investment of trench.
(E): When the sfragistikoi walls and backfilling;
(A): The walls were built with sealing material in 2the use. The material of the monument are pwrino of the same era with the grave. s
On the floor of 4th space (means of burial chamber) It's more refined processing of pwrolithwn.
Marble material from the monument was reused in other monuments.
The inscriptions are only Masonic materials and building points.
Kotti, NATION
(E): Who is buried there;
(A): By Leo on top and so huge funerary monument could have been a great General of Alexander the great. But we need to study the skeletal material from anthropologist to have some answers.
Hatzopoulos
(E): It seems that the two halls of the monument was originally to visit. So the protective walls are downstream. So after deliberate destruction of remnants and fragments of sculptures there in the burial chamber and closed with walls of the monument;
(A): We had plenty of raids from Phrygian tribesmen after the battle of pydna. After the 3the century a.d. partial destruction of the monument occurred.
In antiquity the monument was known and visible so, as is natural, attracted Tomb robbers.
MEGA Papadis
(E): Initially it was claimed that the monument was not looted. When and why was the earth fill;
(A): Was simultaneously with sfragistikoys walls. Study should be made on this. The openings in the bulkheads drums were used to pass the backfill soil and in one case used part (plate) the marble roof as ramp.
(E): So was desecration before backfill.
(A): Yes, the desecration is placed in Roman times.
Antonio Corso
(E): The plundering of the monument was the 3the century. the a.d.
(A): Then the latter Macedonians have tried to protect the monument, historical and cultural heritage.
Adamopoulou NEWS
(E): Why not burning; Why do we refer to some sources for the monument;
(A): Alexander's intention was to construct a shining monument in Amphipolis, as stated by Diodorus Siculus. If you saved the library of Alexandria may have written sources to the monument. The lion proves that is buried an important personality. Sealing walls and the Roman period is katachwsi with stuff in 2the use of the material of construction of the Tomb.
(Note my own: I responded to the absence of combustion)
Banou
(E): You told us that it was a devotional monument. What is the relationship to the precinct; Not found at all-ceramics;
(A): Any gems not found in the burial chamber. They might be elsewhere on the mound the funeral gifts. In 1the and 2thegems found space and ceramics dating from 2-3thecentury. a.d
Originally the precinct there was open and there was access to the Tomb. Later closed. It was a place of worship for the hero that was controlled open.
I AVGI Krimiwti
(E): Was the Prime Minister's visit while there is the same interest, publicity and funding for other excavations. You dialed the Prime Minister;
(A): The Prime Minister came from interest, After the update I had done for the Ministry of culture. From the publicity that won is the salvation of the monument.
Veleni
(E): Melambafis or red paint found in ceramics;
Was incision in point destruction of mosaic;
(A): Yes found pottery and some melambafis coinsincluding the Alexander g (the Mega!) the two spaces apart from the burial chamber. The incision made in mosaic not found anything specific but has the thickness of the mosaic.
Kontraroy – Rassia ELEFTHEROTIPIA
(E): The openings in the Earth made by body-snatchers;
(A): Initially the katachwsi reached up to the roof and gradually katakathise. So after the Earth could not enter Tomb robbers.
Tsakiroglou PROTO THEMA
(E): The skeleton belongs to a person though it belongs to the person who constructed the monument. If there are analogies with alexandrina monuments.
(A): It seems that is one dead, We don't know if it was the grave for the dead, will rule anthropologist for the dating and the identity of the dead.
With regard to the orientation of the grave, He wants much study because the shaft of the tomb is not moving toward the center of the mound.
Tzibelekoy
(E): It has been decided what will be the team of anthropologists;
Tell us about the human figures in epistylia.
(A): You must complete the maintenance, they look vaguely traces but still can't say something clearly.
For anthropologists has not yet decided the group which will undertake the study, but we think they could be Greek.
Nikoloylia (Conservator Ministry of culture.)
(E): There Is 2the entrance to the Tomb somewhere else;
(A): There is no other entrance. The excavation will continue in the rest of the Tomb.
Lymberopoulou THE TOC
(E): When we get the results of prospecting;
(A): Σε 2-3 months we answer.
Mertzani (Conservator)
He made a brief speech about the paintings on epistylia. He said that the maintenance requires much time and asked us to provide to the maintainers.
Risen The NEWSPAPER
(E): Currently the skeleton; It would hurt the photoshoot; The paintings are identified before 2 months;
(A): The skeleton is found in the Museum of Amphipolis. Expressions in epistylia looked after the first cleaning. Left to be cleaned, maintenance and study of coins and pottery findings.
Spanelis ChRONOMETRO
(E): It was claimed as the architect of the Memorial precinct and the Deinokratis;
(A): Support-Ms. Peristeri- I and Mr. Lefantzis.
To tell you here that you mention drag time as epistylia is in fact these section, plinth with two kymatia and not epistylia.
The entrance of the funerary monument with sentencing was closed, in a double-column parastasei with roof in ancient times before the desecration and sealing of the monument.
It is a large public project which used around 3.000 cubic meters of marble. So, It took a great architect who may have been the Deinokratis. As a public work may not be commissioned by a rich man but from important person of the era.
(It retained its name) Herbalist
(E): There are botanical data;
(A): Not something special, but there are soil samples from the stratigraphy, which in the future will be studied.
Karatzaferis ELEFTHEROS TYPOS
(E): The dead and the grave are identical;
(A): Will answer anthropologist.
Ant1 Pagoylakis
(E): We can rule out that the deceased was a member of the Royal family or himself and Alexander the great;
(A): Nothing we cannot exclude. We don't know yet if it is a member of the Royal family or General.
Regarding dating, the Pebble mosaic from the style and way of construction is placed in the last quarter of 4th century. e.g.. as well as the toichodomia of the enclosure and of the monument. Also the theme of the mosaic was usual and dear during the same era.
Chatzi ALPHA
(E): What members from the skeleton found;
What your instinct says, There are also other monuments in the tumulus;
We have pieces from the shields which adorned the pedestal of Leo;
(A): For the first query will be determine anthropologist, While the second will show us the diaskopisi.
Now, for the third question, found semi-columns and 2 pieces of exerges shields. On the Edit exists that shows shields that were accepted as the basis and stoyko on this painted representations. Also, on the basis of Leo have at Ionic semi-columns Doric capitals.
Here intervened Ms. Mendoni which said that the dead man's pelvis is dismembered and crushed by falling over stones. That generally the skeleton is in a fragile condition because of moisture and should be preserved and fastened so that it can provide answers. Also clarified that for the moment the rescue but characterized excavations, after depositing the relevant documentation requested by Ms. Peristeri, will be systematic, which anyway seemed from the beginning, When the ruins of Sphinxes.
The excavation is like working in a mine or tunnel, with mine lamps and for this cooperation and help from the EGNATIA.
Bright Anastasopoulou
Source: empedotimos.blogspot.gr
