We have many statues and remarkable. But this goes beyond every limit. A couple in full harmony physical, until you cut the breath. Artistic combination of incredible beauty, where it is clear: the man proudly displays the woman and the woman shows ataracha the perfect man. Male, with vigorous male body, yearning every young woman. Woman, rich body, a nymph female creature, strapped like bostrychos around the man. In perfect contact two young. A dazzling picture of youth.
Official announcement (21-10-14)
The excavation work is continuing on the CAY Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities, in the Tumulus Kasta, Amphipolis. Saturday (18/10) and Monday (20/10) the excavation proceeded across the surface inside the fourth space (4,5Ch6m.) and in depth until 5,20 m. from the top of the dome.
Today, held a trial balance (2Ch2m.), at the entrance of the fourth space, and at a depth of 0, 45 m. In front of the entrance, in this area, revealed two parts, from the Western leaf, and synanikoyn (foto 1,2). The first has dimensions 0, 89Ch1, 49Ch0, 15 and the second 0, 89Ch1, 30Ch0, 15.
Also, It was revealed in the northern part of the marble threshold, which has a total length of 2, 15 m. width 1 m. and thickness 0, 25 m. (foto 3) Bring curved bathynseis, for nesting of metal Rails that facilitate the movement of marble thyrofyllwn. As shown by the specific intersection, Here there was floored by limestone, that brought white coating. Audi detected threshold, When you place, travertines of flooring. On the East side of the intersection the floor seems to have suffered subsidence, While westwards the flooring is damaged and the fallen stones inside the intersection (foto 4).
In depth 0, 15 m. from the threshold surface identified and uncovered marble Sphinx head. (foto 5,6,7,8) Is an integer with minimal breakage in the nose. Has a height of 0,60 m. The head is identified and attributed to the Eastern trunk Sphinx, where was nested. Directed towards the entrance and bring Polo. In the lower part of the neck is preserved intact the cross-sectional area of the bearing to the point of nesting in the trunk of. Has rolling bostrychoys, bearing traces of red color, who fall on the left shoulder of, While restrained by thin film. This is excellent art sculpture. Found, also, fragments from the wings of Sphinxes.
The next day is scheduled the removal of fallen pwrolithwn from the inside of the third area, as well as the parts of the door which described. At The Same Time, ypostylwseis will be strengthened in order to continue excavations in the rest area of the third space.
National Geographic: Persephone keeps the "key" for the occupant of the Tomb
The "key" for the occupant of the tomb is the fresco of Amphipolis with Persephone, According to a recent article in National Geographic As reported by the post., Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, pictured in mosaic, gives a new item "key" in mystery about the occupant of the Tomb.
The tomb of Amphipolis, as National Geographic, located near the Aegean port used by Alexander the great to the fleet of. Archaeologists date the Tomb to the last quarter of the fourth century b.c., probably placing the construction of the fractious period after the death of Alexander the 323 e.g.. All this has sparked intense speculation that the tomb was built for someone nearby or relative. The Ministry of culture and sport of Greece announced at a press conference Thursday that the recently discovered the image of Persephone which resembles a similar one found in the Royal Cemetery at Vergina, where are buried the father of Alexander the great. This discovery, made by Lina Mendoni, General Secretary of the Ministry of, connects the tomb of Amphipolis with Royal ancestry of Alexander the great. "The political symbolism is very powerful," pointed out. the new finding raises hope that the Tomb will add another chapter in the tumultuous history of the ancient Macedonian Royal House. "Without a doubt," said archaeologist Katerina Peristeri, principal investigator of the Tomb Amphipolis "the deceased was extremely important person."The figure of Persephone is identified when the Peristeri and colleagues of cleaned the floor of one of the Chambers of the Tomb. The Peristeri was reluctant to make any guesses about the identity of the owner of the Tomb by these new data. However the Jan Goyorthnigkton, classical scholar at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, believes that it is likely that the Tomb belongs to a woman, After the mosaic presents a woman who is driven to the underworld. If this proves, added, the tomb is likely to host the Roxane, wife of Alexander the great, or the mother of Olympiad. both women sentenced to death when one of the generals of Alexander, Kassandros, took over the throne of ancient Macedon according to Worthington however, We don't know for sure which of these two women may lie in the Tomb. classical texts which survive indicate that Cassander murdered Roxanne and her son in Amphipolis the 310 e.g., so it is very likely, He said Worthington, that could be the tomb of Amphipolis. From the other, There are other elements that suggest strongly to the Olympiad. Alexander was meant to proclaim his mother goddess, as the female goddess in chariot of Hades. Extra, the Olympics continued to hold important political force, even after the death of Alexander. Although murdered by cassander and his allies could be honored with such a grave.Official announcement (12-10-14)
Advancing the excavations on the Hill Kasta Amphipolis, by CAY II Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities.
Continuing the gradual removal of part of the backfill, from the second site, behind the caryatids and up to the surface of the floor, at a depth of 6 m. from the dome. When removing the backfill revealed the biggest part of a mosaic pavement, covering the entire surface of space i.e., 4,5m. width on 3 m. length. (foto 1).
The mosaic is made of small pebbles, White, Black, gkrizwpoy, Blue, Red and yellow color. The Central cartouche surrounding expression, a width of 0, 60 m, which is synthesized by double meander, squares and current coil (foto 2). The show's background is in shades of grey-blue.
The central image depicts chariot in motion, drawn by two white horses, (foto 3), which leads bearded man, with laurel wreath on the head (foto 4). In front of the chariot represent the god Hermes as psychopompos, who modified petaso, mantle, winged sandals and holds the Caduceus (foto 5). The composition has direction from East to West.
The show is known for its excellent art in detail the characteristics of performance, both forms of, and horses, as for the harmony of colors. The composition is contemporary funerary complex and dates from the last quarter of the 4th century BC. The mosaic has been damaged in the Center, in circle shape, diameter of 0, 80 m. However, many parts from the worn part found in Sandy backfill. The next days I will attempt to remedy the welding and, in order to synthesize, to the extent possible, the overview of the show.
The mosaic floor, East and West, It has been revealed in its entirety, as the excavation is still going on in these departments. To the South of mosaic floor and between the pedestals of backyard pwrino Karyatidwn revealed, covered with white mortar. In the North of the flooring revealed the marble door threshold, that leads to the third space, decorated with Ionic ripple, at the bottom of, (foto 6,7).
Also, matching, just underneath the doorframe, towards the Interior of the third space, two further sections of the marble door panels.
What is inside the tumulus Kasta;
Ministry Of Culture & Sport (12/10/14):
“The central image depicts chariot in motion, drawn by two white horses, (foto 3), which leads bearded man, with laurel wreath on the head (foto 4). In front of the chariot represent the god Hermes as psychopompos, who modified petaso, mantle, winged sandals and holds the Caduceus (foto 5). The composition has direction from East to West.” CONTINUE THE READING
The short history of Amphipolis
The archaic name of Amphipolis, was nine Roads. The three were from the right side of the river Strymon and six from the left side. When, the Persians and proelaynan Xerxes against Greece, they arrived in the nine streets, buried alive nine young men and nine virgins of the city, as a sacrifice in Persian custom for the successful outcome of their campaign against the Greeks. CONTINUE THE READING
Official announcement (30-9-14)
Continued from the CAY’ Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities, the archaeological research in the funerary complex of hillside Kasta Amphipolis. Removed the last two saves only its lower stones of the wall sealing, in front of the second septal wall, (foto 1) revealing in total marble pedestals (foto 2), on which pull the Caryatids.
The decoration of the radical is a continuation of orthomarmarwsis of walls. It consists of marble surfaces with peritainia. The pedestal height is 1, 40 m., have a width of 1, 36 m. and thickness 0, 72m. The total height pedestal and statue is 3, 67 m.(foto 3). The second-floor space is elevated at 0, 07 pm. Color blue footprints are found in front of above the surface, (foto 4).
Continued, also, the excavation work, in the area behind the caryatids, with removal of soil at a depth of up to 1, 5 m. revealing the continuity of orthomarmarwsis of walls, as in previous space, and much of the thyrwmatos, that leads to the third space.
Completed, even, retaining jobs by adding columns to the first space and simultaneously placed horizontal Struts to the second, in order to proceed with the apochwmatwsi. At The Same Time, with the continuation of apochwmatwsis, in the doorway of the third septal wall, work began stringing/wiring in the third space.
Is the Mother of Alexander the Great in the Tomb at Amphipolis?
By Andrew Chugg*
I wrote my initial article on this question on the morning of September 6th (a day before the announcement of the discovery of the caryatids) and I drew a number of inferences from the evidence then available:
DANGEROUS RELATIONS ": NATION, ARCHAEOLOGY AND POLICY
Stathis Gotsis and Olga Sakali
For the excavation in Amphipolis have written and said many far. And certainly more will follow, καθώς η αρχαιολογική έρευνα θα προχωρά. However, the importance of finding and outcome of relevant scientific debate, looks like you have already formatted the conditions that will leave their mark in future archaeological site stuff.
The embrace of an ongoing excavation (particularly in its early stages) the Prime Minister is certainly novel, as well as the communicative noise that erupted thereafter. It was not however random phenomena. It is now apparent that the a priori connection of the monument to Alexander the great (or ... even with the circle of) tapped by the rulers as an excellent opportunity to exercise policy, both internal (at a time when some believe that the restoration of the national morale can overcome the social consequences of long-term policy mnimoniaki) external and against an opponent nationalism, even as diplomatic upgrade of paper the country's international image.
Regardless of the communicative benefits may temporarily confer in Government camp, the case of Amphipolis tends to establish a new model of excavation research and management of monuments. Firstly, the same finding virtually ' blackmailed ' to fulfill expectations (and prophecies) both as to the nature, dating and its content and the pace with which will "reveal the secrets and the resident's identity». Under these conditions, invoking the principles of conduct strikes as one about emmonikos and certainly outdated reason a scientific Guild. The proposed new model has been formed: preliminary assumptions are godsend trapping the very course of research, While the ' value ' of find is determined by its ability to connect with a narrated glorious national past, branded persons or impressive wealth. End, the excavations must proceed quickly or be adapted to times serving short-term pursuits.
The Government's interest in the case of Amphipolis just reinforces this new model excavational research and management of monuments, while attempting to obscure the politics exerted on monuments, as reflected in the effort lasting weakening of the archaeological service, both through institutional interventions as well as under-financing and ypostelechwsis of. It was the first Government Samara, Besides, He downplayed the 2012 the Ministry of culture to the General Secretariat of the Ministry of education, While the longer he culminated the Ministry planned to work, According to the new body of, by syrriknwmenes on 40% organizational units of.
In fact, of course, the obsolescence of the monumental wealth of the country which does not meet the requirements of the "model of Amphipolis ' is from years here: recorded in the abandonment of dozens of archaeological sites and monuments, the degradation of archaeological research, the way in which they managed even exceptional historical value findings (with best example the monumental set of Byzantine Thessaloniki that was revealed at the Metro station at Venizelou). Current developments auguring the consolidation of such a direction.
In the "model of Amphipolis», though, adopted, at the same time, and a new type of communication management, just to serve the objectives for which has already been mentioned. Triggered a wide-ranging public debate on the archaeological find, which is fed regularly with informational material from the communication organ of representation neokopo of excavation, but with statements by politicians. The objections of the Association of Greek Archaeologists and other, how the emerging situation poses dangers for the smooth and proper conduct of scientific excavation, contradicted by the seemingly plausible argument that this is an "open" excavation and that it is useful to have full public information. However, how "open", i.e. accessible really is an excavation through press releases that contain specific terminology; What is the procedure for becoming a partaker of a scientific process consuming incomprehensible information causing AWE and confusion; How much wiser becomes the non-initiated reader or viewer that rather "being driven through the overload of information», When the dictum of Umberto Eco;
In space, Moreover, public archaeology, the concepts of ' open ' excavation, «Open» museums and archaeological sites describe entirely different communicative actions, structured and targeted efforts of active public participation in interpretative recruitment procedures and understanding of past societies. In this area and experience already exists in our country.
The excavation of Amphipolis, Therefore, It is not "open". Not only because, as is reasonable, No one has physical access to it, beyond those directly involved, but because the communicative management did not contribute in any way nor the public acquaintance with the past and the residues of materials or, much more, familiarity with issues in methodology and interpretation.
If there is eventually a crucial question, It's not who is buried in the grave or when dating the find, But if the "model of Amphipolis ' will prevail in Greek archaeological fact. And this question does not only concern the specialists.
Stathis Gotsis is historian, President of Club Officials MINISTRY Single Attikis, Mainland and Islands and Olga Sakali President of the Association of Greek Archeologists.
M Young, unidentified fragments from the history of Amphipolis.
Amphipolis, This famous State of Eastern Macedonia, the unique colony of Athens, came out, at last, from the oblivion into which was thrown for centuries, not only the barbarian invasions, but the ignorance and indifference of the Greeks against their illustrious history.
The remarkable monument, that gradually reveals the archaeological hoe in the Hill region "Kasta" of Amphipolis, just outside the current (New) Mesolakia of the municipality of Amphipolis, initiated the interest of millions of people throughout the planet and, between them and the interest of most Greeks.
Many written all these days, advancing the excavations in the remarkable tomb of Amphipolis, and their recurrence will not add anything to the historical knowledge.
That's why I chose to bring to light some small, but unidentified fragments from the history of perilampris, Macedonian state, hoping that will contribute in this way, even little, the global update of those Greeks, with particular interest and suspense watching, day by day, the evolution of the excavations, waiting for the "miracle", that will give them back their national dignity, which deprive them daily, the economic crisis and the demands of lenders of our country.
THE Egnatia Odos and the Hill Kasta.
The first, small fragment of the history of Amphipolis got from the master thesis of prematurely lost, brilliant philologist and archaeologist, Calf Otatzi, that was titled "Egnatia Odos: From Amphipolis in Philippi ", (Edition Dimou Kavalas).
In this work the author, looking at some miliaria (ododeiktes) the famous, the Roman via Egnatia, which was constructed by the Romans after the conquest of Greece and which, According to Strabo, EC of Apollonia was to Makedonian... bebimatismeni at mile and katestilwmeni until Detection and Evros river», found in small Souli, Ofrynio in, the New Kerdyllia and elsewhere, "see" this great Highway passes between the Hill "Kasta", where already excavated the resplendent tomb and on the Hill 133, where by decades are currently being dug up the ruins and tombs from the Neolithic period and reaching the iron age.
The Musk Otatzis says, specific, that the Via Egnatia "it is more likely to avoid the Hill on which was built the Amphi ¬ Poli, but after the Struma to heading North, to pass out from Amphipolis 162 and specifically surrounded the Eastern wall of the city and continued immediately after heading northeast toward the foothills of Pageos and the hill that is today known by the number 133.
In this area found a miliario era Emperor Caracalla, which lists the distance of a mile.
Likely number is not filled in, because at this point there is miliarioy's wear- But if the number of a mile is right, then the miliario should not be found away from the place that was mounted on the Egnatia highway.
The road continued heading northeast and passing through the Hill 133 and the Hill of "Kasta", to continue in the same direction, at the same time almost to the northern foothills of Pageos.
There is still today a footpath from Amphipolis leads in passing this, between two hills. The autopsy and the investigation yielded no traces of an ancient road, but it is very likely to have been destroyed by cultivation of fields.
Ofrynio village and the wall of the Byzantine Chrysoupoli found walled miliario Egnatia, which also dates back to the years of Caracalla.
It is unknown where moved to the medieval precinct, but the distance of 4 miles that reads, considering as a starting point the Amphipolis, shows that this was mounted in Egnatia Street immediately after the Hill 133 and from this point the distance is not too great to be transferred later to the wall of the Byzantine Chrysoupoli.
May well (This) constitute an indication, that the Via Egnatia passed between two hills, to proceed after alongside the northern foothills of Paggaio».
An unknown, well, but particularly important element adds the Musk Otatzis what we learn everyday about the Macedonian Tomb being excavated in the Hill "Kasta" of Amphipolis.
That this tomb found onto the largest street of ancient times, the Roman via Egnatia, which flew from the South side of, with that this place can mean, either in terms of any sylisi of, either, Instead, as regards any protection from the Romans!
The discovery of the lion of Amphipolis.
A second, virtually unknown until today aspect of the history of Amphipolis is that of finding fragments of a large sculpture of a lion of Amphipolis and their sygkollisis, which does not cease to be topical now, the excavations on the Hill "Kasta" place the lion this, as sepulchral monument, on the Macedonian tomb and put an end (or start from the beginning;) the discussions, that for decades were giving and taking, about where, eventually, was mounted this wonderful work of art!
Here you can consult, from an unknown in our country work of Oscar Broneer, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Chicago, which, with title «The lion monument at Amphipolis», done the 1941 and don't ever translated in Greek, nor ever was issued by Greek, Publishing House than the other article, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Thessaloniki, George Bakalaki, which, titled "the lion of Amphipolis», published in the July issue of 1960 the magazine «PERIIGITIKI», (SLE. 15-17), to make you partakers of below, interesting, I hope, details of ' modern ' history of the lion of Amphipolis:
For the first time in the Balkan wars 1912 – 1913 Greek soldiers found pieces from the base of the great monument and informed immediately the archaeological service, which sent archaeologists on the ground c. Economou and a. Orlando, whom, though, up to the first world war, before you proceed to investigation and revelation of the monument.
In the summer of 1916 British officers, an expeditionary force, in a break of the battles that were fought in the vicinity of the mouth of the Struma, among allies and in Bulgarian troops, they found and shards of lion and wanted to carry on the coast, (apparently to carry home), but, because of their weight and volume, but because of that main blocked by Bulgarian artillery, that "pound" shore, where were English ships, It succeeded and the fragments of the monument remained exposed to weather conditions until, the year 1930, the members of the French, Archaeological School of Athens, P. Collart and P. Devampez, prosklithenta by Mr. Tsatsos, an employee of the American company Ulen Monks, which had already undertake land drainage in the area of Strymon, attended in the place where they were splinters and studied for the first time, chronologisan them in the time of the Peloponnesian War, the results of their research published in the archaeological Journal Bulletin de Correspondance Hellenique.
The draft of the reunification and reconstruction of the fragments of a lion on a new basis was arrested and executed by the company's engineers Monks-Ulen, R. W. Gausman and W. J. Judge, who aroused his interest then Ambassador of u.s.a. in Greece, k. Lincoln Mac Veagh, who requested a meeting with the French archaeologists, Archaeological School of Athens and in particular with the subsequent Director of, Pierre Roussel and with Michel Feyel, Paul Lemerle, Henri Ducoux, who visited the Memorial again, examined all existing fragments, they made detailed plans and proposed design of the reconstruction of the lion, in a manner not abstained at all from the final, a later reconstruction of the!
As regards, though the base of the monument, the proposal to restore the proven totally wrong.
Until the 1936, only members of the French archaeological School of Athens were occupied with the monument, from the 1936 But even after, with the intercession of k. Lincoln Mac Veagh, the above School collaborated with the American School of archaeological studies of Athens and commissioned further actions, from the French school in k. Jaques Roger, from the American school in k. Oscar Broneer, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Chicago, who and shared, eventually, the rights of the study and publication of findings.
From the 8 until the 17 Jun 1936, 20 laborers worked on the excavation of the site where they had found the remaining pieces of the lion and the base of the, unearthed other pieces and the very basis of the monument (sic) and everything was ready for the interlock, taken to realize the outstanding sculptor k. Andreas Panagiotakis, Professor of the University of Athens and the national sculptor, Archaeological Museum.
He, from the autumn of 1937 and after, having built a plaster copy of the statue, in size the same as the ancient, proceeded to the reconstruction of the monument, having, Unfortunately, at his disposal, only eleven pieces from ancient sculpture, of which only nine (9) It was consecutive, While those pieces were missing, (as it was the piece of the head, immediately above the eyes), filled with white cement.
The sculpture of Lion remade reached height 5,37 measures, but of the anastilwtes escaped some detail, that was, though, important!
So, I saw that lacked a narrow strip of the neck, with lush mane of beast and so, the head with the neck became a squat structure. Ignored, also, the fact that the lion's eyes were nested (additional), probably made from different colored stone or metal and in place of bulbs placed white cement.
That, though, that is important and of great interest to those who follow the discussions this time, about whether the lion of Amphipolis was the Tomb excavated mound that signal on the Hill "Kasta" of Mesolakias, is the fact that the respective speeches all outstanding scientists, (archaeologists, engineers, etc.), involved with the discovery of fragments of the monument and their restoration, agree that the pedestal, on top of which was placed in antiquity the lion, is the same as that found in the excavations, at the soil surface, in the place where today is located the sculpture and the pedestal which consists of two different sections, 1) a pwrino quadrangle, front, consisting of approximately fifty surfaces and 2) another section, resembling a retaining wall at Π shape, among which (two sections) There is empty, which was interpreted by the fact that the ground, at this point, climbs steeply southwards, consistently, the two sections do not need single and compact Foundation.
If, well, the lion was the mound of signal Hill ' Kasta, How is that found where it was located and the ancient the podium and at the exact same point was restored and stands up today;
Modern pedestal, though, on which erected the restored lion, constructed not from material of the ancient the podium, (Since that's not found in the excavations of 1931-1934), but from another ancient material from surfaces, cornices and other architectural members that came from buildings of Amphipolis, the 2nd b.c.. century and which were used in the construction of a medieval dam, which stood in the Struma, a little further down from there found the fragments of a lion which had to mess up the company's engineers Monks-Ulen, during the drainage works performed.
All, also, scientists involved with the restoration of the lion, but many others, accepted that the whole monument was a sepulchral monument, part of which was the only concrete sculpture.
Most, end, of them chronologisan the monument in the 4th b.c.. century, with Prof.. Oscar Broneer dating to shortly after the death of Alexander the great, the Professor. George Bakalaki to places just before the battle of Chaeronea, (338 e.g.)
The Strymwn
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