Pafos Live 26 October 2024
The tunic of Alexander the Great is estimated by a group of archaeologists to have been discovered in a royal tomb in Vergina. It is a piece of purple fabric that was discovered by an archaeological team led by Antonis Barziokas from the Democritus University of Thrace.
As Kathimerini reports, the piece of cloth was found in the golden ossuary of Tomb II along with the remains of a man and a golden wreath.
Known as the sarapis, the woven purple tunic was traditionally worn by Persian kings and later adopted by Alexander.
Extensive analysis shows that the cloth is made of cotton – a rarity for the time – and dyed royal purple. In addition, the researchers found chondrite, a bright white mineral used in ancient Persia, within the fabric's layers.
The results suggest that the fabric belonged to royal clothing of eastern origin, possibly worn by Alexander himself. With the discovery of the piece of cloth, it reshapes the understanding of the tomb's contents, suggesting that many objects may have belonged to Alexander and not to his father, King Philip II of Macedonia.
According to the National Herald, although it has not been confirmed, the discovery has sparked debate about who is buried there, exciting historians and archaeologists who are eager to uncover more evidence about the ancient use of cloth and royal burial customs.
It is recalled that in 1977, the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos brought to light four ancient tombs on the hill of the Great Tomb in Vergina, which he believed belonged to Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, and Alexander IV of Macedonia, son of Alexander .
For decades, experts questioned whether the tombs actually belonged to this royal family. However, later excavations provided promising evidence supporting the Andronicus theory
Alexander died in Babylon, but the location of his final residence remains one of archaeology's greatest mysteries. He was originally buried in Memphis, Egypt by Ptolemy I's general Sotira, but his body was later moved to Alexandria.
Historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Augustus are said to have visited his tomb in Alexandria, but his subsequent fate is unknown. It may have been destroyed in the 4th or 5th century, but this remains uncertain.
Since the 19th century, more than 100 official attempts have been made to locate the site of Alexander's tomb in Alexandria, making it one of the "Holy Grails" of archaeology and the subject of an enduring legend.
Source: Liberal.gr
