A Lion ! Arrrrrr…….

Having left the hustle and bustle of the holiday resort, we headed the massive distance of 25km along the coast and parked up on the headland overlooking the sea, with just us and some waves (N40.75542 E23.73946). 

But as we drove towards this slice of heaven, we couldn’t help but spot brown sign after brown sign all pointing to the same thing, how rude would it have been not to stop off….

The Lion of Amphipolis is undoubtedly one of the most significant preserved monuments of the 4th century BC. 

After the last discovery of the funerary enclosure of the “Kasta” mound in ancient Amphipolis,  the burial monument of the Lion is its foundation and was placed in the central and highest point of the mound.

The excavation of the burial mound, which is in progress, has brought to light an important funerary enclosure, unique in its kind, which is dated to the last quarter of the 4th century BC.

The Tomb of Kasta at Amphipolis and the monument of the Lion have very similar architectural features and they both date back to the 4th century BC. The fragments of marble found  near the grave markets at the top of the Kasta mound, show that there is a big marble monument, namely the Lion.

The  monument was said to be built in honour of the general of Alexander the Great, Leosthenes from Mytilene. 

During the time to which the funerary enclosure is dated, namely the period after Alexander’s death manyhistorical events took place in Amphipolis. Important generals and admirals of Alexander the Great along with Alexander’s wife Roxanne and his son Alexander IV.

The existence of the monument became known for the first time in 1912, then in 1916, British soldiers who were building fortifications for the bridge found the marble parts of the lion and tried to transport them to the shore, in order to smuggle them to England. Their efforts were stopped when Bulgarians who had just seized Paggaion attacked them.

In 1936, J. Roger and O. Broneer continued the study and restoration of the monument at the same place where it stands today, by building a conventional base. 

Back on our private beach, just below the headland, I set about trying my luck 

Needless to say we had chicken for tea……

Paul.