Royal Tombs – Vergina Greece
We have left behind the beauty of the northan Greek beaches and headed inland to the town of Vergina and our home for the night is a secure guarded car park (N40.485088 E22.319551)
So what has drawn us here ?
Let me introduce the biggest hump in the ground you could ever wish to see.
Down the underground passage from the light into the gloom, the chill in the air is instantly noticeable.
Inside to our left are gravestones from 300BC. some in better states of repair than others. Some carved with the most excusite Greek figures., but all adding to the electric atmosphere in here.
Rewind back to 1977 an archaelogist found an entrance to this tomb and after digging he found bones, a skull with a damaged eye socket which gave him the clue that this must be the tomb of Philip of Macedonia father of Alexander the Great.
It must have been like finding a pharoahs tomb in the Valley of the Kings. He found not one tomb but many and he discovered the ancient capital of Agai
Back in the main royal tomb site, sadly we cannot go into the burial tombs so you will just have to stand and look at the Doric arches that surround the entrance.
Next to it another tomb and beyond that a tomb of a queen with frescoes painted on its walls. I want to point the camera at all this wonder, Inside you are not allowed to take photographs but we managed a sneaky quick click when no one was looking
A burial casket of pure gold with a Macedonian star emblazoned on the lid, shields, Spartan helmets carved panels made of ivory, bones, everything so beautiful and detailed .
It is hard to describe the workmanship.
Even today it is hard to imagine making something so divine. The quality is excellent and hard to describe.
You would struggle to get such amazing beautiful things made.
All made for the dead and for the afterlife .
He also discovered, Vergina Palace which was the second home of King Philip and where he died 336 BC. Preliminary excavations suggest that the palace was enormous but the whole excavation area is fenced off and closed, it would appear its been closed for sometime.
The road signs for the Royal Palace from the large car park lead you up a dirt track and on to a dead end leaving you scratching your head as to whether you missed it or lost it, only by standing in the car park can you get glimpses of how wonderful this could be !
I cannot understand why archaelogists dont get involved with helping with the dig and finish it.
I still don’t know whether to cry a little at the state of Greek finances are still in, it’s such a shame that this great city, which has so many links to their past, has received so little on-the-ground money to develop it, or to feel elated that we were probably walking on treasure awaiting discovery. For now at least, King Philip’s city looks like barren fields…..
Oh did I mention The whole place is a world heritage site ?
Paul.