Greek tomb may house mother of Alexander the Great

Greek authorities are to announce results of analysis of skeletal remains found in a huge tomb believed to date back to around the 4th Century BC, shortly after the reign of warrior king Alexander the Great
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Outer wall: Limestone and marble – 500m long, 3m high

158.4m Design of tumulus suggests it was built by Alexander’s architect of choice, Deinokratis

Kasta Hill, Amphipolis

Lion of Amphipolis: Found in 1912 on riverbed of Strymonas River. It once stood atop burial mound

Tomb: 2,300 years old

Walls: Clad in marble from nearby island of Thasos
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Burial chamber: Popular rumour suggests remains are those of Alexander’s mother, Olympias. Other possible candidates include his wife Roxanne, his son, or a top general

Sphinx head: Found in Chamber 3

2nd brick barrier

1st brick barrier: Limestone wall

Chambers: Found filled with sand 1 2 3 
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Damaged mosaic: Depicts abduction of goddess Persephone on horse-drawn chariot by Pluto, god of the underworld, as god Hermes looks on

Two caryatids: Sculpted female figures serving as pillars

Headless sphinxes: Sphinx was symbol of Macedonian queens from late 4th Century BC

Alexander the Great (356-323BC): Created one of largest empires in ancient world during military campaign through Asia and northeast Africa
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Amphipolis

Thasos

Athens

GREECE

Born: Pella

Died: Babylon (burial place unknown)

Alexander’s Macedonian empire at time of maximum expansion

200km 124 miles

500km 311 miles
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Sources: theamphipolistomb.com, Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, wire agencies

Pictures: Associated Press

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