Greeks captivated by Alexander-era tomb at Amphipolis

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29239529

by benbreen • 12 years ago

64 9 12 years ago

lutusp2• 12 years ago

A quote: "Archaeologists and the Greek ministry of culture warn against such speculation, especially since Alexander the Great is known [sic] to have been buried in Egypt."

An unfortunate turn of phrase. I would have said "is thought to have been buried in Egypt" or "is said to ...", since no one has definitively located Alexander's tomb.

benbreen• 12 years ago

I love the story of what Peter Green calls "Alexander's Funeral Games" - the battles of Alexander's generals to secure his body after he died and use it to legitimate their own claims to rule. Such a great illustration of the role of symbolic gestures in history.

http://books.google.com/books?id=1QOvJ14Jxv8C&lpg=PA20&dq=pe...

bobcostas55• 12 years ago

Yes we haven't located it in modern times, but that is irrelevant. We have tons and tons of sources that mention Alexander's tomb in Egypt. There is little doubt that Ptolemy I controlled his body and buried it in Egypt. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Caligula, and many other Romans visited his tomb. Some of them even looted it.

lutusp2• 12 years ago

Yes we haven't located it in modern times, but that is irrelevant.

I would have said "almost irrelevant", but thanks for your informative post. I should have known this about Alexander's whereabouts.

dvirsky• 12 years ago

Took me a few seconds to realize what's so captivating about this for geeks.

trhway• 12 years ago

whoever is where, the DNA analysis will be a story in itself. Are there known descendants of Alexander the Great?

JacobAldridge• 12 years ago

Alas no. He had an official heir, Alexander IV born after his death aged 32, and possibly another son to a mistress. Both were assassinated in their teens.

bagosm• 12 years ago

It is not expected to find Alexander by anyone. It is expected to find an important general or someone close to Alexander though.

The tomb date is greatly varied now, between 100-400BC but before Christmas where excavation will be done to the lower outer part of the tomb it will be possible for a ceramic analysis to be done that will pinpoint the date within 2 years.

coldcode• 12 years ago

Interesting the town had no internet connection.

Greeks captivated by Alexander-era tomb at Amphipolis

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