GREECE MACEDONIA EMATHIA VERGINA TUMULUS

At the back of the tomb's main chamber lay the marble sarcophagus and over this stood the chryselephantine couch, on which had been laid the dead man's iron helmet, royal diadem, sword and cuirass. Several pairs of greaves, a large number of iron spearheads and a chryselephantine shield were found next to the couch, in the south-west corner of the chamber, together with the group of bronze bathing vessels. On the other side of the couch had been deposited the exquisite silver vessels for the banquet.

"When the body had been burnt, all the bones were collected with great care and washed in wine; the purple cloth was spread over the bottom of the chest, which would have formed part of the treasure of the royal household, and the bones were carefully laid out in order - first the feet, then the trunk and at the top the skull, which they covered with the purple cloth. Above this they placed the gold wreath, then sealed the chest inside the marble sarcophagus, which had also been constructed with utmost haste. Lastly, in front of this they placed the wooden couch and around it the weapons and the other objects. Then, closing the heavy marble doors of the chamber, they allowed the wedge which would seal it forever to fall".
(M. Andronikos, Vergina, 1984, 233)

Above right: The neck armor from Philip's tomb. - Above left and below: The impressive gorytos (quiver for bow and arrows) with golden relief decoration was lying on the threshold of the entrance to the tomb's main chamber.