GREECE MACEDONIA EMATHIA VERGINA TUMULUS

"And then (after opening the sarcophagus) we saw something I could never possibly have imagines [...] a solid gold chest with an impressive relief star on its lid. We lifted it out of the sarcophagus, placed it on the floor and opened it. Our eyes nearly popped out of our heads and we caught our breath [...]. All the signs were that we had found a royal tomb, and if the dating we had assigned to the objects was correct, as it seemed to be, then ... I did not even dare to think about it. For the first time I felt a shiver run down my spine, as if an electric shock had passed through me. If the dating ... and if these were royal remains ... then ... had I held the bones of Philip in my hands? It was astounding, too much for my mind to take in".
(M. Andronikos, Vergina, 1984, 73)

Left and below: In the main room of tomb II was a marble chest, and in it was the larnax made of 24 carat gold and weighing 11 kilograms, embossed with the Vergina Sun symbol. Inside the golden larnax the bones of the dead were found and a golden wreath of 313 oak leaves and 68 acorns, weighing 717 grams.

Above: Model of tomb II, the tomb of Philip II with the antechamber.

Right: In the antechamber was another marble sarcophagus with another golden larnax inside, containing the bones of a young woman (aged between 23 and 27), with a golden diadem, indicating a queen. In the background golden roundels with embossed star from the antechamber.

"Basing my judgement on firm archaeological evidence, I believe I have the right to claim this tomb as that of Philip II [...] I still regard my original suggestion that the dead woman in the antechamber may be Cleopatra, the last wife of Philip II, as probable, without however dismissing N. Hammond's suggestion that one of Philip's 'barbarian' wives (for example Meda) was buried with him, according to their custom of following their spouse to the grave or being sacrificed above it."
(M. Andronikos, Vergina, 1984, 227, 231)

Above left: The gold and purple cloth in which were wrapped the bones of the dead woman in the antechamber. - Below: The chryselephantine couch found in the antechamber