It is the largest Macedonian tomb that the archaeological dig has brought to light.
It is a two-chambered, arched, Doric-fronted Macedonian tomb of large dimensions, made of porolite and covered with fine white marble mortar.
On the front of the vestibule, above the Doric trigo, there is a frieze that runs along its entire length (5.60 m.) Its entire surface is covered by a fresco depicting hunting scenes in a forest. Seven footmen and three horsemen, a stag, two boars, a lion and several hunting dogs move within the space indicated by four trees a column and rocks. This is the work of a great artist, as evidenced by the composition, the richness of the colors and the skilful creation of the figures. The painter is based on the classical tradition of the 4th century, but he dares to render with particular vitality and power the movement of the figures in the space.
Many objects accompanying the dead were found in the burial chamber of Philip's royal tomb, impressive not only for their wealth but also for their art.
The funeral bed, of precious wood of which only a few remnants were saved and carefully preserved, was decorated among others with small ivory heads depicting Philip, Alexander and perhaps Olympias.
The ceremonial shield of the Macedonian king, found in a state of disintegration together with the rest of the weapons of the deceased, is a work of extraordinary art.
It has a wooden and leather frame while its entire face is covered with ivory, varied with gilding and glass. In addition to the decorative meanders and spiromaanders that adorn its circle, in the center, on a golden background, an ivory relief was placed, possibly depicting an Amazon battle.
Inside, the shield has gold plates, while the art of its construction is of particularly high quality.
Some of the weapons that accompanied the illustrious dead to his last abode were a bronze Macedonian helmet ending in a plume, with paragnathids and a sculptured bust of the goddess Athena in the center of the forehead. Gilt bronze shanks, iron breastplate, a work of high art, which is decorated with gold bands bearing a floral decorative pattern and with gold discs with lion heads.
Of wonderful art and admirable luxury is the golden urn that contained the bones of the desecrated King Philip II and the oak wreath that belonged to the illustrious deceased. The urn was placed inside a marble sarcophagus. The majestic golden urn weighing 11 kilograms is decorated on its lid with the Macedonian star and on its sides with floral jewels and epithet rosettes of bluish vitreous.
The Golden Oak Wreath is the heaviest surviving wreath from Greek antiquity. It consists of 313 oak leaves and 68 acorns. It weighs 714 grams.
In the vestibule of the tomb, a golden urn was found which probably contained the bones of a royal wife and the purple gold-embroidered cloth that wrapped them, as well as several rich gifts.
Editor: Niki Kalopaidis