Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina)
Greece
The tour begins from Thessaloniki following the National Road to reach the Royal Tombs of Vergina. The small village became very famous in 1977-78 due to the discovery of the Royal Tombs by the prominent Greek Professor and Archaeologist Andronicos. It was known with the name Aigai, was the first capital of Ancient Macedonia until 400 BC, when transferred to Pella and was supposed to be the burial place of all Macedonian Kings. Make your way inside the subterranean structure, accompanied by your guide and feast your eyes on some of the most important objects, which once belonged to Philip II – the King’s shield adorned with ivory and gold, the King’s gold-trimmed iron breast plate, Gold Diadems of unparalleled craftsmanship, the Golden Wreath of oak leaves, the gold plated collar and the Silver Burial Ums. Listen carefully, as your guide explains how inside the tomb of King Philip, a Golden Chest was discovered, containing the King’s bones, washed with wine and wrapped in purple cloth.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina)
Welcome to Vergina, the site of ancient Aigai, the first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia. You are standing before one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century: the Great Tumulus. …
Listen in the app2The Tomb of Philip II — A Royal Threshold
We stand now before the entrance to Tomb II, widely accepted as the burial place of King Philip II. The facade of the tomb is a masterpiece of Macedonian architecture, resembling a Doric temple. …
Listen in the app3The Golden Larnax and the Sun of Vergina
Inside the main chamber of Philip II's tomb, archaeologists found a sight that 'nearly made their eyes pop out of their heads.' Within a large marble sarcophagus sat a solid gold chest, or larnax, containing the cremated remains…
Listen in the app4The Ivory and Gold Couch — A Royal Banquet in Hades
One of the most remarkable finds within Philip's tomb was the remains of an elaborate funerary couch, or bed. While the wooden frame of the couch disintegrated over the millennia, the exquisite decorations made of ivory, gold,…
Listen in the app5The Armor of the King — Weapons of the Phalanx
No study of Philip II would be complete without examining the weapons and armor found within his tomb. As the reformer of the Macedonian army and the creator of the phalanx, Philip's identity was fundamentally tied to his…
Listen in the app6The Rape of Persephone — A Fresco of the Underworld
In one of the earlier tombs discovered in the tumulus, Tomb I, archaeologists found one of the rarest treasures of ancient art: a large-scale wall painting depicting the 'Rape of Persephone.' This fresco, dating to the middle of…
Listen in the app7The Tomb of the Prince — The Final Royal Burial
The third major tomb in the Great Tumulus, Tomb III, is often referred to as the 'Tomb of the Prince.' It is believed to be the resting place of Alexander IV, the young son of Alexander the Great and Roxana, who was assassinated…
Listen in the app8Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina)
As we emerge from the dim shadows of the Great Tumulus and return to the bright world of modern Vergina, it is impossible not to feel the weight of the history we have just witnessed. We have stood at the threshold of the tomb of…
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What is Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina)?
Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina) is a place in Greece with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Greece |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 40.4875, 22.3203 |
| Last updated |
