Aegae Was the Capital of Macedonia
Back in the ancient period, Aegae was the capital of Macedonia.
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In 336 BC, Alexander the Great was proclaimed King of Macedon there.
Aegae Is Important to Ancient History
Despite Aegae no longer being the capital city, it still holds an important part in ancient history.
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According to History Hit, it was also the place where Philip II was murdered.
Aegae Was a Burial Place for Royalty
The ancient city of Aegae was once a place where royal family members would be buried.
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Several graves that belonged to royalty have been discovered. Vici said these tombs belonged to royals such as Philip II and Alexander IV.
The Tomb’s Discovery Was Announced at an Archaeological Meeting
For the last 36 years, archaeologists have met to discuss ongoing archaeological projects in Macedonia and Thrace.
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All That’s Interesting reported that Angeliki Kottaridis explained during her presentation that the tomb was found during sewer construction in the city, which was a complete surprise.
The Tomb Belonged to a Nobleman and His Wife
The Athens Macedonian News Agency reported that the tomb is believed to have belonged to a nobleman and his wife.
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However, the identity of the nobleman and his wife is currently unknown.
No Damage Was Made to the Tomb
As the construction workers weren’t expecting to come across an ancient tomb when constructing a sewer network, some were worried that workers inflicted damage.
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However, once construction workers discovered the tomb, work stopped, and no damage was done.
The Tomb Was Without a Door
One thing that stood out most about the tomb was that it didn’t have a door.
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The opening was closed with stones and it had a golden ribbon and large bows painted around the tomb’s perimeter.
The Colored Mortars Are from Two Phases
There were colored mortars used in the tomb construction, which are believed to be from two phases.
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This is due to the nobleman’s wife being buried with him, which likely happened later.
The Tomb Is an Important Discovery
For some, this is just the discovery of a random tomb. For others, this is an important archaeological discovery.
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The nobleman was found buried with a shield reinforced with iron pieces. Anatolian Archaeology says this discovery is important because it shows that the shield was made in a good workshop and belonged to a member of the Macedonian elite cavalry.
It Is Believed to Be a Part of a Group of Wealthy Tombs
LBV reports that Dimitris Pandermanlis excavated a tomb 100 yards from where the latest one was found in 1969.
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There are also two other known tombs there. Because of this, they are believed to be a part of a group of wealthy tombs, with many more likely in the same area.
Part of a Wall Was Found as Part of the Sewage Project
When planning the city’s sewage project, part of an ancient wall was found.
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This was important as it suggested where the ancient city’s boundaries once were, which could help with future archaeological projects involving the discovery of more tombs.