Atlantis Online
March 29, 2024, 10:10:37 am
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: Ice Age blast 'ravaged America'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6676461.stm
 
  Home Help Arcade Gallery Links Staff List Calendar Login Register  

Mosaic uncovered in northern Greece could mark royal Macedonian tomb

Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Mosaic uncovered in northern Greece could mark royal Macedonian tomb  (Read 331 times)
0 Members and 46 Guests are viewing this topic.
Lisa Wolfe
Administrator
Superhero Member
*****
Posts: 4700



« on: October 29, 2014, 10:48:00 pm »

Mosaic uncovered in northern Greece could mark royal Macedonian tomb

Archaeologists excavating Amphipolis site have discovered an intricate, and largely intact, floor mosaic dating back to 300BC
The mosaic found at the mysterious Alexander The Great-era tomb near Amphipolis in the Macedonian region of northern Greece.
The mosaic found at the mysterious Alexander The Great-era tomb near Amphipolis in the Macedonian region of northern Greece. Photograph: Handout/AFP/Getty

Nancy Groves and agencies

Sunday 12 October 2014 18.47 EDT

    Share via Email
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Google+

Two days after bones found in northern Greece were confirmed to be those of Alexander the Great’s father, archaeologists excavating a vast ancient tomb in Amphipolis have uncovered an intricate floor mosaic that could signal another royal Macedonian grave.

The mosaic, measuring three metres by 4.5 metres wide, depicts a horseman with a laurel wreath driving a chariot and two horses after Hermes, the Greek god of travel and guide to the underworld.
The ancient Greek god Hermes is depicted in a mosaic as the conductor of souls to the afterlife. Archaeologists digging through an ancient grave at Amphipolis, northern Greece, uncovered the 3-by-4.5 meter (10-by-15 ft.) mosaic in what is likely the antechamber to the main burial room. The ancient Greek god Hermes is depicted in a mosaic as the conductor of souls to the afterlife in this detail picture of the mosaic. Photograph: Greek Culture Ministry/AP

Made up of many coloured pebbles, the mosaic covers the whole floor of a room thought to be the antechamber to the main burial ground at Amphipolis, the largest ever found in Greece.

Hermes is depicted wearing a hat and cloak and carrying his caduceus, or staff. A circular part near the centre of the mosaic is missing, but authorities say enough fragments have been found nearby to reconstruct a large part.

According to an announcement on Sunday by the Greek culture ministry, the mosaic has been dated to the last quarter of 4th century BC (325-300BC), consistent with their belief that the grave contains the remains of a contemporary of Alexander the Great, the king of ancient Macedonia.
Greek mosaic The mosaic consists of small white, black, grey, blue, red and yellow pebbles, depicting a chariot in motion. Photograph: Greek Culture Ministry/EPA

The grave may be that of a relative or general of Alexander, archaeologists have speculated. Some suggest it may even belong to his mother, Olympias, or his wife, Roxana.

Another team of Greek researchers confirmed on Friday that bones found in the late 1970s in a two-chamber royal tomb at Vergina, a town 100 miles away from Amphipolis, belonged to Alexander the Great’s father, King Philip II.

Alexander, who died in Babylon in present-day Iraq at 32, in 323BC, is believed to have been buried in Egypt but his tomb is yet to be found.



http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/oct/13/vast-mosaic-uncovered-in-northern-greece-depicts-hermes-leading-chariot
Report Spam   Logged

If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. The smallest act of kindness can be the greatest thing in the world.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Lisa Wolfe
Administrator
Superhero Member
*****
Posts: 4700



« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2014, 10:48:26 pm »



The mosaic found at the mysterious Alexander The Great-era tomb near Amphipolis in the Macedonian region of northern Greece. Photograph: Handout/AFP/Getty
Report Spam   Logged

If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. The smallest act of kindness can be the greatest thing in the world.
Lisa Wolfe
Administrator
Superhero Member
*****
Posts: 4700



« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2014, 10:48:52 pm »



 The ancient Greek god Hermes is depicted in a mosaic as the conductor of souls to the afterlife in this detail picture of the mosaic. Photograph: Greek Culture Ministry/AP
Report Spam   Logged

If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. The smallest act of kindness can be the greatest thing in the world.
Lisa Wolfe
Administrator
Superhero Member
*****
Posts: 4700



« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2014, 10:49:19 pm »



 The mosaic consists of small white, black, grey, blue, red and yellow pebbles, depicting a chariot in motion. Photograph: Greek Culture Ministry/EPA
Report Spam   Logged

If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. The smallest act of kindness can be the greatest thing in the world.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal
Bookmark this site! | Upgrade This Forum
SMF For Free - Create your own Forum
Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy