The quest to uncover the final resting place of Alexander the Great continues to captivate archaeologists and historians alike. Leading the charge is Calliope Limneos-Papakosta, Director and Founder of the Greek Research Institute on the Civilization of Alexandria, who believes she is close to finding the tomb beneath the streets of modern Alexandria. “I am at the crossroads, and I believe that I have more possibilities to find the tomb than anybody else,” she told Live Science.
Limneos-Papakosta’s search focuses on the area of Shallalat Gardens near the Alexandria National Museum, where she has been excavating in hopes of discovering the intersection of two ancient thoroughfares. “Ancient sources suggest the royal quarters were in this location during antiquity, yet they had never been excavated,” she explained. In 2009, her team uncovered a sculpture of Alexander the Great at the site, which she described as “kind of a miracle.”
Her efforts are buoyed by historical records indicating that Alexander was buried in Alexandria, with figures such as Roman emperors visiting his tomb. “Alexander is buried in Alexandria, and we are sure about that because in the first century CE, we have information about visitors to the tomb, including Roman emperors like Julius Caesar. So, we know that the tomb was there,” Limneos-Papakosta said. She believes that the tomb may have been hidden intentionally. “I believe that the priesthood around the cult of Alexander protected the tomb. He was considered a god, and they tried to protect him when they realized that destruction was coming by Christians. I believe that they hid his body and sarcophagus,” she said.
Adding to the complexity is the possibility that Alexander’s body was moved multiple times after his death, leading to multiple burials. This theory is supported by historical accounts suggesting that his remains were transported through the Middle East, from what is now Iraq to Syria, and then over the course of two years, moved nearly 1,600 kilometers to Egypt. The prevailing theory places the tomb in Alexandria, but exact details remain elusive.
Competing theories about the tomb’s location persist. Byzantine scholar Eleni Glykatzi-Arveler suggests that Alexander’s remains were secretly returned to his native Macedonia and interred in Vergina. However, this theory is firmly rejected by Angeliki Kottaridi, head of the Ephorate of Antiquities in Imathia. Anthropological studies indicate that the skeletal remains found in the Vergina tombs belong to Philip II of Macedon, Alexander’s father. “The bones speak for themselves,” Kottaridi said, according to iefimerida.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
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