The Vergina Tombs: The Royal Burial Tomb of Philip II of Macedon?

1. The Vergina Tombs:The Royal Burial Tomb of Philip II of Macedon? Kristin Hohmeier Faculty Mentors: Dr. Lynn Rose & Dr. Steven Reschly April 20, 2006

2. The Vergina Tombs • Royal Tombs discovered by Manolis Andronicos in 1977 • Vergina is the ancient Macedonian capital, Aegae, in present-day northern Greece http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vergina_Tombs_Entrance.jpg

3. Adronicos discovered 3 royal Macedonian burial tombs at Vergina: • Tomb I, “Tomb of Persephone,” was a pillaged cist tomb • Tomb II, “Philip’s Tomb,” is the supposed burial of Philip II of Macedon, Alexander the Great’s father, and his wife • Tomb III, the “Prince’s Tomb,” is the supposed burial of Alexander IV, Alexander the Great’s son

4. Tomb I, “Tomb of Persephone” • Oldest of the 3 tombs • Contained remains of a man, woman, and a young child • Most noted for its illustration of the “Rape of Persephone” http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/images/haifa/h15.jpg

5. Tomb II, “Philip’s Tomb” • Most disputed • Most elaborate • Largest Macedonian tomb discovered • Hunting frieze on the façade front • Vaulted ceilings • Divided into a main chamber & a smaller antechamber http://www.macedonia.se/images/macedonia/history/philip-ii-tomb.jpg

6. Philip’s Tomb - Antechamber • Sarcophagus and larnax contained female remains • No jewelry • Excess of weapons, including different sized greaves • Philip II’s greaves? http://www.rocky.edu/~moakm/verlarnax.JPG http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/media/original/b12731b.jpg

7. Philip’s Tomb - Main Chamber • Hastily constructed • Solid gold larnax with male’s remains • Heaviest diadem of ancient times • Consists of 313 leaves, 68 acorns, & an adjustable strap • Other artifacts include furniture, vessels, armor, ivory heads http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/index.html

8. Tomb III, the “Prince’s Tomb” • Similar to Philip’s Tomb, but smaller & simpler • Main chamber held remains of a young boy in a silver hydria • Artifacts included more silver vases, vessels, and weaponry http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/index.html

9. Historical Facts • 359 BC - Philip II takes the throne • 336 BC - Philip II murdered, Alexander III (the Great) takes the throne • 323 BC - Alexander the Great dies in Babylon, Philip III & Alexander IV (Alexander the Great’s son) co-rule • 317 BC - Philip III murdered by Olympias • 310 BC - Alexander IV murdered & Cassander takes throne

10. Is “Philip’s Tomb” really Philip II of Macedon’s Burial Tomb?Yes. • Andronicos • The vaulted ceilings • The two-part construction • The multitude of military gear & weaponry • The analysis of the bones by physical anthropologists Musgrave, Neave, and Prag

11. Is “Philip’s Tomb” really Philip II of Macedon’s Burial Tomb? No. • Phyllis Williams Lehmann • The vaulted ceilings & style of diadems were not introduced until after Alexander the Great’s conquests • Eugene N. Borza • Artifacts date back to after Philip II’s death • Unusually large antechamber indicates planned death of Philip III’s wife, not Cleopatra

12. Alternative Hypotheses • Borza concludes that, • Tomb I contains Philip II, Cleopatra, and their child • Tomb II contains Philip III and his wife, Eurydice • Tomb III contains Alexander IV • T.D. Papzois claims Tomb II is actually Alexander the Great’s burial tomb

13. Conclusion • The speculations reveal that the Vergina Tombs are still open to interpretation. • Despite the controversy, much can be learned about Macedonian culture from them. • The Vergina Tombs contribute to the expansive history of Macedonia and Greece while reflecting the ever-changing history and historiography of our world.

14. The Vergina Tombs: The Royal Burial Tomb of Philip II of Macedon? Acknowledgements: • Dr. Lynn Rose & Dr. Steven Reschly