Secrets of Amphipolis: Peristeri says the monument still has a lot to offer

The saga of Amphipolis that gripped the world continues as new data comes to light

Lead archeologist Katerina Peristeri, on a two-day visit to Cyprus, cast the spotlight on more secrets at Amphipolis that have yet to be revealed. The head of excavations in Nicosia since Thursday was a guest of the University of Cyprus. Her speech titled, “Macedonian tomb complex at Casta hill, Amphipolis: Excavations 2012-2014.”

On her first visit aimed at presenting Amphipolis results in Cyprus she said that the tomb still has a lot to give. Thousandnews.gr states that the scanned tomography revealed that the mystery is buried deep in the Macedonian monument. A taste of the new data she has in her possession is to be revealed at the Archeological Conference of Thessaloniki.

“There are forms, some of which are on chariots. We see weapons of a warrior. There is the form of one chariot. Here we see a bull in the center whereas on the right and left there are two centaurs,” she said, presenting the scan to her audience in Cyprus. “There is a winged victory over a ship’s deck that appears clearly.”

She pointed to other winged shapes that appear in the scanning, such as sphinxes, winged forms on red sheets transfering something in what appears nearby to be a gathering of gods. “That is where the dead person is being transfered, to a gathering of gods,” she said.

She said that a Π shape appears in the deceased’s chamber near the tomb’s cast. There is residue from the burial ceremony. Decorations from glass and bones and round golden decorations with strange patterns, such as brides. Peristeri also refered to bronze coins that were found in the excavation area. “We have bronze coins of Alexander III (336-323 BC) from Amphipolis that bear the monogram of Alexander. There were also coins of Cassander, king of Macedonia from 305-297 BC as well as bronze coins from the region of Amphipolis.

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