Foto: (1) Una de las tres estelas funerarias de mármol encontradas (Agencias)

Excavaciones en Macedonia; Pella, Vergina – Aigai

ATENAS.- Un grupo de arqueólogos griegos ha descubierto la mayor tumba subterránea de la antigua Grecia en la histórica ciudad de Pella, en el norte del país, lugar de nacimiento de Alejandro Magno.

Las ocho cámaras de la tumba contienen esculturas pintadas que datan del periodo helenístico -entre los siglos II y III a.C.- y ofrecen a los estudiosos una visión diferente de la vida de los nobles en la época de Alejandro Magno.

"Esta es la tumba más grande, esculpida, y con más habitaciones encontrada en Grecia. Es significativa ya que muestra un nuevo estilo arquitectónico: hay muchas habitaciones y un largo arco de entrada", afirma el jefe de los arqueólogos, Maria Akamati. La mayor tumba funeraria encontrada en Grecia hasta ahora tenía tres cámaras.

Akamati ha explicado que la cámara, a la que se accede mediante un túnel de entrada de 16 metros, fue descubierta en una parcela agrícola que bordeaba el antiguo cementerio de la capital del reino de Macedonia.

Perteneció a una familia noble

Intactos, escritos en las lápidas, aparecen los nombres de los propietarios, aún visibles. Además hay en su interior una enorme lista de objetos, como joyas, monedas de cobre y vasijas de barro, lo que llevó a los arqueólogos a la conclusión de que la tumba pertenecía a una familia noble.

Akamati apunta que al menos entre siete u ocho miembros de la familia habían sido sepultados en las cámaras, pero la tumba parece haber sido expuesta a los saqueos durante generaciones, ya que varios objetos personales se han perdido.

Las pinturas de las habitaciones, con tintes rojos, azules y blancos, son todavía evidentes sobre las paredes.

La antigua ciudad de Pella fue parte del reino de Macedonia, regentado por Filipo II de Macedonia y después por su hijo Alejandro Magno, que nació allí en el 356 a.C. y pasó sus años de niñez antes de conquistar el mundo conocido hasta entonces. La tumba data del periodo posterior a su muerte.

Su reinado fue conocido por la lucha por el poder y las intrigas en la familia real. Los generales de Alejandro luchaban por el control del imperio.

Fuente: Deborah Kyvrikosaios / Reuters / El Mundo.es, 12 de febrero de 2006
Enlace: http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/
2006/02/12/ciencia/1139776568.html

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(2) Greeks find largest Macedonian tomb of nobles

By Deborah Kyvrikosaios

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek archaeologists said on Sunday they had discovered the largest underground tomb in Greek antiquity in the ancient city of Pella in northern Greece, birthplace of Alexander the Great.

The eight-chamber tomb rich in painted sculpture dates to the Hellenistic period between the 3rd and 2nd century BC and offers scholars a rare glimpse into the life of nobles around the time of Alexander’s death.

"This is the largest, sculptured, multi-chambered tomb found in Greece, and is significant in that it is a new architectural style -- there are many chambers and a long entrance arcade," the chief archaeologist at Pella, Maria Akamati, told Reuters.

Akamati said that the tomb, accessible through a 16-meter long entrance, was uncovered in an agricultural plot bordering the ancient cemetery of the capital city of the Macedonian kingdom.

Until now, the largest chambered funeral tomb found in Greece contained up to three chambers.

Intact, inscribed tombstones, with the names of the owners still visible, and a vast array of rich artifacts including jewelry, copper coins and earthen vases, led archaeologists to the conclusion that the tomb belonged to a noble family.

"This was a very rich family. This is rare as the cemetery is full of plebeians (commoners)," said Akamati. "We actually learned the names of the owners from the tombstones."

Akamati said at least seven to eight family members had been buried in the chambers, but the tomb had most likely been plundered over generations as luxury personal artifacts were missing.

But the painted plaster of the chambers, with red, blue and white dyes, was still evident on the walls, said Akamati.

The ancient city of Pella was part of the Macedonian kingdom, ruled by Phillip of Macedon, and later by his son Alexander the Great, where he was born in 356 BC and spent his childhood years before setting off to conquer the known world.

The tomb dates to the period after Alexander’s death, Akamatis said, which was marked by mass power struggles and intrigues by the royal family and Alexander’s generals battling for control of his empire.

Fuente: © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. 12 de febrero de 2006
Enlace: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=
scienceNews&storyid=2006-02-12T143208Z_01_
L114134_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-GREECE-TOMB-DC.XML

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(3) Lucky find reveals biggest ancient cave

A farmer in northern Greece has stumbled across a 2,300-year-old chiseled cave with eight chambers and measuring some 63 square meters — the biggest ever discovered in this country — it was revealed yesterday.

The cave was found near the ancient city of Pella, which was the capital of the Macedonian kingdom. Archaeologists are studying the cave and believe it was probably used as a tomb by a wealthy Macedonian family between the second and third centuries BC, the Athens News Agency reported.

Two gold earrings, several bronze coins, three marble funerary stelae and a number of ceramic vessels were found inside the cave.

Previously, the largest chiseled cave found in Greece had three chambers. The cave near Pella has partly retained its original wall coloring of red, sky blue and gold.

Fuente: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=66287