Editing Amphipolis (section)

===The Tomb of Amphipolis===

{{Main|Kasta Tomb}}
[[File:The Abduction of Persephone by Pluto, Amphipolis.jpg|thumb|An [[Ancient Greek art|ancient Greek]] [[mosaic]] depicting the  allegory of the abduction of [[Persephone]] by [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]], 4th century BC]]

In 2012<ref name="telegraph 1">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/11080463/Marble-female-figurines-unearthed-in-vast-Alexander-the-Great-era-Greek-tomb.html |title=Marble female figurines unearthed in vast Alexander the Great–era Greek tomb |author=Andrew Marszal |date=7 September 2014 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> Greek archaeologists unearthed a large tomb within the [[Kasta Tomb|Kasta Hill]], the biggest burial mound in Greece, northeast of Amphipolis. The large size and quality of the tumulus indicates the prominence of the burials made there, and its dating and the connections of the city with Alexander the Great suggest important occupants. The perimeter wall of the tumulus is {{cvt|497|m|yd}} long, and is made of limestone covered with marble.

The tomb comprises three chambers separated by walls. There are two [[sphinxes]] just outside the entrance to the tomb. Two of the columns supporting the roof in the first section are in the form of [[Caryatid]]s, in the 4th century BC style. The excavation revealed a pebble mosaic directly behind the Caryatids and in front of the Macedonian marble door leading to the "third" chamber. The mosaic shows the allegory of the abduction of [[Persephone]] by [[Hades]], but the persons depicted are Philip and Olympias of Macedon. Hades' chariot is drawn by two white horses and led to the underworld by [[Hermes]]. The mosaic verifies the Macedonian character of the tomb. As the head of one of the sphinxes was found inside the tomb behind the broken door, it is clear that there were intruders, probably in antiquity.

Fragments of bones from 5 individuals were found in the cist tomb, the most complete of which is a 60+ year old woman in the deepest layer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28758920|title=Greek tomb at Amphipolis is 'important discovery'|date=12 August 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=12 August 2014}}</ref> Dr. [[Katerina Peristeri]], the archaeologist heading the excavation of the tomb, dates the tomb to the late 4th century BC, the period after the death of [[Alexander the Great]] (323&nbsp;BC). One theory is that the tomb was built for the mother of Alexander the Great, Olympias.<ref>The Identity of the Occupant of the Amphipolis Tomb Beneath the Kasta Mound, Andrew Chugg, 2021, Macedonian Studies Journal, Volume II, Issue 1, https://www.academia.edu/80446098/The_Identity_of_the_Occupant_of_the_Amphipolis_Tomb_Beneath_the_Kasta_Mound</ref>

Restoration of the tomb is due for completion in 2023<ref>Pilot visits to the Kastas Mound in 2022 https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2022/03/21/pilot-visits-to-the-kastas-mound-in-2022/</ref> in the course of which building materials of the grave site which were later used by the Romans elsewhere will be rebuilt in their original location.
[[File:Amphipolis fortifications.jpg|thumb|City walls and bridge of Amphipolis]]