General Discussion

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts) Fri Aug 23, 2013, 07:27 PM Aug 2013

Have archaeologists discovered the grave of Alexander the Great ?

Experts find enormous marble tomb fit for a king under a massive mound in Greece

Archaeologists have uncovered what could be the grave of Alexander the Great at a site near ancient Amphipolis.

The warrior king - who ruled in the 4th century BC - was thought to be buried in Egypt. But experts have now become excited after they uncovered a marble-faced wall dating from the time.

The structure measures an impressive wall measuring 500 metres long and three metres high, which archaeologists believe could contain a royal grave.

The site near ancient Amphipolis lies 370 miles north of Athens.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2401057/Have-archaeologists-discovered-grave-Alexander-Great-Experts-enormous-marble-tomb-fit-king-Greece.html#ixzz2cq0KMtEg

13 replies

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Have archaeologists discovered the grave of Alexander the Great ? (Original Post) dipsydoodle Aug 2013 OP

He died 1200 miles away in Babylon. In the summer. rug Aug 2013 #1

By train or bus? dixiegrrrrl Aug 2013 #2

WelL, I wouldn't want to smell the body by the time it got there. rug Aug 2013 #3

I wouldn't much want to smell the 1000 camels either petronius Aug 2013 #6

If he was mummified first it would not matter how long it took. oneshooter Aug 2013 #7

Or, they could have reinterred the body in the tomb after it was finished. rug Aug 2013 #8

It was not uncommon to pack corpses in salt Nevernose Aug 2013 #10

Thanks, I'll sleep well tonight. rug Aug 2013 #12

If not his tomb, could it be a memorial to him after his death? Bolo Boffin Aug 2013 #4

were there no other kings? David Krout Aug 2013 #5

This is a good point Nevernose Aug 2013 #11

The Elusive Tomb of Alexander struggle4progress Aug 2013 #9

His life was pretty amazing LittleBlue Aug 2013 #13

rug

(82,333 posts)

1. He died 1200 miles away in Babylon. In the summer.

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 07:33 PM

Aug 2013

How long would it take to get his body to Amphipolis?

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

2. By train or bus?

Reply to rug (Reply #1)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 08:59 PM

Aug 2013

Those damn math problems ALWAYS have a train or bus in them...

But, in this case, we probably have to stick to camels.

Let's see...if a caravan of 20 camels can carry one dead guy an average of 10 miles a day,
how long would it take a procession of a civilization to go 1200 miles with 1,000 camels?

Pencils out, everyone.

rug

(82,333 posts)

3. WelL, I wouldn't want to smell the body by the time it got there.

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #2)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 09:03 PM

Aug 2013

petronius

(26,602 posts)

6. I wouldn't much want to smell the 1000 camels either

Reply to rug (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 09:26 PM

Aug 2013

oneshooter

(8,614 posts)

7. If he was mummified first it would not matter how long it took.

Reply to rug (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 10:27 PM

Aug 2013

rug

(82,333 posts)

8. Or, they could have reinterred the body in the tomb after it was finished.

Reply to oneshooter (Reply #7)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 10:50 PM

Aug 2013

If the body is in the tomb, we'll know after it's examined.

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)

10. It was not uncommon to pack corpses in salt

Reply to rug (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 11:11 PM

Aug 2013

Which would cause a type of mummification, prevent the horrific stench, and allow the transport of even a fresh corpse for thousands of miles.

rug

(82,333 posts)

12. Thanks, I'll sleep well tonight.

Reply to Nevernose (Reply #10)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 11:21 PM

Aug 2013

Bolo Boffin

(23,796 posts)

4. If not his tomb, could it be a memorial to him after his death?

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 09:07 PM

Aug 2013

Guess we'll find out eventually.

David Krout

(423 posts)

5. were there no other kings?

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 09:08 PM

Aug 2013

Why him?

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)

11. This is a good point

Reply to David Krout (Reply #5)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 11:15 PM

Aug 2013

And a frequent case in "pop" archaeology. Are you old enough to remember "Al Capone's Vault?" Perfect example. And all of the many cases of someone finding an old board in Turkey and screaming "Noah's Ark!" and about a million other similar cases.

I think sometimes it's fools, sometimes it's assholes, and other times well-intentioned archaeologists/anthropologists trying to drum up much needed funding.

struggle4progress

(118,316 posts)

9. The Elusive Tomb of Alexander

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 11:07 PM

Aug 2013

Hunting Alexander's Tomb
by Robert S. Bianchi

Alexander the Great, dying at Babylon on the banks of the Euphrates River in June of 323 BC ... wanted his body thrown into the river ... His generals, not respecting the wish, concocted elaborate plans for his burial ... Ptolemy .. diverted the body to Egypt where it was buried in a tomb at Memphis ... Subsequently, in the late fourth or early third century BC ... the body of Alexander was removed from its tomb in Memphis and transported to Alexandria where it was reburied ... Octavian, the future Roman emperor Augustus, ... is said to have viewed the body of Alexander, placing flowers on the tomb and a golden diadem upon Alexander's mummified head ... Ibn Abdel Hakam (A.D. 871), Al-Massoudi (A.D. 944), and Leo the African .. all report having seen the tomb of Alexander, but do not specify its exact location ...

http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/alexander/tomb.html

LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)

13. His life was pretty amazing

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Aug 23, 2013, 11:26 PM

Aug 2013

Would love to see his tomb finally discovered and view what's left of his body. With any luck, Egyptian mummification techniques would be used to preserve some of it.

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