The claim by paleoanthropologist Antonis Bartsiokas challenges established beliefs about a tomb long thought to belong to Alexander's father, Philip II.
Was Alexander the Great's Tunic Found in Northern Greece?
Was Alexander the Great's Tunic Found in Northern Greece?
Research suggests a piece of ancient fabric may have belonged to the legendary conqueror, igniting debate among archaeologists.
In a controversial twist in the world of archaeology, a piece of weathered purple-and-white fabric uncovered years ago in a tomb in northern Greece is now being claimed as a relic of Alexander the Great. This delicate fabric, believed to be over two millennia old, has sparked a heated discussion among experts following a recent publication by Antonis Bartsiokas, a paleoanthropologist at Democritus University of Thrace.
Previously thought to be part of the burial site of Philip II of Macedon, Alexander's father, Bartsiokas posited that the tomb instead housed artifacts belonging directly to Alexander and possibly his half brother Arrhidaeus (Philip III). In his paper, he specifically identified the fabric as a chiton— a traditional Greek tunic— believed to have belonged to Alexander himself.
This assertion contradicts the long-standing research of the late Manolis Andronicos, a prominent archaeologist who discovered the tomb in 1977 and consistently attributed ownership of the tomb and its valuable contents to Philip II. The new hypothesis proposed by Bartsiokas could significantly alter the understanding of this pivotal archaeological site, raising essential questions about burial practices and historical narratives of ancient Greece.
Despite Bartsiokas’ use of advanced technology and interpretations of ancient artworks in his defense, many in the archaeological community remain skeptical of his claims, labeling them as lacking substantial evidence. The debate continues, shedding light on the ongoing fascination with Alexander the Great’s legacy and the treasures of the past waiting to be uncovered.
Previously thought to be part of the burial site of Philip II of Macedon, Alexander's father, Bartsiokas posited that the tomb instead housed artifacts belonging directly to Alexander and possibly his half brother Arrhidaeus (Philip III). In his paper, he specifically identified the fabric as a chiton— a traditional Greek tunic— believed to have belonged to Alexander himself.
This assertion contradicts the long-standing research of the late Manolis Andronicos, a prominent archaeologist who discovered the tomb in 1977 and consistently attributed ownership of the tomb and its valuable contents to Philip II. The new hypothesis proposed by Bartsiokas could significantly alter the understanding of this pivotal archaeological site, raising essential questions about burial practices and historical narratives of ancient Greece.
Despite Bartsiokas’ use of advanced technology and interpretations of ancient artworks in his defense, many in the archaeological community remain skeptical of his claims, labeling them as lacking substantial evidence. The debate continues, shedding light on the ongoing fascination with Alexander the Great’s legacy and the treasures of the past waiting to be uncovered.
