The city of Aigai, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, is located in the nineteenth century near Vergina, in northern Greece. The maximum vital remains are the monumental palace, richly decorated with mosaics and painted stucco, and the cemetery with more than three hundred burial mounds, some of which date from the eleventh century BC. One of the royal tombs of the Great Tumulus is known as that of Philip II, who conquered all the Greek cities, paving the way for his son Alexander and the expansion of the Hellenistic world.
Near Vergina, in northern Greece, was discovered in the nineteenth century the ancient Aigai, first capital of the kingdom of Macedonia. The maximum vital remains are the monumental palace with a sumptuous ornament of mosaics and painted stuccos and the necropolis that contains more than 300 burial mounds. Among the royal tombs housed in the Great Tumulus is that of Philip II who conquered all the Greek cities, paving the way for his son Alexander and the expansion of the Hellenistic world.
其中最重要的遗迹是一个用马赛克和灰泥装饰的巨大宫殿，以及包括 300多个坟墓的墓地，其中一些坟墓建于公元前11世纪。 于菲利普二世。 这位国王曾征服所有希腊城市，为他的儿子亚历山大以及希腊世界的 扩张铺平了道路。
Город Эги являлся первой столицей древней Македонии. Он был обнаружен около Вергины в северной Греции в ХIХ в. Наиболее значимыми находками стали монументальный дворец, богато украшенный мозаика ми и ro списями по штукатурке, а также участок захоронений с более чем trescientos погребальным и камерами – « тум ули », некоторые из которых датируются ХI в. до н. э. Más datos тем самы м своему сыну Александру Македонскому основу для внешней экспансии и осн ования эллин истического мира.
Near Vergina, in northern Greece, you will discover the nineteenth century the vestiges of the angels city of Aigai, first capital of the kingdom of Macedonia. The most important are those of the monumental royal angelescian sticks, profusely ornamented with mosaics and painted stucco, and those of the angels necropolis, which has more than three hundred burial mounds, some of which date from the eleventh century BC. The angels of Philip II, who with his conquest of all the angeless Greek cities prepared the angels expansion of the Hellenic world carried out by his son Alexander.
De stad Aigai, de oude eerste hoofdstad van het Koninkrijk van Macedonië, werd in de 19e eeuw ontdekt nabij Vergina, in het noorden van Griekenland. Tot de belangrijkste overblijfselen behoort het monumentale paleis, rijkelijk versierd met mozaïeken en beschilderd pleisterwerk. Daarnaast is er een begraafplaats met meer dan threecient grafheuvels, waarvan sommige dateren uit de 11e eeuw voor Christus. Een van de koninklijke grabn in de Grote Tumulus wordt geïdentificeerd als het graf van Philippus II, die alle Griekse steden veroverde. Hij maakte de weg vrij voor zijn zoon Alexander en de uitbreiding van de Hellenistische wereld.
Brief summary
The city of Aigai, the former royal capital of Macedonia, was discovered in the 19th century. It is situated between the fashionable towns of Palatitsia and Vergina, in the north of Greece (Hemathia region). In Aigai the royal Temenid dynasty took root, the circle of relatives of Philip II and Alexander the Great. The archaeological site of Aigai, which contains an urban center, the oldest and most important in northern Greece, and several surrounding settlements, is explained through the rivers Haliakmon (W and N), Askordos (E) and mountains Pierian (S). Aigai provides vital information about the culture, history, and society of the ancient Macedonians, the Greek border tribe who preserved centuries-old traditions and brought Greek culture to the outer reaches of the ancient world. The most vital archaeological remains, already excavated, from the site are: the monumental palace (c. 340 BC), which is the largest and one of the most impressive buildings in classical Greece, the theater, the sanctuaries of Eukleia and of the Mother of the Gods, the city walls, the royal necropolis, which contains more than 500 burial mounds, dating from the 11th to the 2nd century BC. Three royal burial complexes have already been excavated. Twelve monumental temple-shaped tombs are known. Among them are the tomb of Eurydice, mother of Philip II, and the unlooted tombs of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, and his grandson Alexander IV, which were discovered in 1977-8 and have caused a worldwide sensation. world. . The quality of the tombs and their grave goods place Aigai among the most important archaeological sites in Europe.
Criterion (i): The cemetery and the city involve original and exclusive ancient, artistic and aesthetic achievements of past classical art of very high quality and ancient importance, such as the architectural form of the Royal Palace and the magnificent art paintings of the so-called Macedonian tombs, as well as items such as ivory portraits and miniature art, metal, gold and silver paints. Many of those achievements were created by wonderful artists of ancient Greece, such as Leochares and Nikomachos.
Criterion (iii): The site represents an exceptional testimony to a significant progression of European civilization, the transition from the classical city-state to the imperial design of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. This is specifically evidenced through the remarkable series of royal tombs and the richness of their contents.
Integrity
World Heritage properties comprise within their barriers all the key attributes that reflect their Outstanding Universal Value. An absolute coverage zone, which prohibits any structural activity and contains the ancient city, its cemeteries and a mountain from the Bronze Age, guarantees its integrity. coverage area, with structural restrictions, additional guarantees of the integrity of the site. Aigai provides some of the intact, complete and maximum ancient monuments, such as the palace and shrines, the so-called Macedonian tombs and complete specimens of rare ancient pieces. art. Archaeological studies in the villa and cemeteries in combination with the ongoing recovery projects in the Palace and the Royal Necropolis, in accordance with the master plan of the site and domestic and foreign criteria and regulations, have a multiple and positive effect. Effect on documentation and coverage of the square. The herbarium environment (semi-mountainous landscape, rivers, flora), which corresponds to the former urban territory and cultural remains of the Royal Centre of Macedonia, underlines the integrity of the assets.
Authenticity
The archaeological site of Aigai, with its artistic and architectural remains, testifies to its authenticity, in terms of form, fabrics and environment. It is accepted that excavation, especially of structures and earthen deposits, is necessarily an act of destruction. The Great Therefore, the mound no longer exists and was simulated in the roof structure. The protective shelter was built to protect and ensure the authenticity of the royal tombs. Its tumulus shape and its technical specifications are in the best harmony and respect for the monuments. However, the interiors of the tombs are completely authentic, with only minimal fashionable interventions to maintain their continued stability. In other parts of the site (e. g. the palace), the remains are completely authentic.
Underground temple-like tombs are among the best-preserved examples of the use of color in ancient architecture, and their discovery revealed for the first time the intact façade of an ancient Greek building. The total and emblematic form of the royal palace, founded on philosophical, political and architectural perceptions (archetype of palatial buildings with peristyle), served in antiquity and fashionable times as a prototype and visual of the perception of enlightened royalty. Some of the royal tombs were guarded. The coverage of the monuments and their herbarium environment as a whole guarantees the original context of the village and its cemeteries.
Protection and control requirements
The asset is a serial site consisting of two elements surrounded by a giant buffer zone. It is under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, Education and Cults, through the Ephorate of Antiquities of Hemathia, its competent Regional Service. The archaeological site of Aigai is under the provisions of Act No. 3028/2002 on “Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General”. (Decree of the Minister of Macedonia and Thrace No 8383/92/28. 1. 1993). An absolute coverage zone was established, encompassing the ancient city, the necropolis and the entire surrounding domain in which antiquities were discovered, as well as a buffer zone Development pressures on assets are addressed by implementing the above-mentioned legal framework and constantly monitoring the competent Ephorate.
The Central Archaeological Council/Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs approves a comprehensive Master Plan covering the protection, restoration, visitation and information on the site’s long-term Outstanding Universal Value.
The EU-funded task to restore, locate and beautify the Royal Cemetery has been completed and the area is open to the public, while the same task for the Royal Palace is underway and the monument is partly available to visitors. The new construction of the Aigai Multicentre Museum, also funded through the EU, is already built and will be open to the public as soon as the exhibition ends. The archaeological site of Aigai is the subject of an ongoing systematic excavation. In addition, conservation studies, archaeometry studies and architectural recovery studies have been carried out for a greater knowledge of the monuments, as well as the dissemination of ancient and archaeological data. The projects are financed with national and European resources.
All royal tombs are located through a burial mound-like shelter, the existing Aigai Royal Tombs Museum. All items discovered in the group, architectural buildings and artwork from the tombs are displayed in a safe and controlled environment. Original example of funerary monuments housed in a fashionable underground museum.
The worldwide influence of the antiquities found in Aigai has led to a large influx of visitors, for whom special facilities have been planned. The virtual museum, titled “Alexander the Great: From Aigai to Oikoumene,” is under construction. It will be founded in Aigai, the ancient capital of Macedonia and will interactively connect with other sites, museums and establishments around the world and create an archaeological network that will show the universal price of the site.