The secrets of a vast burial mound with links to Alexander the Great are being revealed during an excavation and restoration project.
Covering more than 20 acres, the Kasta Tomb, near Amphipolis, Greece, was constructed in the final quarter of the 4th century BC.
It dates back to the same period as the death of Alexander in 323 BC and the struggles between his successors for control of the Macedonian empire.
The monument’s enormous size and elaborate design have fuelled years of speculation over who may have been buried there.
Early theories suggested it could even have been intended as a tomb for Alexander himself before his body was ultimately taken to Alexandria by Ptolemy I Soter.
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Most archaeologists have dismissed that possibility – but many believe the tomb was likely built for a close member of Alexander’s inner circle or family.
Some experts have also suggested the monument bears similarities to the work of Dinocrates of Rhodes, the architect closely associated with Alexander’s building projects.
Amphipolis itself played a key strategic role during Alexander’s campaigns, serving as a naval base for expeditions into Asia and as a staging point for military operations in Thrace.
After the ruler’s death,his wife Roxana and their son Alexander IV of Macedon were imprisoned and murdered in the city.
Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendonirecently visited the site to inspect the conservation work.
‘The Kasta Tomb is a unique and magnificent Macedonian monument, which, through the completion of the work of restoring its geometry, as well as the revelation of its entire enclosure, now clearly highlights its historical significance and value,” she said.
‘It is the largest burial mound discovered to date in Macedonia, with a diameter exceeding 140 metres, compared to 110 metres for the Aigai Tomb, an element that clearly reflects its uniqueness and scale.’
Specialists have already restored the burial chamber and removed metal supports installed during earlier excavations so the interior can be viewed in full for the first time in years.
Outside the mound, archaeologists have fully uncovered the structure’s 497m perimeter for the first time.
Officials say the next phase of the project will include reinstalling the monumental marble door of the burial chamber, followed by restoration of the sphinx sculptures that once guarded the entrance.
The total cost of the restoration is expected to exceed €15m (£12.7m), funded in part through European regional development programmes.
Greek authorities say they hope to reopen the monument safely to the public in early 2028, alongside a new museum and visitor centre planned near the site.
During her visit to the region, Ms Mendoni also inspected the only surviving wooden bridge from ancient Amphipolis, dating from the 5th century BC and mentioned by the historian Thucydides. Conservation work on the bridge has now been completed.