Kasta Tomb

Kasta Tomb
Τύμβος Καστά[1]
3D representation of the tomb structure
3D representation of the tomb structure
Kasta Tomb is located in Greece
Kasta Tomb
Location within Greece
Alternative nameAmphipolis Tomb (Τάφος της Αμφίπολης)
LocationAmphipolis
RegionCentral Macedonia, Greece
Coordinates40°50′23″N 23°51′48″E / 40.83972°N 23.86333°E / 40.83972; 23.86333
TypeMacedonian tomb
History
FoundedLate 4th century BC[1]
PeriodsHellenistic
Associated withHephaestion
Site notes
Excavation dates1964–present[2]
ArchaeologistsKaterina Peristeri (Κατερίνα Περιστέρη)
Public accessNot accessible, excavations still under way
Kasta tumulus and Amphipolis location map
Kasta tumulus – view from Amphipolis

The Kasta Tomb (Greek: Τύμβος Καστά), also known as the Amphipolis Tomb (Greek: Τάφος της Αμφίπολης), is the largest ancient tumulus (burial mound) ever discovered in Greece, and by comparison dwarfs that of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, in Vergina.[2][3]

It is an ancient Macedonian tomb of the last quarter of the 4th c. BC, and is enclosed in the Kasta mound near the ancient city of Amphipolis, Central Macedonia, in northern Greece. The first excavations at the mound in 1964 led to exposure of the perimeter wall, and further excavations in the 1970s uncovered many other ancient remains.[4] The inner tomb was first discovered in 2012 and entered in August 2014.[2]

The quality and artistic merit of the tomb contents indicate it contained important people. The remains of five people were found in the tomb.

  1. ^ a b "Συνέχιση ανασκαφικών εργασιών στον Τύμβο Καστά στην Αμφίπολη". www.yppo.gr. Ministry of Culture and Sport. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Andrew Marszal (7 September 2014). "Marble female figurines unearthed in vast Alexander the Great-era Greek tomb". www.telegraph.co.uk. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  3. ^ Kate Müser (9 September 2014). "Greece's largest ancient tomb: Amphipolis". www.dw.de. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Amphipolis", Ministry of Culture: ISBN 9602141263