Alexander’s tomb is somewhat of a hot potato mystery. It has been said that the tomb is actually located somewhere In Egypt, but subsequent searches were never allowed to begin in earnest, for reasons that are unaware to yours truly, or for that matter, the wider audience. Throughout the years many other locations have been put forth as the final resting ground of the great warrior-statesman, but as of today nothing has stuck. What isn’t up for debate, however, is the king’s birthplace. That has been known for quite some time, and now lo and behold, the site is opening up to the public (not so fast, visitors will have to wait until sometime in 2021). The ancient city of Pella was always on the back of archaeologist’s minds, but it wasn’t until 1957 when the large compound was carefully studied and excavated that it began to dawn on them that they were in fact sitting right on top of what would have been the Macedonian Empire’s seat at the time. Pella was in fact hard to find as the water levels had changed. Pella back then was a coastal town, but fast forward a few centuries and what was once Pella is now a marshland created by the flooding of adjacent rivers.
At 70 acres of land, this multi-use complex of buildings and structures was essentially were Alexander the Great was born and spent his formative years. Not a whole lot is known at this point, but what archaeologists have deduced is that it was certainly where Alexander played and hung out with his aristocratic brethren, and no doubt where he received his tutelage from Aristotle. The palace was the center of Maceodnian power and its speculated that its where Alexander set saild from on his conquest trail across the east.
The palace and its seven buildings has been found to include gymnasiums, courtyards and all manner of social spaces. A 3d virtual representation is said to be under way for visitors to fully understand and immerse themselves into the world of this truly historic kingdom. And who knows, maybe in the not so distant future we may also be able to find Alexander’s burial place, wherever it may be.
