*** Welcome to piglix ***

Aigai, Macedonia

Vergina
Βεργίνα
Vergina is located in Greece
Vergina
Vergina
Coordinates: 40°29′N 22°19′E / 40.483°N 22.317°E / 40.483; 22.317Coordinates: 40°29′N 22°19′E / 40.483°N 22.317°E / 40.483; 22.317
Country Greece
Administrative region Central Macedonia
Regional unit Imathia
Municipality Veroia
 • Municipal unit 69.0 km2 (26.6 sq mi)
Lowest elevation 120 m (390 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Municipal unit 2,464
 • Municipal unit density 36/km2 (92/sq mi)
Community
 • Population 1,242 (2011)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Vergina
Facade of Philip II tomb Vergina Greece.jpg
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name Archaeological Site of Aigai (mod. name Vergina)
Location Greece
Coordinates 40°28′52″N 22°18′49″E / 40.4811°N 22.3136°E / 40.4811; 22.3136
Criteria Cultural: i, iii
Reference 780
Inscription 1996 (20th Session)
Vergina is located in Greece
Vergina
Location of Vergina
[]

Vergina (Greek: Βεργίνα [verˈʝina]) is a small town in northern Greece, part of Veroia municipality in Imathia, Central Macedonia. Vergina was established in 1922 in the context of the population exchanges according to the Treaty of Lausanne, and it was a separate municipality until 2011, when it was merged with Veroia under the Kallikratis Plan. It is now a municipal unit within Veroia, with an area 69.047 km2.

Vergina is best known as the site of ancient Aigai (Αἰγαί, Latinized Aegae), the first capital of Macedon. It was here in 336 BC that Philip II was assassinated in the theatre and Alexander the Great was proclaimed king. Aigai has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status as "an exceptional testimony to a significant development in European civilization, at the transition from classical city-state to the imperial structure of the Hellenistic and Roman periods".

The site was discovered in 1976, and excavated during the 1977/8 season in a campaign led by Manolis Andronikos, which unearthed the burial site of the kings of Macedon, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great which unlike so many other tombs had not been disturbed or looted. It is also the site of an extensive royal palace and of many rich ancient tombs. The objects and paintings found in the tombs at Vergina are of extraordinarily high quality and historical importance. A museum now contains Philip's tomb, a second museum is being constructed for the palace and other finds.


...
Wikipedia

...