Archaeology & Documentary – Hellenic Republic

November 2024 marks the 47^th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Philip II at Aigai (modern name Vergina). To commemorate this event, we learn more about Manolis Andronikos, the Greek archaeologist who made one of the world's most important archaeological discoveries of the 20^th century.

Born in 1919, Manolis Andronikos studied and worked in Thessaloniki. In 1957, he was appointed Professor of Archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He was Professor of Classical Archaeology from 1961 to 1983.

Andronikos carried out many excavations in northern Greece, but his most important work was the excavation in the area of Vergina. On 24 November 1977, the archaeologist made his mark in history when he announced the discovery of the first unlooted Macedonian royal tomb at Megali Toumba in Vergina.

In his book “Chronicle of Vergina”, Andronikos describes his feelings at the time of his discovery: “I was deeply happy. I had found the first unlooted Macedonian tomb. At that moment I wasn't interested in anything else. That night, like all the nights that followed, it was impossible for me to sleep for more than two or three hours”.

BONUS!

To find out more about Manolis Andronikos and the discovery of the tomb of Philip II at Vergina, you can watch an interview with the great archaeologist and two documentaries about his life and work (in Greek, source: ertnews.gr).

Bonus Trivia!

• Andronikos' first archaeological experience was as a student working with his Professor, Konstantinos Romaios, excavating at Vergina (1938-1940).
• In 1996, the Archaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina) was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List of cultural sites.
• Andronikos was a great admirer of Greek poetry, and Odysseas Elytis was one of his favourite poets.

Sources:

⇒ ertnews.gr (https://www.ert.gr/ert-arxeio/sto-fos-o-tafos-toy-filippoy-v-sti-vergina-24-noemvrioy-1977/, https://www.ert.gr/ert-arxeio/manolis-andronikos-30-martioy-1992/, https://www.ertnews.gr/anadromes/o-manolis-andronikos-anakoinonei-tin-anakalypsi-tou-tafou-tou-filippou-v-sti-vergina-24-noemvriou-1977-video/) 

⇒ https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/780/

Photographs: Georgia Chantzi & Elpida Besi (ICBSS)

Photograph No 1: Manolis Andronikos, Archaeological Site of Aigai

Photographs No 2 -3: Archaeological Site of Aigai

Photograph No 4: The entrance to Necropolis. Archaeological Site of Aigai

Photographs No 5: The tomb of Philip II. Archaeological Site of Aigai

Photograph No 6: The golden myrtle wreath of Philip’s II wife that was laid on top of the gold and ivory couch of the antechamber. Behind this, there are the golden small roundels with embossed star from the antechamber of Philip’s II tomb. Archaeological Site of Aigai

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