Elementary School Host Country Studies Trip to Pella Museum

It is situated on the south-west slope of a hill and surrounded by a marsh too deep to be crossed on foot either in summer or winter. The citadel the “Phacus,” which is close to the city, stands in the marsh itself, projecting like an island, and is built on a huge substructure which is strong enough to carry a wall and prevent any damage from the infiltration from the water of the lagoon.

 Titus LiviusThe History of Rome, Vol. VI

Pella, the new Macedonian capital, was destined to play a most critical role in the history of Greece and of the entire world in the 4^th century BC. Built by King Archelaos in the late 5^th cent BC, Pella, became the largest city in Macedonia, and the most important political, financial, and cultural center of Greece in the Hellenistic period.

Through extensive excavations, Pella is today one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Subsequently, the new Archaeological Museum is one of the richest in the country.

Entering the Pella Museum, our Elementary School students were warmly greeted by Pella’s symbol, the beautiful marble head of Alexander the Great. Alexander was born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia in July 356 BC. His parents were Philip II of Macedon and Olympias, a powerful princess from Epirus. When his father was assassinated in 336 BC, Alexander reasserted his power within Greece, and then set out to conquer the massive Persian Empire.  In a little more than a decade, he single-handedly changed the nature of the ancient world, and western history.

Room by room Pella’s treasures and secrets were presented to us.

We learned about the daily life of its inhabitants, we admired the floor mosaics and the frescoes that decorated their houses, we discovered more about their religion, and finally we were really amazed by their funerary traditions and the beautiful gifts that accompanied their departed friends and relatives.

Amalia Spiliakou
Host Country Studies Coordinator