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Pinewood Grade 6 – CHRHS Trip to Vergina

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Ancient Aigai – Modern Vergina

The first capital of the Macedonians was Aigai (present-day Vergina), a city founded sometimes during the turn of the 1st millennium B.C.

Archaeological excavations have unveiled extraordinary riches of the past, a prosperous city enclosed by defensive walls, with an acropolis in the north-east foothills of the Pierian mountains. They discovered impressive temples, monumental public buildings, an imposing palatial complex, unique in its architectural characteristics, a theater, and several “Macedonian” Tombs, the most important of which is the Tomb of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

Our students and our CHRHS students visited the Tomb of Philip II, one of the largest of all “Macedonian” Tombs found in Greece. The monument was constructed of stone and consists of two vaulted rooms, the main burial chamber and the antechamber. The grandiose, imposing facade is adorned with marble double doors, two half-columns and an extraordinary painted frieze immortalizing a hunt of lions, bears antelopes and boars in a semi-forested landscape.

Students enjoyed a day of myths, glorious history, fine arts, golden treasures, and … a perfect, sunny Greek day.

Amalia Spiliakou

Host Country Studies Coordinator