Two stunning caryatid statues have been unearthed
holding up the entrance to the biggest ancient
tomb ever found in Greece, archaeologists
said.
The two female figures in long-sleeved tunics
were found standing guard at the opening to
the mysterious Alexander The Great-era tomb
near Amphipolis in the Macedonia region of
northern Greece.
"The left arm of one and the right arm of
the other are raised in a symbolic gesture
to refuse entry to the tomb," a statement
from the culture ministry said Saturday.
Speculation is mounting that the tomb, which
dates from Alexander's lifetime (356-323BC),
may be untouched, with its treasures intact.
Previous evacuations of Macedonian tombs have
uncovered amazing troves of gold jewellery
and sculptures.
A five-metre tall marble lion, currently standing
on a nearby roadside, originally topped the
500 metre-long funeral mound, which is ringed
by a marble wall.
Two headless stone Sphinx statues flanked
the outer entrance, officials said, who said
that "removing earth from the second entrance
wall revealed the excellent marble caryatids".
Photographs released by the ministry show
the sculptures -- which hold up a lintel -- uncovered
to mid-bust, their curly hair falling onto
their shoulders.
Archaeologists have been digging at the site,
which Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras
called a "very important find", since mid-August.
The ministry said the lay-out of "the second
entrance with the caryatids gives us an important
clue that it is a monument of particular importance".
Expectation had already begun to build given
the quality of the sculpted column capitals
and delicately coloured floor mosaic already
discovered at the site.
Theories abound about who could be buried
in the tumulus tomb, ranging from Alexander's
Bactrian wife Roxane, to his mother Olympias
or one of his generals.
Experts say the chances of Alexander himself
being buried there are small, however.
After his death at 32 in Babylon, the most
celebrated conqueror of the ancient world
is believed to have been buried in Alexandria,
the Egyptian city he founded -- although no
grave has ever been found there.
