An international team of archaeologists, led by Professor Antonis Bartsiokas of the Democritus University of Thrace, has made a groundbreaking discovery in Tomb II of the ancient city of Vergina, in northern Greece. The team unearthed a fragment of purple cotton fabric dyed with the rare and valuable Tyrian purple pigment, suggesting it could be the long-lost sacred tunic, or 'sarapis', of Alexander the Great.
The findings, published in the Journal of Field Archaeology, have the potential to rewrite history by challenging previous beliefs about the contents of Tomb II. Initially thought to be the resting place of Philip II, Alexander's father, new evidence suggests that the tomb may have housed Philip III Arrhidaeus, Alexander's half-brother and successor. Experts hypothesize that the fabric and several other items in the tomb belonged to Alexander the Great and were inherited by Philip III Arrhidaeus.
The fragment of fabric is significant not only because of its rare materials but also due to its symbolic importance. Cotton was an uncommon material in Greece at the time, and the use of Tyrian purple dye, extracted from murex snails, was a costly process reserved for royalty. Tyrian purple was an iconic color often worn by the elites of ancient society and was sometimes more valuable than gold.
Advanced analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, confirmed that the textiles were indeed cotton dyed with Tyrian purple. The analysis also revealed the presence of huntite, a shiny white mineral used in ancient Persia but very uncommon in Greece. This supports the theory of the fabric's eastern origin and suggests a Persian influence in Hellenistic funerary customs.
According to historical sources, the 'mesoleucon sarapis' was a ceremonial garment used by Persian kings. Alexander the Great adopted this garment after his victory over Darius III in the Battle of Issus in 333 B.C., marking his dominance over the vast Persian Empire. The sarapis was a purple tunic with a white stripe on the edge, used exclusively by Persian kings. The discovery of such a garment in Tomb II reinforces the hypothesis that Alexander himself wore it during his life.
The excavation also revealed other significant items, including a golden ossuary containing the cremated remains of a male individual and a golden crown decorated with myrtle leaves and flowers. Among the recovered objects are a gold diadem, a scepter, and a myrtle crown. These were symbols of royalty associated with Alexander the Great. Experts believe that Philip III Arrhidaeus inherited several of Alexander's personal items after his death in 323 B.C.E., which could explain the presence of these artifacts in Tomb II.
In a detailed analysis of the fabric, huntite was identified among the layers of the garment. Huntite was a white mineral from Persia, renowned for its incredible brightness, and its presence reinforces the idea of an eastern origin for the garment. This finding suggests a Persian influence in the funerary customs of the Hellenistic period.
The identification of this garment could be a starting point for a new approach in the study of royal clothing in Hellenistic and Persian cultures. It also has implications for our understanding of the funerary rituals of the time, suggesting that the garment was part of royal clothing with eastern influences. The discovery sheds light on Alexander the Great's role as Pharaoh of Egypt, King of Greece, and Emperor of Persia, highlighting the undying interest in his reign, which stretched from Greece to India.
The identity of those buried in the Royal Tombs of Vergina has been a subject of continuous debate among archaeologists. Recent findings suggest that Tomb II may belong to Philip III Arrhidaeus rather than Philip II. Philip III Arrhidaeus, the son of Philip II and his second wife, Philinna of Larissa, was proclaimed king by the Macedonian army after Alexander's death, though only nominally, as he lacked real power.
In the study, Professor Antonis Bartsiokas wrote: "The physical description exactly fits the description in the ancient sources of the sacred Persian mesoleucon sarapis which belonged to Pharaoh and King Alexander the Great and as such it was the most precious object in antiquity." This statement underscores the significance of the discovery and its potential impact on our understanding of ancient history.
Visual representations further strengthen the connection between the objects found and Alexander the Great himself. In a hunting scene depicted in the frieze of the tomb, one of the hunters, identified as Alexander, wears a purple tunic with white stripes, similar to the description of the sarapis in historical sources. This visual evidence supports the hypothesis that the fabric found in Tomb II was indeed the ceremonial tunic of Alexander the Great.
The discovery of the sacred tunic is not just another finding in the archaeological complex of Vergina. It sheds new light on the interaction between Greek and Persian cultures during the Hellenistic period. The identification of the sarapis and the presence of Persian materials like huntite suggest that there was significant cultural exchange and influence between the two civilizations.
The research team, which included international scientists such as Juan Luis Arsuaga and Nicholas Brandmeir, employed advanced techniques to meticulously analyze the fabric. The studies of the found fabric were exhaustive, ensuring the accuracy of their conclusions.
This groundbreaking discovery has sparked intense debate over who may be buried in the tomb and has unlocked new understanding surrounding ancient textile usage and royal burial customs. Historians and archaeologists are excited about the implications of this find, as it could change the way we understand historical objects related to Alexander the Great and his era.
In conclusion, the unearthing of what may be Alexander the Great's sacred tunic in Vergina's Tomb II has the potential to rewrite history. It challenges long-held beliefs about the occupants of the tomb and provides new insights into the cultural and political dynamics of the ancient world. The discovery highlights the importance of continued archaeological exploration and the potential for future findings to reshape our understanding of history.
Sources: El HuffPost, 20 minutos, The Scottish Sun, The Sun
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq