Alexandria's founded by Alexander

Alexandria's founded by Alexander the Great (by year BC): 334 Alexandria in Troia (Turkey) - 333 Alexandria at Issus/Alexandrette (Iskenderun, Turkey) - 332 Alexandria of Caria/by the Latmos (Alinda, Turkey) - 331 Alexandria Mygdoniae - 331 Alexandria (Egypt) - 330 Alexandria Ariana (Herat, Afghanistan) - 330 Alexandria of the Prophthasia/in Dragiana/Phrada (Farah, Afghanistan) - 330 Alexandria in Arachosia (Kandahar, Afghanistan) - 330 Alexandria in the Caucasus (Begram, Afghanistan) - 329 Alexandria of the Paropanisades (Ghazni, Afghanistan) - 329 Alexandria Eschate or Ultima (Khodjend, Tajikistan) - 329 Alexandria on the Oxus (Termez, Afghanistan) - 328 Alexandria in Margiana (Merv, Turkmenistan) - 326 Alexandria Nicaea (on the Hydaspes, India) - 326 Alexandria Bucephala (on the Hydaspes, India) - 325 Alexandria Sogdia - 325 Alexandria Oreitide - 325 Alexandria in Opiene / Alexandria on the Indus (confluence of Indus & Acesines, India) - 325 Alexandria Rambacia (Bela, Pakistan) - 325 Alexandria Xylinepolis (Patala, India) - 325 Alexandria in Carminia (Gulashkird, Iran) - 324 Alexandria-on-the-Tigris/Antiochia-in-Susiana/Charax (Spasinou Charax on the Tigris, Iraq) - ?Alexandria of Carmahle? (Kahnu)

Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Caryatids at Kasta Hill near Amphipolis are full-size!

To be honest, I am not really surprised to learn that the two Caryatids guarding the threshold are full-body sculptures and not just heads as may have been assumed earlier.

The Crash Magazine Online has just published magnificent pictures of the Amphipolis tomb that were released by the Ministry of Culture. The Caryatids were totally buried in the protective soil in which the missing face of the Caryatid on the eastern side has been found meaning that it will be replaced in situ.

The pictures speak for themselves: this is definitely a work of high standards. The Caryatids, they say, are slightly lifting their robe with their outside hand and the dresses reveal their most beautiful bodies. As remarked before, the Caryatids do not support the architrave with their inner arm.






[Pictures come from Crash Magazine Online where there are more to see]

37 comments:

  1. Theses are works of art of exceptional delicacy and sensuality. A pure poetry brought from heroic ages. The real treasure, it is not the maybe disappeared gold, but these caryatids of a breathtaking beauty. The gods held the hand of the one who sculptured them. This is so touching.

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    1. What a poetic way to describe it. I regret I didn't come up with such words myself.
      Thank you!

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  2. A morning announcement of the ministry. The lintel of a door, but did not get to know if it is on the wall of the caryatids or is the door that leads to the third chamber.
    http://www.yppo.gr/2/g22.jsp?obj_id=58412

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    1. The door opens in the 3rd septum wall, which is the next wall after the Caryatids. Scientists says they'll try to get inside today.

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  3. Do you know if has been mentioned if the third chamber had soil or whether there door panels in the gate?

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  4. A bit strange, fill the burial chamber with soil or is possible that there are more chambers. I think it's strange if a "pious" filled as looters. Ok, we will wait a little more

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  5. There are more chambers and the burials chambers are downstairs. because there seem to be stairs in the third room.

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  6. New photos from Amphipolis Tomb. Stay tuned. Press release in Greek.
    -----
    Νέες φωτογραφίες από τον Τάφο της Αμφίπολης. Μείνετε συντονισμένοι. Ακολουθεί Δελτίο Τύπου στα ελληνικά:

    Την Παρασκευή 12-9-2014 έγινε η είσοδος μελών της διεπιστημονικής ομάδας, στον τρίτο θάλαμο του μνημείου, από την υφιστάμενη οπή στον τοίχο του τρίτου διαφράγματος, προκειμένου να τεκμηριωθεί αρχαιολογικά η υφιστάμενη εικόνα του και να διαπιστωθεί η δομική κατάσταση του θαλάμου, ώστε να σχεδιαστούν τα αναγκαία μέτρα αντιστήριξης και υποστύλωσης. (φωτο 1, σχέδιο).
    Από την επί τόπου παρατήρηση προέκυψαν τα ακόλουθα δεδομένα: Το ύψος του αμμώδους χώματος βρίσκεται χαμηλότερα από ότι στους προηγούμενους δυο χώρους. Επί των χωμάτων διαπιστώνονται αμμώδη φυσικά ιζήματα με απολιθώματα από όστρεα, που προέρχονται από το φυσικό έδαφος του λόφου Καστά. Σύμφωνα με τις γεωλογικές παρατηρήσεις φαίνεται ότι η επίχωση παραμένει αδιατάρακτη.
    Εσωτερικά, η θόλος είναι κατασκευασμένη από πωρόλιθο, ακριβώς όπως και στους προηγούμενους θαλάμους.(φωτο 2,3)
    Στους τρεις κατακόρυφους τοίχους-ανατολικό, δυτικό και βόρειο- στο ορατό μέρος, επαναλαμβάνεται η ίδια μορφή μαρμάρινης επικάλυψης, όπως και στους δυο προηγούμενους θαλάμους, με ορθοστάτες , στέψη και ιωνικό επιστύλιο. (φωτο 4,5)
    Στο νότιο τοίχο -στο εμφανές μέρος του- δεξιά και αριστερά του θυρώματος, συνεχίζεται η μαρμάρινη επικάλυψη. Οι υπερκείμενοι πωρόλιθοι καλύπτονται με επίχρισμα κόκκινου χρώματος. (φωτο 6). Έχει καταπέσει το εσωτερικό τμήμα του υπέρθυρου.(φωτο 7).
    Η θόλος του θαλάμου δείχνει να βρίσκεται σε κατάσταση οριακής ισορροπίας, (φωτο 8) με τους θολίτες στην περιοχή της στέψης να παρουσιάζουν άνοιγμα αρμών, σε ικανό βάθος, από την εσωτερική επιφάνειά της. Στο σύνολο σχεδόν των θολιτών παρατηρούνται ρηγματώσεις και επιπλέον σε εκτεταμένες περιοχές, εκατέρωθεν της στέψης, διαπιστώθηκε σημαντική απώλεια μάζας του υλικού. (φωτο 9)
    Οι μαρμάρινοι ορθοστάτες περιμετρικά, στο ορατό τμήμα των κατακόρυφων τοίχων παρουσιάζουν συστηματικά αποκολλήσεις τεμαχίων τα οποία εντοπίστηκαν στην επιφάνεια της επίχωσης, φωτογραφήθηκαν, αριθμήθηκαν και περισυνελέγησαν.(φωτο 10). Οι αποκολλήσεις φαίνεται να είναι το αποτέλεσμα έντονης καταπόνησης, πιθανώς από τις μεγάλου ύψους επιχώσεις επί της θόλου. Συγκεκριμένα, το νότιο τμήμα του θαλάμου φορτίζεται από γαίες ύψους 2μ. περίπου, ενώ στο βόρειο τμήμα οι γαίες έχουν ύψος περί τα 12-13μ.
    Τα ανωτέρω τεχνικά δεδομένα δεν επιτρέπουν την ασφαλή εκτέλεση εργασιών απομάκρυνσης χώματος από τον τρίτο θάλαμο, πριν ληφθούν τα αναγκαία μέτρα προστασίας. Ειδικότερα, για την αντιστήριξη-υποστύλωση του θαλάμου, θα χρησιμοποιηθεί ισχυρότερη διάταξη από αυτή των δύο προηγούμενων θαλάμων. Θα περιλαμβάνει σύστημα οριζόντιων πλαισιωτών δοκών, κατά μήκος και πλάτος του θαλάμου, για την αντιστήριξη των κατακόρυφων τοίχων από τις γεωστατικές ωθήσεις. Για την στήριξη της θόλου θα χρησιμοποιηθούν μεταλλικές σωληνωτές δοκοί. Η απομάκρυνση του χώματος θα γίνεται τμηματικά, κατά περιοχές της επίχωσης, ώστε να καθίσταται εφικτή η ασφαλής προσαρμογή της έδρασης των αντιστηρίξεων.
    Η εφαρμογή των μέτρων αντιστήριξης και υποστύλωσης, εξαιτίας της δυσκολίας πρόσβασης στο χώρο και της απαίτησης ιδιαίτερης προσοχής, λόγω της δυσμενούς δομικής κατάστασης, θα απαιτήσουν αρκετές μέρες εργασίας.
    Τέλος, συνεχίζονται οι εργασίες γεωμετρικής τεκμηρίωσης του μνημείου και του περιβάλλοντος χώρου του, ενώ ο Δήμος Αμφιπόλεως τοποθέτησε νυχτερινό φωτισμό και σύστημα ασφαλείας.
    (6 photos)

    https://www.facebook.com/amphipolistomb?fref=photo

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  7. More and more I have the impression that the tomb is empty. It is possible that would build to bury Alexander, but to move the corpse to Egypt, the tomb was ritually closed and so the rupture of the Sphinxes and the silting with soil of the chambers. A hypothesis awaiting that empty land camera number three.

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    1. Thank you for keeping me informed. I sent a reply earlier but it seems it didn't make it to my blog. I am travelling and have difficulty connecting to the internet, IF at all. I could access my mail but not log in to my blog. I'm looking forward to the result of clearing this third chamber. I do try to stay in touch, of course. Thank you for your patience.

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    2. It seems that the excavation be stopped a few days while the third chamber is ensured with beams, because it looks badly damaged, with roof falls and walls and very spoiled marble (humidity?)

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    3. OK, suits me fine. It will give me time to catch up - I hope.

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  8. Interesting: the discovered parts of the tumulus seems to be only the begining of it.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204544567394975&set=a.1844610275807.105585.1257148305&type=1

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    1. In the tombs of Vergina, what is the percentage occupied by underground burial structures? It seems that the tumulus only serves to mark the place of burial.

      http://n.nathalie.martin.free.fr/imgs/imgsTD08/plan-fouille-1979.png

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    2. I am not on Facebook. Is there something I should know?

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  9. I don't understand what triggered this discussion. My understanding is that the tomb of Amphipolis is dug into the hillside. A tumulus is a manmade mound, like the tumulus of Vergina. So, why these questions? Have I missed something?

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    1. Nothing important, It is an image created by someone, where we can see a circumference of 500 meters in perimeter and one side appears the space occupied by the three excavated chambers . By the comparison between the total excavated and the entire circumference, you can assume that many cameras remain discovered under the tumulus. Maybe, but Vergina chambers appear to occupy a minimum area of the tumulus (i think). I put a link that i think belongs to Vergina tombs http://n.nathalie.martin.free.fr/imgs/imgsTD08/plan-fouille-1979.png

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    2. This is the picture http://i60.tinypic.com/6zbju9.jpg

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  10. If you speak some Greek better, if not a translator and look at the pictures
    http://taxalia.blogspot.com.es/2014/09/blog-post_741.html

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  11. Interesting drawing the cutting of the tumulus made by participant in the comments in the blog empedotimos.blogspot.gr
    http://i60.tinypic.com/2d8i8v8.jpg

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  12. Mrs Peristeri spoke to the TV and said that the Tomb hasn't been plundered...so I don't know what to think now....

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  13. Read this. Very very interesting point of view....

    http://eamb-ydrohoos.blogspot.gr/2014/09/to-relic-tis-makedonias.html?m=1

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  14. Stunning pics!

    http://www.spirospero.gr/index.php/koinonia/120791-i-elliniki-politeia-thymithike-ton-tafo-tis-amfipolis-otan-to-1916-vretanoi-stratiotes-fotografizontan-ekei

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  15. I don't think so. Now I'm persuaded that this is only the beginning of this very tomb. I was told by a friend of mine who is connected to the archaeological team that they think the same thing. By the way, the Tyrian Red of the last chamber - which is in fact an anti-chamber - proves that a very very important person - royal blood ? - is buried here. So, knock on wood my friends.....Something very big may happen before the end of the week....

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  16. New ministry report with photos which are seen complete caryatids, huge (2,27m). Another drawing by the architect of the ministry that apears the third chamber almost empty of soil also. But there is no door to a fourth chamber, only a flat wall, although at the top seems to be a break ... With the translator I do not see that there is no reference in the text to that opening, if anyone who can read can bring light would be fantastic.
    http://www.yppo.gr/2/g22.jsp?obj_id=58512

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  17. Thank You for these links. Let's wait for the soil to be entirely removed. Could be à ow door with scales going down toward main chamber. This can't be the main chamber regarding the size of Tumulus. What a strange situation.

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  18. In the third chamber took place drilling sample check. So they found a marble doorway, opening 0.96 m!!!! This is the eight pictures published in the Ministry of Culture link. Look....

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  19. Michael Lefantzis says that a miniature of the diameter of the walls of Alexandria (15.840m) are the Amphipolis Tomb (158,4m) in 1/100 scale.

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    1. Thank you very much, I understood something but was not sure and drawing and no explicit mention of a fourth chamber misled me. Only 0.96 m, is a narrow door, maybe they think that could be a shrine for offerings mentioned and therefore not an entry to a new camera. Explicitly door is said in the press release?

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  20. Or a dissimulated door which must be lower and narrower than the previous ones in the way to prevent looting?

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    1. Or simply a fake door to mislead possible intruders? Any door just 96cm wide does not make any sense ...

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  21. Misleading intruders, yes, why not, but to divert them from what?

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  22. Aaah! Your guess is as good as mine!

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