The elusive tomb of Alexander the Great

Once again, the hunt is on for the tomb of Alexander - and not only in Alexandria. On a more or less regular base, we are bombarded with articles of archaeologists who have found the great conqueror’s tomb or are stepping on its tail.

The huge tumulus of Kasta Hill near Amphipolis triggered a storm of speculations, with Alexander as the main suspected occupant (see: Nonsense about Alexander’s grave in Amphipolis). Such news was only a side track from the many excavations carried out in the depths of Alexandria (see: The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great in Egypt?) and also (see: New speculation about Alexander’s tomb). More professional studies were made by Nicholas J. Saunders (see: Alexander’s Tomb, the Two Thousand Year Obsession to Find the Lost Conqueror) and Andrew Chugg (see: The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great and The Quest for the Tomb of Alexander the Great).

None of these “red alerts” are really conclusive, except maybe Andrew Chugg’s speculations about the tomb at San Marco in Venice, which could be checked if the church accepted to open the sarcophagus of the saint for inspection.

[Buried and forgotten for centuries, the foundation walls of a monumental building 
dating to the era of Alexander the Great have been uncovered 

in the Egyptian city named in his honor [Credit: National Geographic]

This being said, it is not surprising to read about yet another near-discovery of Alexander’s tomb in Alexandria. How optimistic or how skeptic should we be?

At this point, at more than ten meters below the surface of the modern city, archaeologists have found buildings from Hellenistic times, including a statue of Alexander (see: Magnificent Alexander statue found in Alexandria) exhibited at the National Museum of Alexandria. They are digging in the ancient royal quarters of the Ptolemies, uncovering part of a Roman road, and a huge public building that could (of course!) lead to Alexander’s tomb.

After at least 140 officially registered excavations in Alexandria alone that led to a dead end, it makes you wonder whether in the present case we are confronted with hopeful prospects or wishful thinking. Finding the lost tomb of Alexander the Great equals discovering the Holy Grail. What is next?