Vergina is located in Macedonia, just 12km from Veria city, capital of Imathia prefecture. There, it has been found an ancient city, which is for sure Aegae. Aegae was the first capital of Ancient Macedonia and until about 400 B.C. when the capital of the Macedonian kingdom was transferred to Pella. However, even then, the old capital continued to keep its significant position as the sacred centre where the Macedonian kings were buried. This historic event helped particularly with the identification of Vergina, where the royal tombs were found.

The first important excavation took place by the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos in 1977 and both the universal public and scientific community were struck by the brilliance of the findings.

Today, the Palace and the Τheatre in ancient Aegae as well as the unique museum-shell at the Great Tumulus with the royal tombs attract a great number of visitors who are carried away by the magnificence of the discoveries from the Macedonian capital, the birthplace of king Phillip and his son, Alexander the Great, the Macedonian.

The most important discovered monuments at the archaeological site of Vergina-Aegae are:

The royal tombs of the Great Tumulus. There you will find three Macedonian tombs and a box-shaped grave, already been plundered. Between them there is a tomb having the form of a mansion with an antechamber and the facade of a Doric temple. This is considered to be the tomb of King Phillip B’ (336 B.C.).   

The royal tombs on the Northwestern part of the city. There you will find two  Macedonioan tombs, the “Tomb of Romaeo” with a facade of the Ionic order of the 3rdcentury B.C. and the “Tomb of Eurydice” which probably belongs to Fillip’smother and is dated back to 340B.C. Additionally, you will find three box-shapedgraves of 5th and 4th centuries B.C.

The Tumuly Cemetery. It is a cemetery with 300 tombs dated back to the Iron Age (11th- 8th centuries B.C.).

The Palace and the Theatre. The palace is dated back to 4th century B.C. and consists of a Sanctuary dedicated to Heracles Patroos and luxurious banquet chambers for the king and his courtesans. In one of them it is saved a pebble mosaic.

The sanctuary of Eukleia. It is located to the north side of the theatre and consists of two temples of 4th and 3rd centuries B.C.

The acropolis and the city wall. It is situated on the southern side of the settlement on a precipitous hill. The wall is extended to the east of the city. Sections of the courtyard and of the interior have been excavated. The fortification of Aegae dates from the Hellenistic years (late of 4th to the early of 3rd centuries B.C.)

At the underground Museum-shell of Vergina apart from the royal tombs of the Great  Tumulus, you will admire precious findings of exceptional art. Gold jewels, weapons, armours, vessels, inscriptions with exquisite patterns and colours which time didn’t manage to obliterate.

Admire the gold larnax with the sixteen-ray star from the funeral chamber of the tomb of Fillip B’, the gold wreath of oak, the chryselephantine shield, the helmet, the large sword, the breastplate, the spear heads, the copper greaves and the gold-plated collar plate which were  also included in the tomb of Fillip B’. The gold larnax which contained his bones, and the gold  oak-tree wreath are two of the most precious findings has been excavated to the history of  the world. The wreath weighs 714grammars, and consists of 313 leaves and 68 acorns and the larnax weighs about 11kilograms of pure gold.

In addition, you will admire the gold larnax with the twelve-ray star and the gold diadem which where found in the antechamber of the tomb of Phillip B’. A great interest presents the facade of the building of the tomb, which is been decorated by an exquisite fresco showing a multi-person hunting scene of exceptional art. Experts support that Philip B’ and his son Alexander are illustrated among the depicted persons in the scene. The visitor can also admire silver vessels and small gold discs with the star of Macedonia on them.

The exhibition in the museum is dedicated to Manolis Andronikos, the archaeologist who not only brought the these treasures to light but also had the knowledge to recognize them. Don’t miss to watch the excavator himself, in a specially formed projection place in the museum, showing the monuments on a videotape.