Greece's Amphipolis tomb in central Macedonia to open to the public under pilot plan

The Greek Ministry of Culture has carried out an assessment of the conservation and enhancement works at Amphipolis in central Macedonia, ekathimerini.com reports.

The famous archaeological site, which generated global media attention in 2014 after the discovery of the late 4th century BC Kasta Tomb, is currently undergoing a massive restoration project, with financial support from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Fund.

The Ministry announced plans in 2017 to open the monumental tomb to the general public once restoration works have been completed. Following the latest assessment, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni noted: “The works at the Kasta Tomb are proceeding according to schedule. Within 2022, a pilot plan will be launched, allowing specific groups of the public to access the burial monument, in order to examine the specifics of the site and find the best solutions for its operation.”

The famous burial monument, the largest ever discovered in Greece, dates to the time of Alexander the Great. Due to its enormous size – 158 meters in diameter – scholars have speculated that it belonged to a wealthy Macedonian noble, a member of the royal family, or as a monument to Hephaestion, second-in-command (“Chiliarch”) of Alexander’s empire and his closest friend and confidant.

Mendoni added that work on the tomb, supported by the Central Macedonia Region funding program, would be completed in 2023, while a new phase will continue through 2027.