VERGINA - AIGAI

The site was inhabited since the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) becoming an important center, rich and densely inhabited in the Early Iron Age (11th - 8th centuries BC). The city reached it s highest point of prosperity during the archaic and classical periods and especially when the Macedonian royalty established in the city making it famous for the wealth of the royal tombs. Excavations revealed important monuments from the Macedonian period such as:

The Royal Tombs in the Great Tumulus: this site includes three tombs, one of them belongs to king Philip II and other probably to Alexander IV.

The Royal Tombs to the NW of the city: includes two Macedonian tombs from the 3rd century BC, one of them probably belongs to Eurydice, mother of Philip II.

The Cemetery of the tumuli: it is an imposing necropolis of the Iron Age including more than 300 small earthen tumuli.

The Palace and the Theatre: dating back to the 4th century BC, both monuments form part of one complex. The Palace contained a circular shrine dedicated to Herakles Patroos. One of the luxury banquet halls contains a fine mosaic floor.

The Temple of Eukleia: included two temples from the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, and a series of offerings among which two bases of the votive statues dedicated by queen Eurydice, grandmother of Alexander the Great.

The Acropolis and the City Walls: it is located in the south of the settlement. The fortification wall extends to the east of the city. Excavations on the Acropolis revealed parts of the circular wall and Hellenistic houses.

In 1977, when the Royal Tombs were discovered in Vergina - Aigai, an immediate program was launched to preserve the magnificent murals which adorned them. At the same time, a conservation laboratory was set up on the spot to save and restore the extremely important portable objects they contained. For the preservation of the Royal Tombs themselves, a subterranean structure was built in 1993 to encase and protect the ancient monuments by maintaining a constant temperature and humidity, indispensable for the preservation of the wall paintings.