Massive Kasta Tumulus restored

The Kasta Tumulus, the largest known burial monument from ancient Macedonia, is now visible along its entire circumference and height. Restorers exposed the full peribolos, a marble enclosure wall with a 497-meter perimeter, and filled areas of loss on the southern side using ancient blocks and custom-made artificial stones. Inside the monument, stabilization and strengthening were completed with new metal supports, while older supports and pillars were removed to make the interior fully visible. Planned repairs include reinstalling the monumental marble door and restoring broken sphinx elements. Excavation in 2014 revealed extensive antiquity ransacking and no grave goods, with remains of five individuals dated to the last quarter of the 4th century BC. The tomb’s scale suggests a connection to Alexander the Great or the royal family, with Hephaestion proposed but unproven. The AmphiPoly project will document, scan, and analyze the tomb for an accurate digital reconstruction using advanced imaging and visualization methods.

"One hypothesis is that it was the tomb of Hephaestion, Alexander's closest friend and general who died in Persia in 324 B.C., although no direct evidence supporting the attribution has been discovered. Last fall, the Ministry of Culture launched the AmphiPoly project to scientifically document, scan and analyze the Kasta Tumulus with the aim of creating an accurate digital reconstruction of the monumental tomb. Archaeometric analyses, high-resolution 3D scanning, photogrammetry and data visualization applications will be used by researchers in collaboration with visual artists to"

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