Aegae

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Aegae (Егеј), or Aigai (Αιγαί, Αιγαος), was a city in Emathia and the original capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedon. The site is located on the foothills of the Pierian Mountains, between the modern towns of Vergina and Palatitsia. Aegae was founded around 750 BC and served as the royal burial ground for the Macedonian kings. The city was abandoned in the 3rd century AD and rediscovered in the 19th century.

Aegae is historically significant for several reasons:

  • It was the site where Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, was assassinated in 336 BC.

  • The city contains the royal tombs, including the tomb of Philip II, which was discovered by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos in 1977.

  • The recently excavated palace at Aegae is considered one of the most significant buildings of classical Greece.

Today, Aegae is an important archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting visitors from around the world.

Identification

The site of Aegae, now known as Vergina (Kutleš), was rediscovered in the 19th century. Initial excavations were conducted by Léon Heuzey of the French School at Athens in the 1860s. However, it wasn't until 1977 that Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos made significant discoveries, including the tomb of Philip II, which confirmed the site's historical importance.
 
In the late 19th century, William Smith said that Aegae was probably a different place from the nearby Edessa (Vodena), which is situated about 59 kilometers (36.7 miles) from Vergina and was often identified with the ancient location of Aegae..
Sources:
  • Smith, William. "A Classical Dictionary of Biography, Mythology, and Geography". London: John Murray, 1878. p. 11.