Greek archaeologists made a surprising discovery on Saturday: two Caryatids, a.k.a. female sculptures, in a tomb dating to the time of Alexander the Great.
The Caryatids were unearthed in Amphipolis, which is roughly 65 miles from the city of Thessaloniki, and are made of marble, complete with red and blue paint. The sculptures stood between two pillars and wore sleeved tunics. The team had previously discovered two sphinxes guarding the tomb.
"The right arm of the western Caryatid and the left arm of the eastern one are both outstretched, as if to symbolically prevent anyone attempting to enter the grave," the Culture Ministry said in a statement. "The presence of a second sealing wall with Caryatids supports the idea this is an outstanding monument of particular importance."
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Just how important is that "particular importance?" Andrew Chugg, author of The Quest for the Tomb of Alexander the Great, thinks the tomb may have been home to Olympias, Alexander the Great's mother. --Meghan DeMaria
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