The remains of Alexander the Great, the ruler of the ancient Greek empire, have been moved multiple times throughout history, and the location of his final resting place remains unknown.
At the age of 32, Alexander the Great conquered lands stretching from the Balkans to present-day Pakistan, becoming the leader of one of the largest empires in ancient history. Despite his fame and impressive achievements, the exact location of his burial site remains a mystery, Live Science reported on April 9.
Sculpture of Alexander the Great riding Bucephalus in Thessaloniki, the port city of Greece. (Photo: Paulshark).
Alexander the Great died in Babylon in 323 BC. Shortly after, his empire fell apart as generals and officials vied for control. One of his generals, Ptolemy, took charge of Alexander’s body and transported it to Memphis, Egypt, in 321 BC, as Egyptologist Chris Naunton writes in his book “Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt.”
Historical records indicate that Alexander the Great’s body was likely kept in Memphis (an ancient city near Cairo) until the construction of a tomb in Alexandria was completed, at which point his remains were transferred. “It is unclear when this occurred, but it could have taken several decades,” Naunton noted. According to historical records, by the late 3rd century BC, another tomb for Alexander, referred to as “Sema” or “Soma,” was constructed in Alexandria. This appears to be the final resting place of Alexander the Great’s remains, Naunton wrote.
Experts are still uncertain about the exact location of this final tomb. The current location of the tomb may be underwater, according to the ancient Greek historian Strabo. However, it is also possible that the tomb lies further inland. Experts cannot be sure, according to Naunton.
“Ancient documents tell us that the tomb of Alexander the Great was next to the tomb of the Ptolemies in the palace complex in Alexandria, but the exact location is not clear,” said Andrew Erskine, a professor at the University of Edinburgh.
It is very likely that the tomb of Alexander the Great will never be found. “Perhaps little remains after centuries of destruction by humans and nature, and the modern city has completely covered the ancient city,” Naunton observed.
He added that even if the tomb’s remnants are discovered, experts may not be able to determine if it actually belonged to Alexander the Great. Historical texts provide very little information about the tomb’s shape, and an inscription may be needed to help with identification.
Although the exact location of Alexander the Great’s final tomb remains undetermined, there is one site and one artifact that still exist today and may have once held his remains. The first is a structure located east of Alexandria known as the Alabaster Tomb. This tomb lacks any inscriptions but is quite large. It is likely where Alexander the Great’s remains were kept after they were first transported to Alexandria. The tomb dates back to around the 3rd century BC and features some design elements similar to other ancient tombs in Macedonia.
An ornate sarcophagus made for Nectanebo II, the pharaoh who fled Egypt around 343 BC when the Persians invaded, is also believed to have held the remains of Alexander the Great for a period, possibly after his remains were initially brought to Memphis from Babylon. This sarcophagus is currently housed in the British Museum in London.
Some scholars believe that the final tomb will eventually be discovered. Independent researcher Andrew Chugg has identified several potential sites in Alexandria. Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, former minister of Egypt’s Antiquities, believes the tomb is located in what is now the Latin Cemetery at El-Shatby, Alexandria.
