New photos of Amphipolis Caryatids released

[Ichingcarpenter]

The full height of each caryatid is 2.27 metres and they are wearing chitons - or full-length draped dresses, tied in the middle - and a long himation, or a shawl-like cover over their dress, with fringes and several folds.

Read more at: http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.dk/2014/09/new-photos-of-amphipolis-caryatids.html#.VCAQnmrIfto.reddit
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[NBachers]

1. Standing there, guarding, all these centuries . . .

Please keep us updated with whatever you find out about this remarkable find.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Did British soldiers plunder Amphipolis Tomb in 1916?

A photograph has emerged depicting soldiers from a regiment of the British Army, proudly holding skulls found around the Amphipolis Tomb in Greece, raising questions about whether they may have plundered the tomb nearly a century ago.

The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI), a regiment of the British Army formed in 1881, was posted to Thessalonika in Greece in 1915 at the request of the Greek Prime Minister and spent nearly three years fighting the Bulgarians in Macedonia


It is already known that the spectacular Lion of Amphipolis, a 5.3 metre-high marble statue that once stood on top of the giant tomb of Amphipolis, was found by British soldiers who were building fortifications at the bridge of Amphipolis in 1916. The British tried to smuggle the marble parts to England, but their efforts were thwarted when Bulgarians who had just seized Paggaion attacked them. Archaeologist Fotis Petsas, whose work on the history of the Lion of Amphipolis was published in 1976 in "Proodos" newspaper that circulated in Serres, wrote:

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/did-british-soldiers-plunder-amphipolis-tomb-1916-002097

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. If you are interested in archeology and anthropology

We have a forum on DU with many stories that are never posted in Science.

Anthropology.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1229

[newfie11]

3. Amazing work

To think how long ago this was created, what a great talent someone had.

[niyad]

5. k and r and thank you so much for posting this.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Amphipolis caryatids may hint that Olympias lies within

According to Andrew Chugg, author of "The Quest for the Tomb of Alexander the Great", the caryatids - sculpted female figures serving as architectural supports – represent Orphic priestesses of Dionysus who took part in sacred rites. If true, some scholars argue the tomb must belong to Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great.

"These female sculptures may specifically be Klodones, priestesses of Dionysus with whom Olympias, Alexander the Great's mother, consorted," Chugg told Discovery News. "This is because the baskets they wear on their heads are sacred to Dionysus."
According to Chugg, the seven feet tall marble statues represent female guardians because their alternated arms outstretched as if to symbolically stop intruders from entering the chamber, and this would rule out a male occupant.


Chugg explained that the Greek historian Plutarch, in his book ‘Life of Alexander’, wrote that Olympias was a passionate devotee of Dionysus and used to participate in Dionysiac rites and orgies with the Klodones, in which the mystical baskets, like those seen on the heads of the caryatids, were used to hold Olympias' pet snakes, which would terrify the male participants in the Dionysiac rites.

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/amphipolis-caryatids-may-hint-olympias-lies-within-002113