Forty kilometers into the prefecture of Imathia via the national road linking Athens and Thessaloniki, lies Vergina, an average-sized village which in recent years became known world-wide for the significant find brought to light in the excavations by professor Manolis Andronikos.

East of the modern-day village, on the rises between Vergina and Palatitsia, an ancient city believed to be that of Aegae was discovered. Aegae was The first capital of the Macedonian kingdom, a land of prosperity and power, some 2500 years ago.

The buildings found include the acropolis, the magnificent palace with its beautiful mosaic floors, the sanctuary of the goddess eucleia, who was worshipped here, and the ancient theatre where King Philip II was assassinated in 336 BC.

It is here, in the very same place, that the king's son, Alexander the Great, was then directly proclaimed king and proceeded to plan his great expedition to Asia two years later.

However, the truly impressive findings in Vergina are the large, double-chambered tomb of Philip II with a facade resembling that of a Doric temple, a marble door, triglyphs and metopes, and a splendid painting of a hunting scene on the facade. Found inside the tomb were the pure gold larnax with the ashes of the deceased, a golden wreath, weapons, the gold and ivory shield, the iron cuirass and other objects. One of the wives of Philip II also appears to have been buried in the antechamber. She too was laid to rest in a pure gold larnax, with a golden diadem, most likely one of the most beautiful pieces of jewellery in the ancient world, a golden wreath of myrtle leaves and other fine objects.

A short distance away lies a tomb similar to that of Philip II, known as the "tomb of the Prince" and ascribed to Alexander IV, son of Alexander the Great and Roxanne. The painted decorations here are very well preserved.

There is one more cist tomb in the group of tumuli, but this one was found plundered. A brilliant mural does however still survive, which is none other that the rape of Persephone depicting her abduction by Pluto, the god of the underworld. Located on the archaeological site of Vergina is a building housing the royal tombs that also serves as a museum. It is definitely worth visiting in order to see the rare finds collected from the tombs. There are a number of other Macedonian tombs in the area. These are impressive as structures but were unfortunately found plundered.