22 MACEDONIAN CROWNS IN THE ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THESSALONIKI

More than ten gold crowns Macedonian , rare archaeological finds over the past decade came to light thanks to an unforeseen combination of excavation, illegal excavations and antiquities action.
Eight wreaths were found in 2008 in excavation of the metro in Thessaloniki, two in 2009 and 2010 in Vergina, a repatriated to Greece in 2007 from the U.S. Getty Museum and one found in 2000 at the hands of a farmer, was product and antiquities found in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. ...

On the occasion of these new findings, scientific workshop organized in Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum on 3 June.
Scholars and archaeologists in Greece and abroad will be reported on the use of wreaths and their depiction in art, technology and typology.

It is the first conference organized by subject, as explained in the "A" Despina Ignatiadou by the Organizing Committee, Head of the Department of Metalwork Gallery Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
"Following the Crown acquired recently asked by the excavators to make a presentation of findings and attempt to take this opportunity to reassess and older," he adds.

According to the archaeologist XVI Inspectorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Bettina Tsigarida, participating in the Steering Committee and will present a paper at the conference, Macedonia is a region of the ancient Greek world, which have a large number of metal crowns, which date from the mid 4th to mid-2nd century BC

Made primarily of gold, and bronze or silver, with olive leaves, myrtle, laurel, ivy and occasionally oak wreaths are richer and more elaborate in the second half of the fourth century (reign of Philip II and the Great Alexander) and then formatted and simplified.

In any case, ancient Greek wreaths are subjects that fascinate the public and archaeologists, are prized by collectors, while hiding many secrets.

"There are many issues we have yet to decipher than with wreaths and especially their use," observes Ms. Ignatiadou.

Used in real life, as shown by the little information that preserve sources.

It was personal items worn in ceremonies? What were these ceremonies? Was initiation ceremonies? What mysteries? Civil, administrative or religious type? Was private or public character? And how related plants representing the gods?

There is much we do not know and trying now totals identified to conclude, "he notes.

The most famous hoops
The most precious crown surviving from Greek antiquity is the gold wreath of oak (the second half of 4th century BC) found in the main chamber of the royal tomb at Vergina, in a golden urn.

It consists of 313 leaves and 68 acorns and weighs 714 grams.

The findings of the royal tombs at Vergina are two more gold wreaths of myrtle leaves and flowers of the 4th century BC

In the 4th century BC dating also two gold myrtle and olive wreaths that were in the 60s on the graves of Derveni, gold wreath of olive leaves and flowers found in Stavropol Thessaloniki and gold wreath from the grave Sevastis Pieria.

Gold wreath of olive leaves from the 3rd century BC from Amphipolis exposed in the Archaeological Museum of Kavala.

Major findings of the Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis included two gold medals and olive wreaths of oak 4th century.

The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki has 22 gold crowns Macedo, a collection which is considered the world's richest.

17 ΜΑΥ 2011
NEWSPAPER :AGGELIOFOROS THESALONIKI