Identity of the Occupants of the Tomb of Persephone in Vergina Revealed: They Are Not Philip II and His Wife

An international team of scientists has unveiled new findings about the enigmatic Tomb I, known as the Tomb of Persephone, located in the Great Tumulus of Vergina, Greece. This monument, considered part of the funerary complex of the Macedonian kings, has been the subject of debate for decades. Now, thanks to advanced techniques such as radiocarbon dating, ancient DNA analysis, and isotope studies, researchers have been able to shed light on who was buried there and when they lived.

Tomb I was discovered in 1977 by Professor Manolis Andronikos and his team. It is a unique tomb, decorated with exceptional frescoes depicting the myth of the Rape of Persephone, a work that some attribute to the famous painter Nikomachos of Thebes. Despite having been looted in antiquity, the tomb preserved human and animal skeletal remains, as well as small objects such as gold beads and pottery fragments.

For years, it was speculated that the tomb might house the remains of historical figures such as Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) or his wife Cleopatra. However, these theories lacked scientific support. The new study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, puts an end to these speculations with concrete evidence.

macedonia vergina tomb 1 — A: Diagram of the Great Tumulus of Vergina with the 4 graves and the Heroon (Shrine). Tomb I, a cist tomb, is situated next to the foundations of Heroon. B: Representation of the Tombs in the Great Tumulus; the destroyed Heroon, above and adjacent to Tomb I, the two-chamber vaulted Tomb II and further away Tomb III. Credit: Grant (2019)

The Occupants of the Tomb

The researchers analyzed more than 40 samples of bones and teeth found in the tomb, divided into two groups: the “on the ground” bones (in situ remains and mixed fragments) and the “in fill” bones (found in upper soil layers).

The results revealed that most of the adult bones belong to a male between 25 and 35 years old, with an approximate height of 1.67 meters. His remains, including femurs and tibias, were found in anatomical position, indicating that he was originally buried there. Radiocarbon dating places his death between 388 and 356 BCE, ruling out Philip II, who died in 336 BCE.

Among the analyzed bones, four belonged to a young woman between 18 and 25 years old. Although her remains are scarce, her presence suggests that she was buried alongside the man. The objects found in the tomb, such as golden beads and a marble shell, may be associated with her.

The bones of fetuses and newborns, as well as those of animals (such as goats and dogs), found in the tomb date from between 150 BCE and 130 CE, during the Roman period. This indicates that the tomb was reused centuries later, probably as a place to deposit deceased children.

Who Was the Man Buried in Tomb I?

Although the study does not definitively identify the man, the dates and historical context point to an important member of the Macedonian royal family. Possible candidates include Amyntas III (grandfather of Alexander the Great), who died in 370/369 BCE, or his sons Alexander II and Perdiccas III, whose deaths fall within the obtained date range.

Strontium isotope analyses revealed that this man spent part of his childhood away from Vergina, possibly in northwestern Greece or the Peloponnese, before returning to the region in adulthood. In contrast, the woman buried with him appears to have always lived in the area of Vergina and Pella.

The tomb was looted in 274/3 BCE by Gallic mercenaries, who, according to ancient accounts, scattered the bones as an act of contempt. However, the remains of the man and the woman were already skeletonized by then, confirming that they had been buried much earlier. During the Roman period, the tomb was reopened and used to deposit the remains of infants and animals, until it was finally sealed again.

SOURCES

Yannis Maniatis, Konstantina Drosou, et al., New scientific evidence for the history and occupants of tomb I (“Tomb of Persephone”) in the Great Tumulus at Vergina. Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 179, July 2025, 106234. doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106234