History buffs who visit Greece in the future will have an opportunity to visit another significant historical landmark. The Palace of Aigai, the site on which the legendary ruler Alexander the Great was crowned, was officially re-opened to the public earlier this month after the completion of lengthy restoration works.
The Palace of Aigai covers a surface of 160,000 square feet and is considered the largest remaining structure from the period of Classical Greece. It was built in the 4th century BC by Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. The complex served as the home of Macedonia’s Argead dynasty before the Romans destroyed it in the 2nd century BC.
“The importance of such monuments transcends local boundaries, becoming property of all humanity,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Prime Minister, told CNN. “And we as the custodians of this precious cultural heritage, we must protect it, highlight it, promote it and at the same time expand the horizons revealed by each new facet.”
After being destroyed, the Palace of Aigai was looted and subsequently fell to ruins. In 2008, the Greek government started the restoration process that included excavating the site, conserving the discovered artifacts, and rebuilding columns, mosaics, and marble flooring. Altogether, the restoration lasted 16 years and came at a cost of $22 million.