Greece Reopens the Ancient Palace Where Alexander the Great Ruled

09.01.2024 - 04:18 / travelpulse.com / Kyriakos Mitsotakis / Laurie Baratti

The Greek government has just reopened an ancient palace where the well-known conqueror Alexander the Great ascended to the throne as King of Macedonia roughly 2,400 years ago. 

Formerly referred to as the Royal Metropolis of the Macedonians, the newly restored Palace of Aigai is an architectural marvel. It was the largest structure in classical Greece, sprawling across an expansive 15,000 square meters (over 161,000 square feet), according to the Greek Cultural Ministry.   

Constructed primarily under the auspices of Alexander the Great’s father, Philip II of Macedonia, in the Fourth century BCE, the palace holds profound historical significance, according to CNN Travel.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis articulated the palace's importance during the grand reopening, stating, “It is the place where Alexander the Great was crowned king, a short while after his father’s assassination, to commence his illustrious campaign.” 

Alexander’s reign initiated a transformative era in history, with his conquests spanning territories from present-day Greece to the far reaches of Egypt, Iran, and even northern India and central Asia.

The scale of his massive empire unlike anything that had been previously seen in the Western world. It heralded the dawn of the Hellenistic period, a pivotal epoch in Western history that endured from the time of his death until the ascendancy of the Roman Empire.

The vastness of his conquered territories set the stage for the migration of Greek culture throughout the eastern Mediterranean for the next millennium. Its far-reaching influence of during this period was profound, with many pivotal texts—including early renditions of the New Testament—transcribed into the Greek language. 

The illustrious palace was destroyed by Romans in 148 BCE and subsequently suffered from centuries of pillaging. The restoration of this emblematic, historic seat of power demanded considerable effort on the part of the Greek government. It took a total of 16 years of revitalization efforts, with the European Union’s assistance and an investment of €20 million (approximately US$21.9 million), to complete.

Mitsotakis emphasized the far-reaching significance of the endeavor, remarking, “What we are doing today is an event of global importance and international scope.” He continued, “The importance of such monuments transcends local boundaries, becoming property of all humanity. 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.”

The extensive restoration encompassed extensive excavation, artifact documentation and conservation initiatives. Among other things, the Greek government