What a great find.
New archaeological research has uncovered a piece of cloth with “physical description” [that] The tunic worn by the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great fits the bill perfectly.
According to the study published in, it consists of “a cotton fabric dyed purple, sandwiched by one or two layers of a white substance composed primarily of the mineral huntite.” Field Archeology Journal.
The new discovery of a ruler from around 330 BC, found in ancient royal tombs in Vergina, Greece, has helped dedicated excavators learn more about the burial places of Alexander’s relatives.
The similarity between Alexander’s Cupboard and the frieze, known as the long carving on its wall, helped scientists in clothing identification,
“Ancient sources describe a medium white tunic, and it matches their description,” says researcher Dr. Antonis Bartsiokas. told the Greek reporter,
“If we examine the way it is depicted in the frieze of Tomb II, we can see that the tunic is shown with two white lines in the painting. This matches perfectly with the layers of material found inside the coffin,” he explained.
Tomb II is the burial site of Philip III Arrhidaeus’ half-brother – the trusted general was buried with some of his brother’s belongings, as the former ruler’s spoils were divided after his death.
According to the archaeologist, the question of the tunic has been debated within the scientific community since 1977 because the skeletal remains have not made it clear.
