In Greece, the ancient palace where approximately 2,400 years ago the military leader Alexander the Great became the king of Macedonia has been reopened. The Aigai Palace, located in the city of Vergina, opened after 16 years of restoration.
This palace was built by Alexander the Great’s father, Philip II of Macedon, in the 4th century BC. It covered an area of about 15,000 square meters and was the largest building in classical Greece.
“This is the place where Alexander the Great was crowned shortly after his father was killed, before embarking on his glorious campaign,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the opening ceremony.
Alexander the Great conquered a vast territory stretching from modern-day Greece to Egypt, Iran, and to Northern India and Central Asia. His empire, unprecedented in Western history at that time, initiated what historians call the Hellenistic period.
Restoring the birthplace of the empire was not easy. It took 16 years and over 20 million euros ($21.9 million) for the restoration.
