According to scientists, an impressive cotton chiton (tunic) belonged to Alexander the Great. However, fragments of this ceremonial garment were discovered not in Alexander’s tomb, but likely in the grave of his half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaeus. Researchers believe he inherited the tunic after Alexander’s death in 323 BC.
Alexander the Great was the king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 BC. He died at the age of 32 and is now regarded as one of the most successful military commanders in history, the creator of what is often referred to as a world empire. Unfortunately, the final resting place of Alexander the Great remains a mystery. It is widely believed that he was initially buried in Egypt, but his body may have been moved to another location to prevent the tomb from being looted.
Researchers first stumbled upon the royal necropolis in Vergina in the 1970s. They speculated that three tombs contained high-status individuals who were connected to Alexander the Great during their lifetimes, including his son Alexander IV, his father Philip II, and the aforementioned half-brother Philip III Arrhidaeus.
The authors of a new study led by Antonios Barciokas, a professor of anthropology at Democritus University of Thrace (Greece), aimed to determine which family members of Alexander the Great were buried in these three tombs. Using advanced methods to analyze the remains, the scientists concluded that Philip III Arrhidaeus was buried in one of them—“Tomb II.” It was in this grave that archaeologists discovered the purple-and-white chiton of Alexander the Great.
Meanwhile, Philip II rested in “Tomb I,” and Alexander IV was in “Tomb III.”
What Makes Alexander the Great’s Chiton Noteworthy?
Professor Barciokas noted that the ruler’s clothing is heavily fragmented. Physical, chemical, and microscopic analyses of the fragments revealed that the tunic was made from cotton fabric, primarily dyed in purple and white. The purple color indicated the high status of its owner.
More specifically, the luxurious fabric consisted of several layers of purple, along with one or two layers of white. Researchers found a shiny mineral called huntite in the white fragments, as reported by the Daily Mail.
This tunic was likely worn by Alexander the Great after he conquered Persia, as the purple color and huntite were symbols of power among Persian rulers.
In addition to the sacred tunic, researchers also discovered a golden scepter, a wreath, and a diadem in this tomb.