14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this month, archaeologists exploring an Alexander the Great-era tomb in Greece came across two positively stunning female sculptures.
Recent news says that these sculptures, each measuring an impressive 7.45 feet (2.27 meters) in height, are surprisingly fashionable. Thus, they not only have jewelry adorning their body, but also stand tall on platform sandals.
Fashion in the 4th century BC
Information shared with the public by the Greek Ministry of Culture says that these two sculptures, placed between two pillars and entrusted with guarding the entrance to the tomb, are dressed in tunics. Besides, they are wearing earrings.
Having excavated the ground at the base of these figures, archaeologists found that the two wavy-haired stone ladies are wearing shoes with a surprisingly thick sole. Researchers say that these shoes are basically platform sandals.
Interestingly enough, it appears that whoever created these statues did not just spend hours on end carving their toes and making them look as human-like as possible, but also took the time to paint the sandals, Live Science informs.
Thus, traces of red and yellow paint have been documented on both these female sculptures' footwear. Whether these colors were chosen simply because the artist happened to fancy them or because they served as some sort of symbols remains a mystery.
The excavation work is far from over
The sketch below, made available to the general public by the Greek Ministry of Culture, documents the progress that has until now been made in terms of excavating this burial complex in Amphipolis. As noticeable, just two rooms have until now been explored.
Still, researchers say that at least one other is hidden behind the tomb's third wall. Whether this room accommodates for human remains is yet to be discovered, the archaeologists now busy exploring this site explain.
Some believe that this burial complex was built to accommodate for the body of Alexander the Great. Hence the fact that the tomb was designed and put together by Alexander's chief architect, a man named Dinocrates.
However, the most likely explanation is that, even if the burial complex is the creation of Dinocrates, it was created not to serve as a final resting place for Alexander the Great but to house the remains of somebody very close to him, possibly his mother.
Until researchers are done excavating the place and putting together bits and pieces of information concerning its history and its architecture, there is no way to say for sure what purpose this 4th century BC tomb was supposed to serve when completed.
