for those whove been to macedonia

[luisfc1972]

i am planning next summer for europe. i intend to see the sight of the battle of thermopylae and do some greek island hopping as well. i also want to go to pella in macedonia. my question, is there anything to see in pella regarding alexander the great? museums? ruins? etc

[ruthaki]

I just had a three-page spread in a local newspaper published on "Searching for Alexander", a trip I have made many times during my research trips and while living in Greece. You might enjoy reading it. I've listed various sites as well as the ones mentioned in the story. If you want more info I may be able to help you out as I've been visiting/living in Greece since 1978.http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprov ... 2e560f5144

[jona]

Pella has a nice museum and a fine excavation with gorgeous mosaics. A visit to Naoussa is to be recommended, where you can see Aristotle's school (note: east of Naoussa, on the plain). The Thessaloniki museum is beautiful, and contains several finds from Vergina, which you must not ignore either: it is ancient Aegae, where Philip was murdered. Greek archaeologists are divided whether the tomb is that of Philip II (the usual interpretation) or Philip Arridaeus (proposed by Olga Pelagia).Moving to the south: the Olympus and the canyon of Tempe (one of Alexander's forgotten battlefields). Thermopylae is interesting, but you must climb in one of the electricity masts to get a good view. Don't forget Chaeronea. Thebes is a dusty provincial town without memories of Alexander, but I love the place.Jona

[stavros]

great article. i had no idea Olympias was from Dodoni. I love the local Dodoni fetta cheese they produce there. :)luis, greece is amazing, every part of it. just returned from my holiday there, the only problem i had was wanting to see it all in such little time.

[matz]

I was a bit disappointed when I finally managed to see Pella. Except for the urban planning obvious from the city layout, the mosaics were the thing to see. Even though right in the middle of the season, there were several conserved sections unavailable to the visitor(s). As far as the southern part is concerned (on the other side of the road), there is nothing to see except for some foundations, amphorae and columns scattered around the place. Strange feeling of lack of appreciation and care for the capital of this Greek dynasty.If you're in the area, though, I definitelly recommend seeing it.By the way, try not to miss the explanatory text next to the map of the city at the entrance to the site - very informative indeed.

[ruthaki]

You might find Ithaka interesting if you read the Odyssey. I was lucky while there to get taken around by the mayor and was introduced to the archaeologist working on the Odysseus Project there at the digs. All those islands on the West Coast are remarkable. I especially love Kefalonia and the south end of Lefkada. If you go a ways up the coast there to Parga you can visit the famous Nekromanteon (oracle of the dead) which Odysseus visited to conjur Achille's ghost and as it is in Olympia's territory I have no doubt she went there and more than likely Alexander too. You might see links to more of my travel stories about Greece on my website: http://www.dreamwater.org/ruthakiI've covered a lot of territory there, even Sparta (another interesting place). ruthaki