Tomb of Philip II Gold Larnax

The larnax is widely believed to have contained the cremated remains of Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. It was discovered in 1977 inside a tomb at the Great Tumulus of Vergina by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos.

The larnax is a magnificent golden box weighing roughly 11 pounds, featuring intricate relief palmettes and a Macedonian star on its lid. Inside the box were the cremated bones of a man wrapped in a purple cloth, alongside a golden oak wreath.

The larnax is currently displayed at the Museum of the Royal Tombs at Aigai (Vergina) in northern Greece. It is kept inside the dark, climate-controlled underground museum that was built directly over the ancient tombs.

The 16-pointed Vergina Sun depicted on the larnax lid was the royal emblem of the ancient Macedonian dynasty of the Argeads. Its presence was a crucial piece of evidence that led archaeologists to confidently identify the tomb as that of Philip II.