Footsteps of Paul-The Lion Monument of Amphipolis

 

This massive and stunning monument is a 4th century BC tomb 

structure near Amphipolis, Macedonia in Northern Greece.

It is believed to have been constructed to honor Laomedon

of Mytilene, who was a superior general of Alexander the Great, 

king of Macedon.

It is now located about 1 km outside the south gate 

of the ancient city. Authorities are uncertain of its original

 location but it would have been visible when St. Paul 

traveled through this area on his missionary travels.  

It may have been part of a Tomb Structure 

in ancient Amphipolis.

The lion now sits alongside the Via Egnatia 

described in Acts 17:1.

The rediscovery of it is more modern.

It was found by Greek soldiers in the First Balkan War

in 1912-13 when they drained the Strymonas River bed,

It seems that part of the lion had been recycled to build a dam

in or after the Roman period to build a more modern bridge.

Later, British soldiers found more of the monument in 1916,

during WWII. In the early 1930's more pieces of the lion 

were discovered when they drained part of Lake Kerkini. 

Finally in 1937, the US ambassador in Greece 

created funding to restore the Lion of Amphipolis.

The Lion may have once been at the top

 of the Amphipolis tomb.

This is located on the Hill of Kasta near Amphipolis

and it is believed that these tombs hold great secrets.

Excavation began in 1964 and they entered the 

first tomb in August 2014.

It is the largest ancient tumulus-burial mound

ever discovered in Greece and by comparison 

dwarfs that of Philip II of Macedon, 

father of Alexander the Great in Vergina.

It opened in April 2023 to researchers, scientists 

and tour operators 

and plans are to open it to the public in 2027.