The Palace of Aigai, in present-day Imathia, dominates the hill of the acropolis, marked by an ancient oak tree, and represents a landmark work of Philip II of Macedon, completed before 336 BC. With an area of approximately 9,250 sq. m., a two-storey building, and a monumental propylon combining Doric and Ionic architectural styles, the palace surpasses other Hellenistic royal residences in grandeur and clarity of form.

The square peristyle courtyard, the banquet halls with elaborate mosaic floors, the tholos of sacred character, and the terrace with panoramic views reflect the functional and political heart of the kingdom, while the advanced water supply and drainage systems highlight the technological innovation of the period. The architecture of the palace integrates private and public spaces with remarkable geometric precision, making it both monumental and functional. During the Antigonid period, a new wing was added, but its destruction by the Romans in 168 BC marked the end of its use as a royal residence. Despite its deterioration, the site retained a sacred character, its memory preserved in the Byzantine name “Palatitzia,” and it has been systematically excavated since 1961, revealing the concept of an absolute center of power, grandeur, and cultural influence of Macedonia.

http://odysseus.culture.gr/ Συντάκτης Αγγελική Κοτταρίδη, αρχαιολόγος