Remains Identified as Those of Alexander’s Brother

A Macedonian tomb found near Vergina, Greece, 23 years ago and thought to contain the body of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, actually holds the remains of Alexander’s brother and successor, Philip III Arrhidaeus, according to Greek archeologists. The skull originally had been identified as that of Philip II because of what appeared to be a healed wound in the right eye. Philip was wounded by an arrow in that eye.

But new research reported by archeologist Antonis Bartsiokis of the Anaximandrian Institute of Human Evolution in Voula in the April 21 issue of Science indicates that the apparent wound is simply a natural artifact of the bone. Furthermore, he reported, objects in the tomb can be dated to the period of Philip III’s rule and damage to the bones indicates that the body was cremated many months after death, as was the case with Philip III but not Philip II.

*

Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II