World News for Students of English

18-11-2014 15:00

Greek archaeologists have uncovered an underground grave with a skeleton in a tomb in the northern city of Amphipolis.

The burial site is believed to be the largest ever discovered in Greece. The tomb is estimated to have been built in the fourth century BC around the reign of the great warrior Alexander the Great of the Macedonian Kingdom.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Culture, the almost intact skeleton belonged to a “distinguished public figure“, due to the amount of marble that was used to build the tomb.

Greeks have been following with bated breath, as each of the chambers has been being dug out, with speculation running wild over who it could belong to.

Experts say it could belong to a friend or family member of Alexander the Great, or someone from his military or naval forces, due to its elaborate detail.

Archaeologists have been digging out the mysterious tomb, since August. In the recent discovery, iron and copper nails of the coffin, and decorative bone and glass ornaments that adorned it were also found.

Previously discovered items include two winged sphinxes at the entrance and a colourful detailed floor mosaic, depicting the mythological tale of the abduction of Persephone.

In ancient times, Amphipolis was a significant naval base and Alexander and his forces passed through.

Difficult words: tomb (place where a dead person is buried), estimate (to try to judge the date, size, value etc.), BC (before Christ), reign (rule), intact (not damaged), distinguished (successful), figure (person), due to (because of), marble (an expensive type of rock), with bated breath (very anxiously and excitedly), elaborate (complicated), adorn (make more beautiful), depict (show), abduction (kidnapping).

Source: www.ondemandnews.com