In 1977, an archaeologist named Manolus Andronikos managed to penetrate a great earthen mound in the small town of Vergina in northern Greece.

Virgina, long ago, had been the capital of the Kingdom of Macedon, back then known as Agii.

Andronicus was a dreamer, and had long believed that the great kings of Macedon's ancient past were interred in the great earthen barrows in that region.

In particular, Andronikos believed that one hill was the royal tomb of Philip de Stavius, ancient paths were interred in the great earthen barrows in that region.

In particular, Andronikos believed that one hill was the royal tomb of Philip II of Massadon.

What they unearthed was a vast network of burial sites, untouched by grave robbers and intact

after 2,000 years.

Inside that, they found a number of bodies, including a man with distinctive cranial injury,

a young boy, and a woman.

Lo and behold, Andronicus was right.

He had unearthed the body of Philip II, and possibly that of Alexander IV and his mother,

Roxanne.

It was one of the greatest finds of the 20th century, but it had also refueled the fire of one of the greatest archaeological mysteries of all time.

Where was the body of Alexander the Great?

Now, the tombs and bodies of great figures being hidden or lost over the centuries is not an uncommon idea.

We have stories of conquerors like

Jingis Khan or Tamugin of the Mongol Empire and Attila the Hun being interred into

secret spots and where everyone involved is killed and the land is trampled over lest

anyone tried to sack the tomb's treasures. Famously, the Egyptian pharaohs were also fond of embalming the dead and sealing away

elaborate tombs. But Alexander was different. We have testimonies across the centuries of famous

figures visiting the Great King's tomb and viewing his body, until it vanishes from the record. How could the corpse the most famous conqueror in history disappear,

considering that it was such high profile in the ancient world?

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