Vergina

Vergina
Βεργίνα
Vergina is located in Greece
Vergina
Vergina
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 40°29′N 22°19′E / 40.483°N 22.317°E / 40.483; 22.317
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCentral Macedonia
Regional unitImathia
MunicipalityVeroia
Area
 • Municipal unit69.0 km2 (26.6 sq mi)
Lowest elevation
120 m (390 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipal unit
2,034
 • Municipal unit density29/km2 (76/sq mi)
 • Community
1,096
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Vergina
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official nameArchaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina)
CriteriaCultural: i, iii
Reference780
Inscription1996 (20th Session)
Area1,420.81 ha
Buffer zone4,811.73 ha

Vergina (Greek: Βεργίνα, Vergína [verˈʝina]) is a small town in Northern Greece, part of Veria municipality in Imathia, Central Macedonia. Vergina was established in 1922 in the aftermath of the population exchanges after the Treaty of Lausanne and was a separate municipality until 2011, when it was merged with Veroia under the Kallikratis Plan.

Vergina is best known as the site of ancient Aigai (Αἰγαί, Aigaí, Latinized: Aegae), the first capital of Macedon. In 336 BC Philip II was assassinated in Aigai's theatre and his son, Alexander the Great, was proclaimed king. In 1977, the burial sites of several kings of Macedon were uncovered, including the tomb of Philip II which had not been disturbed or looted, unlike so many of the other tombs there. The ancient town was also the site of an extensive royal palace. The archaeological museum of Vergina was built to house all the artifacts found at the site and is one of the most important museums in Greece.[2]

Aigai has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status as "an exceptional testimony to a significant development in European civilization, at the transition from classical city-state to the imperial structure of the Hellenistic and Roman periods".[2]

  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Archaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina)". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 25 November 2022.