Meta Description: Join Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe in Ad Navseam Episode 172 as they explore the Royal Tombs of Macedon, the mystery of Aigai, and resources to master the Latin language.
Introduction: Pensive Moods and the Omphalos
Welcome back, classical gourmands, to Episode 172 of the Ad Navseam Podcast! Broadcasting directly from the bunker—now elevated to the status of Vomitorium Central, their very own Parnassus and omphalos (the belly button of the world dropped by the eagle)—your hosts, Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle, return to the microphones.
The episode kicks off with the hosts evaluating their current states. Jeff declares that his middle initial “T” stands for “Topical,” as he is bringing today’s fascinating archaeological subject. Meanwhile, he admits he is desperately pining for warmer weather. Having just heard the infamous groundhog saw his shadow, Jeff is bracing himself for a few more weeks of cold before enduring the merciless, lousy month of “Smarch”.
Dave, on the other hand, admits he is feeling unusually pensive. He is currently plagued by a musical earworm from Johnny Cash’s apocalyptic song, “The Man Comes Around,” featuring whirlwinds in trees of thorns and a man deciding who to free and who to blame.
The Mononymous Author and the Discovery at Vergina
Shaking off the apocalyptic dread, Jeff introduces the primary academic focus of Episode 172: the stunning 1977 discovery of the royal tombs at Vergina, the ancient Macedonian capital of Aigai.
To guide the discussion, Jeff utilizes a 2023 book titled Unearthing the Family of Alexander the Great: The Remarkable Discovery of the Royal Tombs of Macedon. When Jeff initially texted Dave the title, a typo resulted in the author’s name appearing as “David Grabty” rather than David Grant. Dave spent days searching for the mysterious “Grabty,” joking that he assumed the author was simply “mononymous”. This prompts a hilarious digression regarding mononymous figures—like Bono, Sting, Enya, and Madonna—and why academics never attempt to go by a single, powerful name.
While Grant is not a traditional classics academic, Jeff praises him as an excellent storyteller and popularizer, even if he occasionally leans into purple prose and wild speculation.
The Descent: Greaves, Tripods, and the Sarissa
Grant sets the dramatic scene on November 8, 1977. Professor Manolis Andronikos—a Greek archaeologist who possessed a physical profile remarkably identical to ancient depictions of King Philip II—prepared to open the tomb. Operating at the very end of the excavation season with television cameras rolling and funds nearly exhausted, the tension was immense.
When the keystone was removed, Andronikos descended into the subterranean chamber. His flashlight illuminated a staggering, unlooted collection of artifacts resting untouched for 2,300 years. Scattered around the room were massive bronze cooking tripods (bulbous, pumpkin-like cauldrons resting on three skinny legs), a gilded diadem, a royal scepter, and an iron-and-gold breastplate.
Among the weapons lay the notoriously deadly sarissa—the terrifying, 18-foot, two-handed pike utilized by the Macedonian infantry to run roughshod over the armies of Greece and Persia. However, the most breathtaking find was a closed marble sarcophagus containing a solid gold larnax (a burial box) topped with the iconic Macedonian star and filled with cremated bones wrapped in a delicate gold oak-leaf crown.
The Mafia Move and Demosthenes’ Warning
The scholarly consensus quickly identified the occupant of the main chamber as King Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. The skeletal remains belonged to a man between 40 and 50 years old whose spine indicated a lifetime in the saddle. Crucially, the bronze greaves (shin guards) found in the tomb were of different sizes, perfectly matching historical accounts of Philip suffering a devastating “shinjury” alongside his lost eye and a spear wound to the thigh.
The hosts discuss how Philip and the Macedonians were desperately eager to be recognized as legitimately Greek. To prove his cultural bona fides, Philip executed the ultimate “mafia move” by building the Philippaeon—a gorgeous, circular Tholos temple filled with statues of his own family—directly inside the sacred boundary (Altis) at Olympia, a space traditionally reserved exclusively for gods and mythic heroes. The Macedonians also lured elite scholars like Euripides and Aristotle to their northern court, reminding Dave of the hilarious scene in The Jerk where Steve Martin’s character rapidly acquires “culture” simply by buying it.
Down south in Athens, the legendary orator Demosthenes saw right through this posturing. Viewing Philip as a massive, imperialistic threat, Demosthenes delivered his famous Philippics. Dave notes that these speeches were not lofty, philosophical treatises, but practical, urgent commands begging the apathetic Athenians to immediately equip fifty war galleys to counter Philip’s sudden raids.
The Mysterious Scythian Woman and the Boy King
While the identification of Philip II is largely accepted, the identity of the remains found in the tomb’s antechamber remains a fierce controversy. This smaller, secondary larnax held the hastily cremated bones of a woman in her early thirties, buried alongside Scythian battle gear and an Amazonian quiver.
Grant speculates that this could be an unrecorded, eighth Scythian wife Philip married to seal a border treaty, or perhaps Kynane, an obscure Macedonian royal woman known for her martial prowess. However, the hasty nature of the burial and the messy, violent dynastic politics following Philip’s assassination at his daughter’s wedding in 336 BC make definitive identification nearly impossible.
The neighboring tombs are equally tragic. Tomb III likely holds the remains of Alexander IV—the fourteen-year-old son of Alexander the Great and Roxanne. Viewed as a political threat, the teenage heir was brutally murdered by the ruthless general Cassander to secure control of the fractured empire.
Interestingly, the tombs also contained the bones of four horses and nine dogs. The hosts point out that this is a deliberate, direct allusion to Homer’s Iliad. By replicating the exact animal sacrifices Achilles performed at the funeral pyre of Patroclus, the Macedonians were physically manifesting their claim to Homeric, heroic ancestry.
Sponsors: Fueling the Classical Renaissance
Before the hosts become permanently trapped in the bunker due to ongoing renovations (a newly framed door is precipitously leaning against the wall, creating their very own Vergina tomb experience), they extend their gratitude to the sponsors keeping the podcast operational.
- Ratio Coffee: Founder Mark Helweg believes coffee should embody beauty, quality, and simplicity. Rejecting plastic scorch pads, the gorgeous Ratio 8 and the agile Ratio 4 automatically execute a perfect bloom stage to eliminate any brackish tang. The podcast is currently hosting a giveaway for a free Ratio 4. Listeners must email dave@adnavseam.com with the secret Latin code word Quatuor (Q-U-A-T-T-U-O-R) to be entered into the March 26th drawing. Alternatively, visit ratiocoffee.com/adnavseam and enter the promo code ANRATIO2025 to receive $20 off your entire order.
- Hackett Publishing: For almost five years, Hackett has supported the podcast by providing brilliant, affordable translations from all corners of academia. Their covers are legendary, featuring Elvis Presley on the Bacchae, the D-Day landing on the Iliad, and the Moonshot on the Odyssey. Build your personal library at hackettpublishing.com and use the code AN2025 to receive a 20% discount and free shipping on your entire order.
- Della Chelpka Art: For custom, breathtaking oil paintings that capture your unique story, visit dellachelpka.art. Enter the coupon code APELLES (the name of antiquity’s most famous painter) to receive 10% off your order.
- Latin Per Diem: For listeners inspired by these historical deep dives to master the Latin language and ancient Greek, Dave offers comprehensive, self-paced educational solutions. The new learning management system at latinperdiem.com smoothly guides students through assignments with direct feedback. Use the code 10PLUS for an immediate discount on courses ranging from introductory Hans Ørberg to advanced masterclasses on Juvenal and Erasmus.
Housekeeping and The Gustatory Parting Shot
To officially close out Episode 172, the hosts remind listeners to email Dave with the subject line “Plato” for a final chance to win a free Hackett Plato Reader. They extend a massive “Happy Birthday” to Mishka the sound engineer, and thank musicians Ken Tamplin and Scott Van Zen for providing the screaming arpeggios. Next week, the podcast will feature a highly anticipated interview with award-winning British scholar Peter Sarris regarding his new book on the Emperor Justinian.
Dave then delivers the Gustatory Parting Shot, courtesy of the prolific Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson.
Regarding the profound artistry of the vineyard, the author of Treasure Island offers this brief, beautiful observation:
“Wine is bottled poetry.”
Though Jeff admits he is not a massive oenophile, both hosts completely agree with the lovely, romantic sentiment.Check out the “Lurch with Merch” section on the website to grab a QVAE NOCENT DOCENT t-shirt featuring Heracles wrestling the Nemean Lion, beware of getting trapped in the basement, and keep taking in the classics. Valete!
