Two-foot-tall statues, known as Caryatids, mark a significant new finding at the Amphipolis site, believed to be the burial site of one of Alexander the Great’s relatives or generals

Archaeologists have unearthed two marble sculpted female figurines as they slowly make their way into an Alexander the Great-era tomb recently discovered in Greece’s northeast.
The two-foot-tall statues, known as Caryatids, mark a significant new finding at the Amphipolis site, about 65 miles from Thessaloniki, which archaeologists believe to be the largest ancient tomb ever discovered in Greece.
They were found in what appears to be the tomb’s antechamber, supporting an inner entrance to the main room, which has not yet been explored. A large marble panel carved with geometric shapes and painted dark red and yellow was found on a wall close by.
The figurines were unearthed on Saturday, the country’s culture ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The Caryatids, with thick curls covering their shoulders, feature the same sculpting technique used for the heads and wings of two sphinxes found guarding the main entrance of the tomb in August.

“The structure of the second entrance with the Caryatids is an important finding, which supports the view that it is a prominent monument of great importance,” the ministry said.
The face of one of the Caryatids is missing, while both figures have one hand outstretched in a symbolic move to push away anyone who would try to violate the tomb.
Excavations, which began in 2012, have not yet determined who was buried in the tomb but culture ministry officials have said that the monument appeared to belong to a prominent Macedonian from the 300-325 BC era.
There is some speculation that one of Alexander the Great’s relatives or generals might be buried there. Alexander himself was buried in Egypt.