Aegae: Determining the Site of the First Capital of the Macedonians

Abstract

Up until 1968 there were essentially two views concerning the location of Aegae. The first was that the city was located at present-day Edessa and that it bore two names—Aegae and Edessa. The second view maintained that Aegae and Edessa were two distinct cities; the location of the former, however, was not clearly specified. In 1968, N. G. L. Hammond proposed that Aegae was located at Palatitsia-Vergina where the remains of a palace, two Macedonian tombs, and a great number of graves had been excavated. Following the now well known discoveries at Vergina beginning in 1977 (unplundered Macedonian tombs, a theater, sanctuaries, etc.), scholars appear to have become convinced that Aegae and the Macedonian royal cemetery were located at Vergina. I propose that Aegae cannot be identified with Vergina. Consequently, the royal cemetery must be sought elsewhere. This conclusion is supported by topographic evidence, ancient testimony, and recent archaeological discoveries. In my view, Aegae was located on the eastern, gentle slopes of Mount Bermium, in the area of Kopanos of Naousa.

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