A mosaic discovered at the ancient sight of Amphipolis has revealed another figure, that of Persephone, the personification of spring and vegetation.
The female figure is shown in pictures released by the Greek ministry of culture, depicted with fiery red hair, cloaked in a white robe fastened together with a red ribbon. She raises her left hand and wears a bracelet. Archaeologists are now certain that the mosaic, 4.5 by 3 meters, depicts the abduction of Persephone by Pluto.
It makes the bearded man crowned with the laurel, Pluto, not the person buried in the tomb as previous believed.
The third figure is the god Hermes, who is guiding the chariot to the Underworld.
The mosaic is made up of pebbles in several colours: white, black, grey, blue, red and yellow. A circular part, near the centre of the mosaic, was missing, but authorities found enough fragments to reconstruct most of it, thereby revealing the face of Persephone.
The myth is a popular topic in tombs, with a similar depiction appearing in a mural in the nearby Aiges royal tomb.
Protection work to preserve the mosaic has already begun the ministry says.
There is still wide speculation on who is buried in the ancient tomb. The most credible guesses think it could belong to Roxanne, Alexander the Great’s wife, Olympias, the king’s mother or one of his generals.