"Inside a 15-square-meter trench, eight meters deep, filled with rubble, soil, and water..."
For centuries, Alexander the Great has captivated archaeologists, with countless unanswered questions still surrounding his life and legacy. Now, a new mystery in Alexandria may hold some long-awaited answers.
A recently unearthed structure in the ancient city of Alexandria has reignited hopes of shedding light on the elusive traces of one of history’s greatest conquerors. Leading the excavation of this buried city is Greek archaeologist Kalliopi Limnenou-Papakosta, who has dedicated her life to following the footsteps of Hellenistic Alexandria.
Papakosta began her archaeological and research career in Alexandria, Egypt, back in 1998, launching her first excavations at Terra Sancta, near the Alabaster Tomb. In 2007, her team shifted their focus to Shallalat Gardens—an area featured in a widely discussed Netflix documentary. In 2009, they made a landmark discovery: a statue of Alexander the Great. However, political turmoil following the Arab Spring forced her to pause the dig.
Today, Papakosta speaks candidly about her journey as an archaeologist, her life and work in Egypt, and her hopes for the future of the excavation. She also shares her perspective on the Netflix documentary and her predictions on the possibility of discovering Alexander the Great’s actual tomb.
“Like all Greeks, Alexander the Great has been my hero since childhood,” she explains. “His journey to the ends of the known world marked the most glorious era in Greek history. My admiration for him was immense—so much so that archaeology became my destiny. At 28, I arrived in Alexandria, where I began my research, overcoming many challenges along the way. But I persevered and have been fortunate enough to make several remarkable discoveries. I consider myself a very lucky archaeologist. In every dig, I hold onto the hope of uncovering something extraordinary—something that might change the entire understanding of a historical narrative.”
A Mysterious Building Sparks New Questions
“Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed many incredible discoveries,” she says. “Excavation experience has taught me to expect the unexpected—anything is possible.”
One such moment came with the unearthing of a marble statue of Alexander the Great, discovered within a trench measuring 15 square meters and 8 meters deep—cluttered with ruins, soil, and water.
“It was a miracle,” she recalls. “Finding that statue was one of the highlights of my career. The emotions I felt at that moment are indescribable. This is the true reward for any archaeologist—and a testament to my good fortune.”
Numerous other discoveries have emerged in the vast expanse of Hellenistic Alexandria, particularly within what’s known as the Royal Quarter. These include the foundations of a massive building dating back to the early Ptolemaic period, the city’s original royal road, and a vast rock-cut tunnel in Shallalat Gardens—a Roman-era construction. In the final weeks of the last excavation season, her team also uncovered a Hellenistic-era wall section running parallel to the monumental structure.
Now, all attention turns to the area south of the building, where new excavations aim to determine whether the wall is part of a fortification system.
“This could be a major discovery,” Papakosta notes. “It may finally reveal the true significance of the building. We’ve focused all our efforts here and will excavate all the parallel walls to gather more information. Our top priority is identifying the structure, which lies within the Royal Quarter. Ancient sources describe several important buildings in this area. What we’ve uncovered appears to match one of those descriptions. Each of those buildings was significant and renowned—yet we’re still working to determine exactly which one this is.”
The archaeological world watches closely, as one of history’s greatest enigmas—Alexander’s final resting place—may finally be within reach.
