A monumental tomb in northern Greece—possibly built for Hephaestion, the beloved friend and bodyguard of Alexander the Great—may have been carefully aligned to the winter solstice, allowing sunlight to illuminate its interior on the year’s darkest day. That’s the bold conclusion of a new study that re-examines the Kasta monument near the ancient city of Amphipolis.
Discovered in 2014, the Kasta tomb has long intrigued archaeologists and historians. Its immense size, ornate carvings, and multiple burials suggested it was reserved for someone of exceptional significance. Now, a fresh astronomical analysis hints that its builders may have infused the tomb with cosmic symbolism, linking death with light, rebirth, and celestial order.
A Sunlit Secret in the Stones
Independent researcher Demetrius Savvides used 3D modeling and the astronomical software Stellarium to simulate the position of the sun in 300 BCE. He discovered that on December 21, the winter solstice, sunlight would have reached deep into the tomb’s burial chamber, fully illuminating it between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time.
A 3D model of the tomb. By using astronomical software, a researcher determined that sunlight would have reached the burial chamber during the winter solstice. (Image credit: Image courtesy of Demetrius Savvides)
Intriguingly, this alignment wasn’t part of the tomb’s original design—Savvides argues that the builders altered the plan mid-construction to align the chamber with the solstice. The implication? A deliberate intention to time the light’s arrival with a moment of deep symbolic power, representing renewal, resurrection, and cosmic harmony.
“It is highly probable that rituals were held within or near the Kastas Monument, especially around the winter solstice,” Savvides told Live Science.
Echoes of Divine Myth and Symbolism
Savvides' interpretation finds support in the tomb’s artistic decoration. The Kasta monument features a mosaic of Persephone, goddess of agriculture and queen of the underworld—herself a symbol of death and seasonal rebirth. Elsewhere, possible depictions of Cybele, a mother goddess associated with fertility, and Attis, a dying-and-rising vegetation god, reinforce the theme of cyclical life and death.
Savvides argues that this convergence of myth, light, and architecture would have sent a powerful message to ancient viewers: death is not the end, but part of a greater cosmic rhythm.
A Tomb Worthy of Hephaestion—or Alexander?
The Kasta tomb has stirred debate since its discovery. Though five individuals’ remains were found inside, scholars have speculated that the grand scale and quality of the site suggest it was intended for someone of the highest rank. Many point to Hephaestion, Alexander the Great’s closest companion, who died in 324 BCE. His loss plunged Alexander into profound mourning, and he is known to have ordered monumental honors for his fallen friend.
Savvides goes further: the Kasta tomb’s architectural sophistication and solar alignment may even resemble what Alexander would have desired for himself. “The use of solar illumination and a consistent geometric design aligns with Hellenistic traditions,” Savvides noted, “where rulers like Alexander used solar symbolism to reinforce their divine authority.”
Could Alexander's long-lost tomb—presumed to be somewhere in Alexandria—feature similar astronomical alignment? If so, the Kasta monument might offer more than just insight into Hephaestion’s final resting place; it could be a blueprint for royal burials in the Hellenistic world.
Not Everyone Is Convinced
Despite the compelling visuals and creative modeling, not all experts are ready to embrace the winter solstice theory.
Juan de Lara, a University of Oxford scholar who has studied ancient Greek architecture and celestial alignments, praised the study’s ambition but urged caution.
“I think it’s great that scholars are asking these questions and using this technology,” de Lara said. “But we must be careful when interpreting such alignments as intentional. The Macedonians used a lunisolar calendar, meaning their winter solstice shifted from year to year.”
This calendrical drift, combined with frequent winter cloud cover in northern Greece, could have made the sun’s dramatic entrance into the burial chamber difficult to predict or even observe consistently. In other words, if the alignment was intentional, it may not have delivered the visual spectacle we imagine today.
A Glimpse into a Forgotten World
Still, Savvides' research taps into a larger, growing field: how ancient civilizations used astronomy, architecture, and symbolism to express beliefs about life, death, and power. Whether or not the Kasta tomb was definitively aligned with the winter solstice, the idea that ancient builders may have woven the cosmos into their monuments reminds us how sophisticated—and deeply spiritual—Hellenistic culture could be.
And if Alexander the Great's tomb is ever discovered, we may find the same dance of light and stone waiting for us there.
