The Pictures following were taken during our trip to Thessaloniki.  These are of the Royal Tombs of King Phillip II father of Alexander the Great.  They are unique because they were discovered in 1977.  They were covered by a mound of dirt to disguise them. Excavators carefully dug down and found 4 tombs.  Two had been plundered and robbed.  The other two were untouched for 2400 years.  They excavated the tombs and carefully cataloged and photographed everything in the tombs.  They decided to build a museum in front of the tombs with a  roof over them and then covered them up just as they had been found.  We could not take pictures in the museum and so some of the pictures that follow we took from an archaeological guide.  This was one of our favorite sites.

The mound and entrance to the tombs and museum of King Phillip II and Alexander IV

Chris at entrance to Royal Tomb tumulis museum

Chris at entrance to tomb museum

King Phillip II' palace ruins

The mosaic floor in the palace ruins

This the theater in which King Phillip II was assinated during his daughter's wedding.

Cinerary urn and gold wreath as they were found in Prince Alexander IV' tomb.

This is a model section of the Royal Tomb.  King Phillip II' tomb is in the foreground and Prince Alexander IV' ( son of  Alexander the Great) tomb is in the rear.

King Phillip II' tomb in place where it was found.  The museum was built around it and then covered back up into a mound.

This is the gold larnax with the twelve-ray sun which contains the bones and ashes of King Phillip II

The golden crown wreath to replicate oak tree leaves and acorns in fine detail.

Battle Shield was about 4 feet in diameter

King Phillip II' helment and large sword found in his tomb.

This is King Phillip II' gold trimmed iron breastplate.

Golden Collar

This is King Phillip II' shin guard (blue) and golden arrow quiver.

Solid gold head crown worn by the wife of King Phillip II when she walked into the cremation fire of her husband as was tradition.

Elder Davis and I were assigned to go to Thessaloniki to do a financial audit and Mom and I were assigned to speak.  We boarded the train on Saturday and headed for "Thess."

We had to take the train from Athens to Thessaloniki.  It was a first for us.  It took 6 hours to get there and 7 & 1/2 hours to return.  "A new adventure every day."

Our first train ride and so we had to have lunch in the dining car!

Elder Shute picked us up from the train and on the way to our hotel stopped by the sea and showed us this huge statue of Alexander the Great.  He was born near here and the city is named after his sister.

Mom and I

Thessaloniki Chapel.  Mom and I spoke here.

Pot luck at Thessaloniki Branch

Eating breakfast at our hotel

Sister Ollerton on the balcony of our hotel room looking over the city

View of Thessaloniki from the balconey of our hotel room.

We had arranged to have our P-day off while we were here in Thessaloniki so we could see the sights because it was possible that we might not get back up here.  The problem was that there was no transportation to take us around and so we hired this car and its driver to take us around.  It was a new BMW with everything on it including an all leather interior.  We started at 8 in the morning and returned at 8:30 that evening.  "A new adventure every day".

This Gregioris our driver.  He was very knowledgable about the places of interest and the history or the area and he drove really fast!

In front of our hotel, getting ready to leave.

This is a memorial placed here by Alexander the Great.  A great battle took place here.  There were thousands of soldiers fighting here and many were killed.  One of Alexaders friends and his best Admiral was killed in the fight.  The admiral was buried here and Alexander had this huge memorial made to honor him.  They won the battle by the way.

This is really some memorial.  It is in a strange and remote place.

This our group.  Left to right, Ollertons, Davises and Shutes

WELCOME TO PHILIPPI.  These are two arches that are part of the amphitheater and are the first thing of the old City that you see when you enter the gate.  We really had a strong desire to see this place as it was the first place that Paul preached when he arrived in Greece.  We have walked in his footsteps in several areas of our mission.  We will never read the New Testament the same again.  It was a thrilling experience to walk through this historical place.

This the anceint amphitheater.  It has a round orchestra area which is unusual.  The Romans remodled it when they conquered Philippi so they could have "beasts and gladiators"for their entertainment.

Entrance into the Philippi Amphitheater.

In Acts 16 Paul, Silas and Luke were beaten and thrown into prison.  During the night there was a great earthquake that broke the prison and freed them from their shakles.  The jailor was converted along with his family.  This is the place.

Inside Pauls Prison

Mom standing at entrance to Paul's prison.

Looking down in to Paul's prison from broken roof.

Egnatia road where Paul walked from Neaoplis to Philippi and on to Thessoloiki