The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great: From Memphis to Alexandria and Beyond

Alexander the Great was initially buried in Memphis, Egypt, after his death in Babylon in 323 BC. His body was intercepted by Ptolemy, who used it to legitimize his rule. Later, the body was moved to Alexandria, first to a vaulted tomb in the royal quarter around 274 BC, then to a grand communal mausoleum called the Soma or Sema around 215 BC. This site became a pilgrimage destination for Roman emperors including Julius Caesar, Augustus, Caligula, and Caracalla. The tomb disappeared after Caracalla's visit in AD 215, likely due to the Theodosian Decrees of 389 and 391 ordering the closure of pagan temples. The last mention of the tomb dates to the 16th century. Archaeologist Andrew Chugg theorizes that Alexander's body was rebranded as that of St. Mark the Evangelist and taken to Venice, where it now lies in the Basilica di San Marco. A stone relief with Macedonian-style art found in the basilica supports this theory. Forensic examination of the remains could solve the mystery but has not been permitted.