Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-05-29

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Idomeni has finished, says Migration Management Body spokesman Kyritsis to ANA-MPA

[02] I am certain that this is Aristotle's tomb, says archaeologist Sismanidis to ANA-MPA

[01] Idomeni has finished, says Migration Management Body spokesman Kyritsis to ANA-MPA

He reassured that the evacuation of other refugees' camps in the wider region will be carried out in the same peaceful way. However, he admitted deficiencies in the refugees and migrants hosting centers but, as he said, "we trying to get better".

Referring to the children refugees he said that the Education Ministry is working in order these children to have education.

He underlined that there are delays in the relocation process and noted that the Asylum Service that been upgraded with additional staff and foreign experts is slowly finding its pace.

Regarding EU's support to Greece on the management of the crisis, Kyritsis said that Greece needs additional assistance.

[02] I am certain that this is Aristotle's tomb, says archaeologist Sismanidis to ANA-MPA

"From the very start I suspected that it is Aristotle's tomb but I had some reservations and I wanted to further investigate it in order to be certain. I examined all the sources and reached to the conclusion, without any doubt, that it is Aristotle's tomb. I haven't published it earlier because in the meantime I have written three volumes on the excavation at ancient Stagira. I wanted the scientific community to be informed by the book but UNESCO's decision to declare 2016 "Year of Aristotle" was a challenge I could not resist" he said.

On Thursday, addressing the international conference "Aristotle World Congress", Sismanidis, whose team has spent 20 years digging in the area, said that a horseshoe-shaped domed building unearthed in the middle of the south side of the Stagira hill was just a few dozen meters from the agora arcade. The tomb had a tiled roof made at the royal pottery workshop, affirming its public function. A two-meter-wide raised, processional, built road lead to the monument entrance that was accessible to people offering bids.

Artefacts, pottery and more than fifty coins found in the area date the tomb and the altar at the times of Alexander the Great. The top of the dome is 10 meters high and there is a rectangular marble floor surrounding a Byzantine tower.

Sismanidis cited two literary sources that in his view indicate the people of Stagira may have transferred his remains from Evia, where he died in 322 BC, to his birthplace. The manuscripts he referred to are from The Marciana Library and an Arabic biography of Aristotle from the second half of the 11 century BC.

According to the latter, "when Aristotle died, the people of Stagira sent and brought back his ashes to their home, placed it in a copper urn and then deposited this urn in a location called 'Aristotelion'. Every time they had important issues and wanted to resolve difficult problems, they convened their assembly in this place."

"Based, therefore, on the above written sources, we believe that we cannot challenge the information they give us concerning the transport and burial of Aristotle's remains in the city of Stagira, on the establishment of an altar at the tomb of the philosopher, on the posthumous honours and on the establishment of the annual 'Aristotelian' celebration," Sismanidis said.

"We believe, but without having proof, just strong indications, that all evidence contribute to this version," he added.

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