A journey through the past with a guide the Honorary Superintendent of Antiquities Dr. Angeliki Kottaridis started in the afternoon from the Acropolis Museum. The person in charge of the maintenance-restoration project of the palace of the Goats “guided” the public through the project itself, presenting in great detail each of its stages over the last 17 years and explained the importance of the monument with historical facts.

“His Palace Philip II in Aiges: Monument – Landmark of Macedonia” was the title of the lecture he gave, which exceeded two hours in duration. “Speaking in the heart of Athens about the Macedonians is something. The time has finally come for them”, said Ms. Kottaridis, welcoming the audience that filled the “Dimitrios Pandermalis” Amphitheater, while at the same time the event organized by the Acropolis Museum and the Association of Friends of the Polycentric Museum of Goats, was broadcast in real time and online.

“From 2007 to 2024 is 17 years and an eternity,” said Angeliki Kottaridis to describe the amount of work done during this time, the difficulties and adversities of all kinds that they faced all these years, as and the evidence that emerged and sometimes overturned the archaeological knowledge up to that time.

Photographs, plans and files related to the history of the research, the basic principles of conservation – restoration of the monument and the reasons for choosing the specific ones, accompanied each stage of her speech. Characteristic was the first photo he presented, which showed a green area, i.e. the area of ​​the monument in 2006 and the comparison he made with the current image of the area, after the intervention of archaeologists and the now restored Palace.

The presentation focused on the new evidence that emerged thanks to the thorough research and systematic, detailed documentation that began in 2007 and was completed in 2023. This evidence helped to restore the form and restore parts of the monument, while, in combination with the historical sources , shed light on the functions of the emblematic building, which is a milestone in the evolution of ancient architecture, shaping the idea of ​​enlightened hegemony and is directly linked to leading historical events that determined the course of Greece and the World.

“There are two kinds of archaeologists: Those who dig in various places, not when it is necessary for the archaeological service, but to discover something and to promote themselves and the others who insist on a place that is part of their life so that it can emerge and remain in eternity. Angeliki belongs to the second category”, said the General Director of the Acropolis Museum, Nikolaos Stampolidisreferring to the archaeologist who dedicated her life and work to Aiges.