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New discoveries at an ancient site in Greece are revealing the remains of a sprawling royal complex where young Macedonians studied and trained — offering new clues about a school tied to one of history’s most legendary rulers.
The recent finds were announced by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, part of the Greek government, in early September.
The excavation centers on Mieza, an ancient Macedonian city in northern Greece, where archaeologists have been uncovering a sprawling complex known as the Royal Gymnasium.
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It has long been believed, based on ancient accounts, that a young Alexander the Great was taught by Aristotle at Mieza.
The site dates to the reign of Philip II, Alexander the Great’s father, in the fourth century B.C.
Archaeologists in northern Greece are uncovering new remains at ancient Mieza, a site associated with Alexander the Great, depicted at left. (Bettmann via Getty Images; Hellenic Ministry of Culture)
Archaeologists began excavating the site in 2024, gradually uncovering evidence of an expansive complex where young Macedonians studied, trained and dined.
This year’s excavation has focused on the eastern side of the complex, including the palaestra and the “Didaskaleion,” or teaching area, where archaeologists identified lecture rooms with stone benches.
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One of the most significant discoveries was a three-part complex spanning more than 1,700 square feet within the Didaskaleion, or teaching area, according to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.
The space includes a central entry room and two banquet rooms with surviving mosaic floors and raised platforms that once held dining couches.
Ancient accounts have long linked Mieza with Aristotle, pictured center, and the education of a young Alexander the Great, pictured at far left. (Science Source/Photo Researchers History/Getty Images; Hellenic Ministry of Culture)
Though the buildings were destroyed by the Romans after the second Battle of Pydna in 148 B.C., officials noted that “significant architectural remains have survived.”
Those remains are now giving researchers a clearer picture of what education may have looked like for young Macedonian elites.
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Alexandra F. Morris, a lecturer in ancient history at Queen’s University Belfast, told Fox News Digital that ancient texts link Alexander and Aristotle to Mieza, while the archaeological discoveries are providing a physical setting for those accounts.
“What we have in the ancient text is writers like Plutarch, basically just a line in the text saying that Alexander was taught by Aristotle at Mieza,” Morris told Fox News Digital.
“The case seems to be getting stronger.”
“But now we have an actual building to put that story to, which is really exciting.”
The evidence makes the identification increasingly compelling, the historian said, though she cautioned that researchers cannot yet definitively say Aristotle taught Alexander in this particular complex.
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“There is no inscription that directly names the site,” said Morris. “I think the identification we have right now is a strong argument, but it’s still only an argument that Aristotle potentially taught Alexander here.”
“But the case seems to be getting stronger.”
The case connecting the complex to Alexander’s education appears to be strengthening, experts say, though no inscription directly identifies the site. (Hellenic Ministry of Culture; GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)
Education at an ancient gymnasium looked far different from a typical school day today, Morris also noted.
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“You would go there to train physically as part of your day,” Morris said. “So you would compete in sports games like pankration, which was a form of wrestling. You would then go and listen to lectures.”
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Students would also dine and drink together — giving young Macedonian elites an opportunity to forge relationships with their peers.
The discoveries at Mieza are shedding new light on a complex associated with the world of Alexander the Great, who is depicted above. (Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
“You were there to learn, but you were also there to learn how to build loyalty with other elite men who were there,” the historian added.
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“So you’re also forming networking and forming connections, and this helped Alexander when he became king.”