Giant mosaic unearthed in mysterious Greek tomb

An imposing mosaic of a man driving a chariot has been uncovered in the largest antique tomb ever found in Greece, in Amphipolis in northern Macedonia, the culture ministry said on Sunday.

Tiny pieces of white, black, blue, red, yellow and grey create a picture of a chariot drawn by two white horses, driven by a bearded man wearing a crown of laurel leaves.

Hermes, the messenger of the gods in ancient Greece, stands in front of the chariot.

"This mosaic, the largest on the site, measures 4.5 meters by three meters (14.8 by 9.8 feet) and is not completely uncovered,» a statement said.

The mosaic dates from the fourth century BC.

Archaeologists unearthed the enormous tomb dating to the time of Alexander the Great of Macedonia in early August.

There is widespread speculation over who was buried at the site: from Roxana, Alexander's Persian wife, to Olympias, the king's mother, to one of his generals.

[AFP]