Macedonia's 'Indiana Jones' Won't Rest Until He Finds Alexander's Tomb
Macedonia's 'Indiana Jones' Won't Rest Until He Finds Alexander's Tomb
Macedonian archaeologist Pasko Kuzman
With his flowing white locks and extravagant manner, Macedonian archaeologist Pasko Kuzman has become something of a celebrity in his native country.
Aside from some notable finds in his native Ohrid region, as head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Office he has had a major role in the Macedonian government's controversial, if not provocative, use of ancient historical figures to adorn the capital, Skopje. He's also seen as the force behind the latest beautification effort: the multimillion-dollar project called Skopje 2014.
Most contentious is the massive bronze statue of Alexander the Great, erected in 2011. At the time, Greece objected strongly to the statue, branding it a "usurpation of Greek history."
This is just one of a series of disputes that began with the very name of the country itself, Republic of Macedonia, which Greece fears represents a claim on its northern province of Macedonia. Greece has blocked Macedonia's joining the European Union and NATO over the name issue.
But Kuzman, for one, won't be deterred. As he told Balkan Insight recently, despite expectations that he will soon retire as the head of the cultural protection office, he won't give up searching for Alexander's tomb, which he believes could be in the country.
"There are two theories: according to the first his tomb is in Egypt, but a mosque was built above the tomb so no one dared dig under the mosque and reveal the tomb.
"We opt for the second theory, that there is a grave in Egypt but that Alexander is not there because on the request of his mother, Olympia, the sarcophagi were replaced and one coffin was sent to Egypt, while the other traveled to Macedonia, where Alexander is buried.
"He was buried with all the honors, but in a secret location in southeast Macedonia at a cemetery which still exists," Kuzman continues, comparing the mystery of his grave with the mystery of the lost kingdom of Atlantis.
"I'm always behind him, closely following his footsteps! My passion since my student days is to find his grave. I am convinced that day will come," he insists.
PHOTO GALLERY: Skopje's Controversial Facelift
Skopje's Controversial Facelift
1/13Soldiers unveil a statue of late Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, who died in a plane crash in 2004.
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
2/13A woman lights a candle at a statue of Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu), who was born in Skopje in 1910.
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
3/13An enormous statue of Alexander of Macedon (commonly known as Alexander the Great) has been erected in Skopje's main square.
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
4/13The Strength, Glory and Victory statue at Skopje Fortress
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
5/13A statue of the early Christian missionaries Cyril and Methodius, known as the "Apostles to the Slavs," outside the state university in Skopje
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
6/13A crane lifts a 13-meter-high bronze statue of Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, onto a 15-meter-high pedestal in central Skopje.
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
7/13
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
8/13Statues of the anti-Ottoman revolutionaries Gotse Delchev and Dame Gruev.
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
9/13The Porta Macedonia triumphal arch in Skopje's Pella Square. Erected at a cost of 4.4 million euros, the 21-meter-high arch is dedicated to 20 years of Macedonian independence.
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
10/13A monument in memory of soldiers and policemen killed in ethnic Albanian-Macedonian violence in 2001
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
11/13Skopje's Archaeology Museum houses artifacts from Macedonia's ancient past.
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
12/13A marble sculpture of Tzar Samoil, seen as one of Macedonia's founding fathers
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
13/13The new Foreign Ministry building in Skopje
Since 2010, Macedonian authorities have been revamping the capital, Skopje, after decades of neglect. The Skopje 2014 project should give the city plenty of new municipal buildings, including museums, theaters, and concert halls. Dozens of new statues are also being erected to commemorate the nation's heroes. Although supporters of the initiative claim it will inject some new life into Skopje's rather drab socialist atmosphere, critics say a country as poor as Macedonia could find better uses for the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the overhaul. (13 PHOTOS)
