Golden Larnax of Philip II of Macedonia

The most famous larnax ever found in the world is the "Golden Larnax of Philip II" of Macedonia. He was the father of "Alexander the Great". 

And, his golden larnax was excavated at Vergina in the northern part of Macedonia.

According to the archaeologists, Philip II's larnax is dated back to the 4th century BC. It is made out of precious gold with a sun motif design on the top surface of its lid. 

However, archaeological experts aren't still sure if the tomb really belonged to king Philip II.

What Is a Larnax?

A larnax is actually a small box or coffin. Contained inside is a human remain which is either bent to fit inside the box or cremated into ashes. 

In the ancient period of Macedonia, keeping the human remains of their beloved families was a common practice that they follow.

During the Greek Bronze Age, archaeologist have found the first larnax dating back in the ancient period of the Minoan times. 

But unlike king Philip II's larnax, it is simply made of ceramics that imitates wooden chests. The pattern has a huge similarity to the Egyptian linen chests. 

Decorations consists of abstract patterns with animal figures and portrayals of their hunting and cult rituals.

Another famous larnax was the one that belonged to the Hellenistic period. It takes the form of a small terracotta sarcophagi painted with some similar artistic styles to that of the Greek vases.

Today, some people particularly in China still follows this ancient tradition of encasing the remains of their dead. 

After cremation of the dead human body, the ashes will be kept inside a rounded vase known as "urn". Urns can be displayed inside the house because they are actually made with highly decorative design for display purposes.

Moreover, the golden larnax along with the golden crown of king Philip II of Macedonia is now displayed at the Vergina Museum.

Solid Gold Coffin of king Tutankhamun

"King Tutankhamun's" solid golden coffin was finally discovered in November 1922 by Howard Carter and his sponsor, Lord Carnavon. 

This is an ancient Egyptian tomb that remained hidden for over 3,000 years in the place called "Valley of the Kings" at Thebes.

But first, who is king Tutankhamun?

King Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh who reigned from about 1337 to 1328 BC. He actually became a pharaoh at such a very young age of only 9 years old. 

But according to the forensic analysis, he only reigned for around 9 years period. Thus, he died at the age of 18.

Even with the advance technology that we have today, experts could not find any positive evidence on how Tutankhamun died. 

Based on the X-Ray of the mummy in 1968, the scientists had discovered bone fragments in his skull. This gives them the theory that the boy was probably hit on the head with a hard object.

Another theory of king Tutankhamun's death was the CT scan. It was actually featured in the National Geographic that the mummy's leg has a thin coating of embalming resin around the leg. 

This suggests that Tut already had a leg injury before he died. So the other aspect of his death was that, his leg injury may have resulted into a serious infection that caused the boy's unfortunate death.

Series of Golden Coffins

Of all the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the one who remained famous of them all up until today was king Tutakhamun. 

It was not because of his leadership as a king or leading his empire to progress but due to his highly decorated coffin that astounded the world.

What really makes king Tut's coffin so remarkable is that, it is not just made of one coffin but a series of three coffins. 

And that's not all, these coffins were also encased again into another big quartzite sarcophagus which has been placed into another series of four shrines.

The innermost three series of coffins bears the shape of a human figure (aka anthropoid coffins). All these three coffins were painted in the image of the king. 

When it comes to Egyptian beliefs, these paintings were very important because they do believe that it provides the dead a face in their afterlife.

The first two coffins of Tut were made of gilded wood but the third and final coffin that contains the mummy was made out of solid gold. Tut's mummified remains also wore a fabulous golden death mask.

Moreover, other than king Tutankhamun's coffins, there are many other richly decorated and covered in gold objects contained inside the tomb. 

The Egyptians believed that these objects were needed by the king on his afterlife. Today, you can now pay a visit into these objects at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Ancient Gold Coffin in Cambodia Looted

In Cambodia, the Ministry of Culture were frowned when treasure hunters had looted one of the ancient sandstone coffin containing gold and copper along with the skeleton's remnants of clothing with three gold buttons on it. 

According to the report, the group was composed of three treasure hunters where they sold their findings into a local businessman for thousands of dollars.

Those responsible treasure hunters doesn't really know what they had just done. They just damaged and stole an 11th century coffin at an abandoned temple of Prasat Boeng Mea Lea in Siem Prea province. 

And that's not all, the coffin was the only known burial form of putting the dead to rest. It was because in the ancient Khmer history, they were opposed to cremation practices.

Khun Samen, the director of the National Museum has been very disappointed that the coffin was badly damaged. He stated that the coffin and the contained remains should have been in the National Museum for the benefit of all Cambodian people.

Samen further stated that he had actually never seen or heard about any discovery of ancient coffin in Cambodia with remains. It is due to the reason that cremation is more traditionally favored than burial. 

Thus, the discovery of the coffin would have provided a lot of insights to the researchers who can also share any of their interesting findings to the world.

In the entire history of Cambodia, there is actually yet any coffin discovered that contained skeleton remains. 

Most of them simply contained ashes which were cremated. Except this newly discovered coffin that happens to be looted by a group of treasure hunters.

Some archeologists and Suman believes that the coffin probably belonged to a king. It's because ordinary people never had metal coffins instead they were given wooden types. 

And in addition, the bodies were cremated but the one discovered on was not. 

In fact, there was an archaeological excavation of the burial sites in Angkor Wat area back in the 1960s but all they had found were cremated ashes of the dead.

It really puzzles the archeologists and the Cultural Ministry as to why the newly found golden coffin contains a body in it despite the fact that it was dated back from the 11th century.

Moreover, when news about the golden coffin came out from the news, a lot of people raced towards the area in the hope of uncovering the same discovery. 

And as a result, there were some reports that some people had found valuable artifacts. 

Worst, it is unlikely that these ancient relics won't be given to the National Museum. They will surely get sold to private collectors for better offer. 

Thus, the National Museum needs to buy it from them but Samen claims that the museum lacks some funds.

FAQs about the Ancient Gold Coffin

Q: What is the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia that was looted?

A: The ancient gold coffin in Cambodia is a rare artifact believed to be over a thousand years old. It is made of solid gold and is intricately decorated with designs and inscriptions in ancient Khmer script.

Q: When was the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia looted?

A: The ancient gold coffin in Cambodia was reportedly looted in the 1970s during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Q: Who looted the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia?

A: It is unclear who specifically looted the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia, but it is believed to have been taken by smugglers who then sold it to a private collector.

Q: Where is the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia currently located?

A: The current location of the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia is unknown. It was last seen in public in the 1960s at a museum in Phnom Penh.

Q: Why is the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia important?

A: The ancient gold coffin in Cambodia is an important artifact because it provides insight into the ancient Khmer civilization and its funerary practices. It is also a valuable cultural treasure that represents the heritage of Cambodia.

Q: What is being done to recover the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia?

A: Efforts have been made to recover the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia, but so far, it has not been located. The Cambodian government has been working with international organizations to track down the artifact and bring it back to Cambodia.

Q: What are the legal implications of looting and possessing the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia?

A: Looting and possessing the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia is illegal under Cambodian law, as well as international laws and conventions. Those who are found to have been involved in the looting and trafficking of the artifact could face legal repercussions. 

Q: How can people help in the recovery of the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia?

A: People can help in the recovery of the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia by spreading awareness about the artifact and its cultural significance, and by reporting any information they may have about its whereabouts to the relevant authorities or organizations.

Q: Why is looting of archaeological artifacts a problem?

A: Looting of archaeological artifacts is a problem because it destroys the context and historical value of the artifact. 

When an artifact is removed from its original site, it loses its connection to its surrounding archaeological features, making it difficult for archaeologists to understand and interpret its meaning and purpose. 

Looting also deprives future generations of their cultural heritage and contributes to the illegal trade in cultural artifacts.

Q: How can looting of archaeological artifacts be prevented?

A: Looting of archaeological artifacts can be prevented by implementing strong laws and regulations to deter looters, protecting archaeological sites through patrolling and monitoring, educating the public on the importance of cultural heritage, and providing alternative economic opportunities for local communities.

Q: What are the consequences of the looting of the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia?

A: The consequences of the looting of the ancient gold coffin in Cambodia include the loss of a valuable cultural artifact, the destruction of its archaeological context and historical value, and the perpetuation of the illegal trade in cultural artifacts. 

The looting also undermines the efforts of the Cambodian government and international organizations to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of Cambodia.

Q: What is the significance of the ancient Khmer civilization?

A: The ancient Khmer civilization, which existed from the 9th to the 15th century, is significant for its architectural, artistic, and cultural achievements. 

It is most well-known for its monumental religious structures, such as the Angkor Wat temple complex, which is considered one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world. 

The Khmer civilization also made significant contributions to art, literature, music, and dance, and their cultural traditions continue to influence Cambodian society today.

Q: What is the role of international organizations in the recovery of looted cultural artifacts?

A: International organizations play an important role in the recovery of looted cultural artifacts by providing expertise, resources, and support to governments and local organizations. 

They can help to track down and identify looted artifacts, raise awareness about their cultural significance, and work to prevent the illegal trade in cultural artifacts. 

International organizations can also facilitate the return of looted artifacts to their country of origin and support efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage.