Examining the Hunt Frieze at Aigai with Cutting-Edge Technology
Located at the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Aigai, the façade of Philip II’s tomb houses one of the most significant and largest surviving paintings of the Classical world: the Hunt Frieze. To gain deeper insights into its artistic techniques and iconography, a pioneering interdisciplinary research project, ReVis, has been launched—bringing together advanced diagnostic imaging, artificial intelligence, and contemporary artistic expertise.
Archaeological site of Aigai – façade of Philip II’s tomb. Analysis of the fresco using non-destructive diagnostic methods (MAXRF, XRD) by the XRAYlab team, ISPC/CNR Catania, and NCSR "Demokritos" (Photo: Christos Simatos).
A crucial phase of the project was conducted in March 2023, when researchers from the XRAYlab at ISPC/CNR in Catania and the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos" applied non-invasive diagnostic techniques, such as MAXRF and XRD, to analyze the painting’s surface.
Elemental surface scanning of the fresco using X-ray fluorescence (MAXRF) at the Archaeological Site of Aigai, March 2023 (Photo: Christos Simatos).
Upcoming International Conference: Aigai Hunt Frieze Revealed
On April 5, 2025, an international scientific symposium titled "The Aigai Hunt Frieze Revealed: An Interdisciplinary Investigation and Digital Reconstruction" will present the findings of the ReVis project. The event will bring together experts in archaeology, art history, and conservation to discuss the innovative methodologies used to study and digitally restore the frieze.
1. The Hunt Frieze on the façade of Philip II’s tomb at Aigai (Photo: Christos Simatos).
2. Digital reconstruction of the fresco based on ReVis project findings (Charikleia Brecoulaki, Christos Simatos).
A Collaborative Effort in Cultural Heritage Research
The project has been a joint effort between the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the General Directorate of Antiquities, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Imathia, and the National Hellenic Research Foundation. Under the scientific leadership of Dr. Charikleia Brecoulaki, ReVis marks the first comprehensive and scientifically validated study of the Hunt Frieze.
Artistic compositions highlighting details of the fresco, diagnostic techniques, and digital restoration.
By utilizing state-of-the-art, non-invasive imaging techniques, researchers aim to reconstruct the fresco digitally at its original scale. The project integrates archaeometric data with AI-driven tools (led by visual artist Christos Simatos) and contemporary artistic creation (painter Emmanouil Bitsakis), shedding new light on ancient pigments, painting techniques, and the artistic legacy of the 4th century BCE.
Presenting New Findings and Digital Restoration
The symposium will unveil the study’s results, showcasing the methods used in the fresco’s onsite examination. At the event’s conclusion, distinguished scholars will evaluate the newly proposed digital reconstruction of the Hunt Frieze, offering fresh perspectives on its historical and artistic significance.
Artistic compositions highlighting details of the fresco, diagnostic techniques, and digital restoration.
Funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (ELIDEK), ReVis is carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics at NCSR "Demokritos," under the direction of Dr. Andreas Karydas, and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Imathia, with Dr. Anastasia Georgiadou leading the field research. The project also benefits from access to the advanced technological infrastructure of the European Research Consortium IPERION-HS/MOLAB.
For further information about the ReVis project, please contact the Secretariat of the Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation: iie@eie.gr.
