Korinós: Macedonian Tombs of Toupes

One cultural facet of Korinós is the Macedonian chamber tombs at the Toupes archaeological site. Tomb A and Tomb B date from the last quarter of the 4th century BC; Tomb A is also known as the so-called Heuzey Tomb. Their architectural features emphasize different aspects: Tomb A stands out for its size, location and spatial layout, while Tomb B is notable for its number of chambers, building material and decorative details. For travelers interested in ancient architecture, the two tombs provide a concrete archaeological focus for exploring Korinós’ cultural heritage.

Tomb A: Burial Mound and Sequence of Rooms

Burial mound A is more than 20 meters long. The so-called Heuzey Tomb is a Macedonian chamber tomb within burial mound A and was first investigated in 1861. It lies on the western edge of an existing burial mound. The measurement and location refer to different aspects: one to the length of burial mound A, the other to the tomb’s position on the edge of a mound that was already there.

The structure includes a masonry, vaulted passage leading downward and three rooms: a “courtyard,” an antechamber and the burial chamber. These three rooms are also covered by a single shared vault. The architecture thus comprises two clearly distinct elements: the passage and its downward course, and the three-room group beneath one vault. The three named spaces describe the interior layout more precisely than the general classification as a chamber tomb.

Tomb B: Chambers, Materials and Ornament

Tomb B has two chambers. The structure is made of tuff, which was plastered with mortar. A meander is painted in the vestibule; the burial chamber is decorated with a polychrome frieze. Its named elements include consoles, an Ionic cyma and a plant motif. The distribution of the decoration across two rooms offers a point of comparison in its own right: the meander is in the vestibule, while the frieze is in the burial chamber. The tuff with mortar plaster describes the structure, while the ornaments describe its specific decorative treatment.

A meander is an ornamental line pattern with repeating, usually angular forms. A frieze is a decorative band; the cyma is a decorative molding, and the adjective “Ionic” refers to its style. These terms help distinguish the decoration rather than treating it as a single motif: a meander is mentioned in the vestibule, along with several elements of the frieze in the burial chamber.

Comparing the Two Tombs

Their shared dating provides a common framework for direct comparison: both tombs date from the last quarter of the 4th century BC. Their architectural emphases nevertheless differ. For Tomb A, the details lead from the length of the burial mound to its location, the passage and three named rooms. Tomb B, by contrast, is notable for its two chambers, plastered tuff and ornamental decoration. If you are especially interested in spatial layout, Tomb A is the one to focus on; Tomb B is the main point of interest for materials and ornament. Together, the two different architectural forms help place Korinós’ archaeological heritage in context.

Discover more destinations: Leptokaria, Dion, Neos Panteleimon, Poroi Anatolikos Olympos, Katachas, Panteleimonas, Pydna, Kateríni

For the regional travel overview: Pieria.