The peritrachelion (pectoral) (Πυ 4257) displayed in Showcase 28 of the permanent exhibition The Gold of Macedon comes from a richly furnished cist grave in the northern cemetery of ancient Pydna—one of the largest and most significant cities of ancient Macedonia, and a prominent port of the kingdom. Located south of the modern settlement of Makrygialos in Pieria, Pydna flourished thanks to its strategic location on the Thermaic Gulf and the protection afforded by its fortified walls, especially during the peak of the Macedonian kingdom.
The pectoral formed part of a warrior’s defensive armor, intended to protect the neck and chest and to complement a linen-type cuirass. This particular artifact consists of a crescent-shaped iron sheet with a raised vertical band for neck protection. Its reverse, which came into contact with the body, is lined with two layers of leather, while the front is covered with a thin, gilded silver sheet decorated using the repoussé technique—hammering the metal from the reverse to create raised decoration on the front.
The ornamentation is arranged in four horizontal bands, defined by rows of small circular bosses. Each band is richly decorated with vegetal motifs, including tendrils, small leaves, palmettes, half-palmettes, and tongue patterns. The vertical band covering the neck features rosettes within metopes, flanked by vertical spirals. The narrow connecting strip between chest and neck sections is adorned with gilded studs, bordered above and below by dotted lines. The object is dated around 330 BC.
Pectorals are rarely found in excavation contexts, and depictions of them in ancient art are equally scarce. This rarity may be due to the fact that such armor was not part of the standard equipment issued to ordinary soldiers. Rather, it was worn by high-ranking officers in the Macedonian army, both in battle and in ceremonial settings. According to Plutarch, Alexander the Great himself wore a pectoral set with precious stones at the Battle of Gaugamela.
The cist grave where this exceptional piece was discovered lies within the northern cemetery of Pydna, among burials located along roads, and in both coastal and inland areas, richly furnished —an indication of the city’s prosperity. The interior of the tomb was decorated with painted imagery, including a sword and a horse’s muzzle. The cremated remains of the deceased were placed in a wooden larnax along with a gold myrtle wreath. A silver-gilt oak wreath was attached to the lid, while the vertical sides were decorated with silver-gilt plaques depicting deities. Grave goods included an iron ring, gilded iron strigils, a silver kylix, and fragments of two bronze-gilt wreaths. On the covering slabs of the grave, among the remains of the pyre, vessels, an oil lamp, and iron spearheads were also found.
The wealth of the burial, its elaborate decoration, and the presence of weaponry and armor—typical of Macedonian funerary practices—reflect the high social and economic status of the deceased. These elements point to his identity as a member of Pydna’s landed aristocracy, likely one of the Hetairoi, the elite cavalry corps of the Macedonian army. The pectoral was placed in the tomb as a symbol of his military role and elevated social standing.
