Excavation at Mieza reveals complex tied to Aristotle's school for Alexander the Great

Archaeologists working at ancient Mieza, near the modern town of Naousa in northern Greece, have uncovered a large gymnasium complex that they link to the school where Aristotle taught the young Alexander the Great. The finds, reported in late September 2026, include mosaic-floored dining halls, a teaching building with stone desks and a long roofed running track.

The dig has been led since 2024 by archaeologist Angeliki Kottaridi, with support from the town of Naousa, according to Discover Magazine and Greek City Times.

What has been found

According to Greek City Times, the excavated sections include a peristyle palaestra, or wrestling ground, a didaskaleion (teaching building), lecture rooms with stone desks, covered walkways, and andrones, the dining rooms of the complex, with mosaic floors. A roofed running track, known as a xystos, measures about 200 metres long.

Discover Magazine reports that the two mosaic-floored banquet halls together cover more than 1,700 square feet, and that each was fitted for 10 couches, enough for at least 20 dinner guests per hall. The complex also had a stadium and a water supply system.

Smaller finds include coins and pottery, four styluses (pointed tools used to write on wax), a corner block from a Doric colonnade, and pieces of an Ionic frieze and columns, Discover reports. Greek City Times also lists a fragment of a Panathenaic amphora among the finds.

The link to Aristotle

According to Discover, the gymnasium was built in the mid-300s BC during the reign of Philip II, Alexander's father. Aristotle was summoned to the royal capital Pella in 343 or 342 BC, when Alexander was 13 years old.

Greek City Times notes that "Plutarch is the main ancient text that ties the complex to Aristotle's school." Kottaridi describes the site as "the complex Aristotle taught Alexander the Great and the young Macedonians who would go on to become leaders across the known world." The architecture and mosaics recall the royal palace at Aigai, according to the same report.

Greek culture minister Lina Mendoni said, as quoted by Discover: "For Alexander and his partners, Mieza was the place of initiation and preparation for leadership."

Work continues

Mieza lies between the Macedonian royal cities of Aigai and Pella. The research team includes archaeologists, a geophysics specialist who directed surveys of the site, and conservators who are cleaning and stabilizing the mosaics, according to Greek City Times.

Kottaridi, who has shared field updates about the dig, said: "Step by step, layer by layer, Mieza is revealing its secrets. And this is only the beginning." She added that "The discoveries are already exceeding our expectations."

Why it matters

The education of Alexander by Aristotle is one of the best known episodes of the ancient world, but it has been known mainly through written sources such as Plutarch. The Mieza excavation offers physical remains of an elite Macedonian educational and athletic complex from the right period and place. Archaeologists stop short of physical proof that Aristotle taught in these exact rooms; the identification rests on the ancient texts, the dating to Philip II's reign and the royal character of the architecture.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.