The site is located on the foothills of the Pierian Mountains, between the modern towns of Vergina and Palatitsia,[1][2] and overlooks the Central Macedonian Plain.

[4] The urban fabric of the city represents a pivotal moment of transition between the classical Greek city-state and the imperial centres of the Hellenistic period.

The body of Alexander the Great was to have reposed at Aegae,[6] where his father Philip II of Macedon fell by the hand of Pausanias of Orestis[7] but it was taken to Memphis through the intrigues of Ptolemy I Soter.

[8] In 1996, the archaeological site of Aigai was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its monumental significance in Western civilization and exceptional architecture.

[3] The name Aegae is etymologically related to the word for 'goat' (Ancient Greek: αἴξ, romanized: aíx), and is translated as 'goat town'.

[13] The name is in the plural, a typical feature of ancient Greek toponyms such as Athens (Ἀθῆναι, Athenai) and Thebes (Θῆβαι, Thebai).

Located on a plateau directly below the acropolis, this building of two or perhaps three stories is centred on a large open courtyard flanked by Doric colonnades.

It has been suggested that the building was designed by the architect Pytheos of Priene, known for his work on the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and for his views on urban planning and architectural proportions.

[23] Over 5,000 square feet of mosaics depicting a range of scenes, including the ravishing of Europa and motifs from nature have been carefully conserved.