Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
up - the kingdom maintained its principal sanctuaries: to Zeus (from which the name
Dion, or Dios, is derived) above all, but also to Demeter, Artemis, Asklepios and, later
on, to foreign gods such as the Egyptian Isis and Serapis. Philip II and Alexander both
came to sacrifice to Zeus here before their expeditions and battles. Inscriptions found
at the sanctuaries referring to boundary disputes, treaties and other affairs of state
suggest that the political and social importance of the city's festivals exceeded a purely
Macedonian domain.
Most exciting for visitors, however, are the finds of
mosaics, temples and baths
that
have been excavated since 1990 - work that remains in progress whenever funds allow.
These are not quite on a par with the Vergina tombs (see p.287), but still rank among
the major discoveries of ancient Macedonian culture.
The site
June-Sept daily 8am-7pm; Oct-May Tues-Sun 8.30am-3pm • €4, €6 including the museum
The integrity of the site and its finds is due to the nature of the city's demise. At some
point in the fifth century AD, a series of earthquakes prompted an evacuation of
Dion, which was then swallowed up by a mudslide from the mountain. The place is
still quite waterlogged, and constant pumping against the local aquifer is necessary;
indeed the surrounding frog ponds and grazing geese lend it a delightfuly bucolic air.
The main visible excavations are of the vast
public baths
complex and, outside the city
walls, the
sanctuaries
of Demeter and Aphrodite-Isis. In the latter, a small temple has
been unearthed, along with its cult statue - a copy of which remains
in situ
. Two
Christian
basilicas
attest to the town's later years as a Byzantine bishopric in the
fourth and fifth centuries AD. An observation platform allows you to view the layout
of the site more clearly.
4
The museum
Same hours as site • €3, €6 including the site
In Dhíon village the well-laid-out and refurbished
museum
houses most of the finds.
In the basement there are fascinating displays on
daily life
, including many tools and
household goods such as pottery. The ground floor features
sculptures
, perfectly
preserved by the mud, accompanied by various tombstones and altars. Finds from the
villa of Dionysos are highlighted upstairs, along with the finest
mosaics
yet discovered
at the site, including one of Medusa.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
DION
By bus
Dhíon
is 7km inland from Litóhoro beach and can
be reached by #14 bus from Kateríni. A direct, signposted,
paved road links Dion to Litóhoro (see p.282).
ACCOMMODATION
Safetis Apartments
100m from the museum
T
23510
46272,
W
safetis.gr.
Smart and comfortable studios of
different sizes are available in this
mo
dern place with a
leafy courtyard. Breakfast included.
€60
Véria and Vergina
West of Thessaloníki,
VÉRIA
(ancient Berrhoea or Berea) is one of the more interesting
northern Greek communities, thanks to its mixed Jewish, Muslim and Christian
heritage. In the nineteenth century the town became an important industrial centre,
growing prosperous from flour and sesame milling as well as hide tanning. The pleasant
modern town boasts an excellent new Byzantine Museum and a smattering of
appealing religious edifices. There are also enough facilities to make it a reasonable base
for visits to the excavations of ancient Aegae at
Vergina
.
FROM TOP
PELICANS, LAKE KEKÍNI (P.310); IMARET, KAVÁLA (P.314) >
