Ancient City Dion (Δίον)

Dion's origins trace back to the Thracian Pierians. Around 700 BC, the settlement was conquered by the Macedonians, and its inhabitants were resettled in the 7th century BC under Perdiccas I. Under King Archelaus I (413–399 BC), Dion had a golden age: he initiated the first Olympic Games here and had a temple dedicated to Zeus built, elevating the site to a religious center. Later, Dion served as a military fortress under Philip II. The city was enclosed by walls and featured a dense, paved road network. In the 4th and 5th centuries AD, earthquakes and floods led to the city's decline. Systematic excavations began in 1928 under Georgios Sotiriadis, continued in 1958 by Georgios Bakalakis, and were intensified from 1973 under Dimitrios Pandermalis.

The ancient city of Dion is situated in the region of Kendriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia) in Voria Ellada (Northern Greece), approximately 15 km from Katerini. It lies at an elevation of approx. 9 m above sea level.

Visitors can explore the remains of the ancient city today. These include bath complexes with water systems, the ruins of the Roman and Greek theaters, some of which are again used for performances, as well as the sanctuary of the Egyptian goddess Isis and remnants of a second sanctuary dedicated to Zeus. Finds from the excavations, including fragments of an organ from the 1st century BC, are displayed in a local museum.