Today's Dion is not even a city, but a small Greek village located in Pieria at the foot of Mount Olympus. The number of local residents reaches a thousand people. But tourists are interested in the archaeological park of the same name located near the village, which is an open-air museum. Dion was once the religious and cultural center of Ancient Macedonia. Here Alexander the Great and his father Philip II celebrated their successes.
The legend says that Zeus fell in love with the daughter of the forefather of all Greeks Deucalion - Phia. They had two sons - Macedon and Magnet, who founded the city at the foot of Mount Olympus. The brothers built a sanctuary in the city for their father Zeus, whose name in Greek sounds like Dios. Therefore, the city was named Dion.
Later, one of the Macedonian kings, inspired by a beautiful legend, turned a small town into a major cultural and spiritual center of Macedonia. The famous ancient tragedian Euripides repeatedly gave his performances on the theater stage.
In addition, sports competitions were held in Dion, popular among the Greeks. From this city, Alexander the Great also set out on a military campaign to the East. Here he also erected a monument in the form of a wall with shields and armor - to his best warriors, who died during the battle on Granicus in 334 BC.
After the death of Alexander the Great, all of Greece fell under the influence of the Roman Empire, temples were gradually looted, sculptures were massively exported to Rome.
Later, the Turks came to the city, who finally destroyed what little remained of ancient Dion. Repeated earthquakes and floods did not leave the city a single chance.
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In 1806, a British traveler discovered and recognized the ancient city of Dion in the ruins. Archaeological excavations began here only 20 years later. Since then, archaeologists have continued to explore this place to this day.
First of all, during the excavations, well-preserved ancient baths, a theater, a temple of Zeus, the villa of Dionysus, a stadium, sanctuaries, statues, columns, mosaics and much more were discovered. Now the total area of excavation is one and a half square kilometers.
Here you can see cobbled streets and private villas, shops, workshops and even an antique public toilet that only men could use.
The seats in this toilet were so close to each other that those who came during the trip to the toilet discussed political and social events. Among rich men, it was customary to send a slave in advance to warm the stone place.
The foundations of the market can be found in the ruins, in the center of which there is still a unique well-preserved mosaic floor dating back to the third century BC.
Near the market lies an unusual stone slab with grooves - these are ancient checkweighers. Bronze vessels with liquid were lowered here and they looked so that the edge of the poured liquid coincided with the edge of the depression.
The antique baths - terms also look unusual and immediately attract attention. Now only the pillars are left of them, on which the wooden floor was once located. Hot air circulated under the floor, as well as between the walls. Fragments of the mosaic floor, which is also more than 2.5 thousand years old, have also been preserved in the premises of the ancient baths.
The sculpture of Zeus himself surprises with the fact that God looks like the most ordinary person, without betraying his greatness. Only the sculptures of eagles on the sides indicate that this man is none other than the most important Greek god. The antique amphitheater still hosts music and theater festivals. And from the stadium, like 2,500 years ago, Olympic marathon runners are still starting their race.
