Dion
The
excavation of the area commenced in 1928 and is continued at present by
the University of Thessaloniki. It has brought to light a fortified city,
surrounded by cult areas, that was inhabitated continuously from the Classical
period to Early Christian times. Buildings of various periods have been
discovered in a series of different levels. Private residences, public
buildings, shops, and a large number of workshops are erected in building
blocks defined by the streets. On the south edge of the ancient city are
the public baths (thermae), an imposing complex covering an area of over
4,000 square metres and dating from about A.D. 200.
In
the east sector has been discovered the villa of Dionysos, which takes
its name from the large mosaic depicting the god that covers the floor
of the banqueting room. The sanctuaries of the gods, two theatres (one
Greek and one Roman) and the stadium have been discovered outside the city
walls. Amongst the gods worshipped at Dion, the most important was Olympian
Zeus, after whom the city was named (the genitive of "Zeus" being Dios).
In the god's precinct have been found stone stelae bearing inscriptions
relating to treaties of alliance, the settlement of border disputes, parts
of official decrees, etc. The sanctuary of Demeter, just outside the walls
and the gate at the end of the main street of the city, is the earliest
Macedonian sanctuary known to date. It had un uninterrupted life from the
late 6th c. B.C. to the early 4th c. A.D. To the east of the sanctuary
of Demeter has been discovered a sanctuary devoted to the cult of the Egyptian
gods Sarapis, Isis and Anubis. There is a small temple of Aphrodite Hypolympidia
(Aphrodite worshipped below Mount Olympos) in this same sanctuary.
The
Hellenistic theatre of Dion, which lies outside the walls, was built in
the reign of Philip V (221-179 B.C.). The Roman theatre, dating from the
2nd c. A.D., has been identified south-east of the Hellenistic structure.
The cemetery of Dion extents mainly to the south and east of the city.
The funerary monuments date from the 5th c. B.C. to the 5th c. A.D. During
Early Christian times the city contracted and the central area was occupied
by an Early Christian Basilica dating from the late 4th c. A.D. Dion appears
to have been abandoned during the 5th c. A.D. as a result of natural disasters
(earthquakes, floods), its inhabitants moving to safer areas in the foothills
of Mount Olympos |
