Ancient Ruins of Dion
Distance: 32km The most important ancient town of Pieria, played an important role in the history of Macedonia through the port and its strategic location
The Place
Dion was the «sacred place» of the Ancient Macedonians. From very ancient times, a large altar had been set up for the worship of Olympian Zeus and his daughters, the Muses, in a unique environment characterized by rich vegetation, towering trees, countless springs and a navigable river. In the 5th century BC, when the Macedonian state acquired great power and emerged onto the stage of history, brilliant athletic and theatrical contests, the «Olympian Games of Dion», were organized there. Their organization was overseen by the Macedonian kings themselves, who used the sanctuary of Zeus as a religious center for all Macedonians.
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