Dion, Pieria

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Dion archaeological site 102.jpg
Dion is located in Greece
Country: Greece
Administrative region: Central Macedonia
Regional unit: Pieria
Municipality: Dio-Olympos
Population statistics (as of 2011)[1]
Municipal unit
 - Population: 10,885
 - Area: 172.743 km2 (67 sq mi)
 - Density: 63 /km2 (163 /sq mi)
 - Population: 1,424
Elevation (center): 40 m (131 ft)
Postal code: 601 00
Telephone: 23510
Auto: KN

Dion or Dio (Ancient Greek: Δίον, Greek: Δίο, Latin: Dium) is a village and a former municipality in the Pieria regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Dio-Olympos, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] It is best known for its archaeological site and the Archaeological Museum of Dion. Zeus was honored at the ancient city of Dion located at the foot of Mount Olympus. It is located 15 km. SW of Katerini, 425 km to the north of Athens and 65 km to the north of Larissa.


View of a statue, Sanctuary of Isis.


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. A city was built adjacent to the sacred sites that acquired monumental form during the reigns of Alexander the Great's successors, and which experienced its second heyday during the reigns of 2nd- and 3rd-century AD Roman emperors who were fond of Alexander the Great. Dion's final important period was in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. It became extinct following major earthquake destructions.


The modern village at the site was called Malathria until 1961, when it was renamed to Dio.[4]


View of Mount Olympus
A road

In October 1992, the municipality Dio (Dimos Diou) was formed. It encompassed the municipal districts Agios Spyridonas, Dio, Karitsa, Kondariotissa, Nea Efesos and Vrontou. The administrative center was in the village of Kondariotissa. At the 2011 local government reform Dio merged with the former municipalities East Olympos and Litochoro to form the new municipality Dio-Olympos. Dio became a municipal unit of the newly formed municipality, and the former municipal districts became communities.[2] The community of Dion consists of the village of the same name and Platanakia.[2]


A mosaic floor





Dion has a school, lyceum, gymnasia, a post office, and squares (plateies).

Historical population[edit]

Year Community population Municipal unit population
1981 1,236 -
1991 1,149 9,876
2001 1,314 10,885
2011[1] 1,424 10,066


See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b "Detailed census results 2011" (xls 2,7 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece.  (Greek)
  2. ^ a b c Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  3. ^ Hesiod, Catalogue of Women fr. 7.
  4. ^ Name changes of settlements in Greece



External links[edit]