Dion Archaeological Museum
The modern Dion Archaeological Museum ( Greek Αρologieαιολογικό Μουσείο Δίου ) was built in 1983 in order to be able to appropriately present the history and archeology of Pieria in addition to the archaeological finds from the excavation site in Dion .
location
The Archaeological Museum and the Archäothiki are located on the southern edge of Dion , 500 m from the Archaeological Park .
The exhibition
Due to the changing rulers and religions, a mixture of artefacts can be seen in the museum. Starting with the classical period through the Hellenistic period to the time when the Romans occupied Dion and shaped the appearance of the ancient city. In addition to the places of worship of the Greeks, the Romans established the Isis cult, which, like the other cults, was replaced by Christianity.
The museum extends over three floors. Coins, tools and models of ancient plants are exhibited in the basement. On the ground floor there are mainly statues, statuettes, written evidence and church finds. Finds from the houses and the surrounding area are shown on the upper floor. Behind the museum, on the south side, there are columns and larger stone artifacts.
Statues and other finds of shrines, churches and houses
Great thermal baths - Asklepios sanctuary
Among the remains of the great thermal baths were several statues depicting Asclepius , the healer and protector of the body, and parts of his family. Next to his wife Epione were statues of his sons Podaleirios and Machaon . Statues of Hygieia , Panakeia , Akeso and Iaso were found by his daughters .
The Isis Sanctuary
From the 2nd century BC The Isis cult began to supplant the Artemis cult. There were statues of Isis Tyche, Isis Lochia, the goddess of childbirth, and of Aphrodite Hypolympiada. A statue of Julia Phrougiane Alexandra stood upright on its base during the excavations. Statuettes of Harpokrates , Isis' companion, and stone tablets showing footprints of different sizes (possibly of men and women) are also on display. In addition to the depictions of people, the upper part of a fountain frame as well as cult objects such as a millstone, a fruit press and a small altar were found.
The Demeter sanctuary
It is the oldest previously uncovered sanctuary in Dion and dates from the 6th century BC. Cult objects, clay figures, lamps, vases and coins were found on the site. Parts of statues from different eras are on display in the museum. A Demeter head comes from the 4th century BC. And a head of Aphrodite from the 1st century AD. A stone altar block served as a support for the meat offering during the sacrificial ceremony for the goddess Aphrodite. The Roman copy of a statue of Artemis (original from the 4th century BC) was found in the headwaters of the Vaphyras river and is exhibited under the name "Artemis Vaphyria".
Sanctuary of Zeus Olympios
A statue of Perseus , the last king of Macedon (179-168 BC) and stone tablets are on display in the museum. Among them are letters from King Philip V to his officials and the citizens of Dion, an agreement with the citizens of Lysimacheia in Thrace and a letter to the citizens of Pherse and Demetrias . In addition to other documents, a list of believers is made out in which five widows are mentioned as citizens.
The tablets from the sanctuary of Zeus Olympios
- A letter from King Antigonos Gonatas to Agasicles. The 16 lines of the letter from the 3rd century BC BC deal with the settlement of a dispute between Noumenios and his children. It was about using and owning a large piece of land.
- A letter from King Philip V to the magistrate of Dion from around 180 BC. The addressee, Eurylochus, was urged to recognize the religious status of the city of Cyzicus in Asia Minor as a religious place. A religious place was not subject to any secular rule at that time.
- Fragments of a tablet (around 200 BC) confirming an alliance between King Philip V and the citizens of Lysimacheia . On the fragments is the oath taken by the envoys of the citizenship of Lysimacheia. Another fragment refers to a condition of the alliance, namely the prohibition of forming alliances with one of the two pacting parties hostile camps.
- A letter from King Philip V (206–205 BC) to the citizens of the Thessalian cities of Pherrai and Demetrias . In it he defines the border between the two cities based on specific local conditions.
- Confirmation of an alliance between King Perseus and the Boötiians (172 BC). Perseus hoped that this connection would support him against the Romans. The Roman historian Livy noted that there are three stone steles on which this pact was written. One of them was in Thebes , the center of Boötien. a second stele was in Delphi and a third in a famous place whose name has not been recorded. The discovery of the missing third stele in Dion testifies to the importance of the city at that time.
The sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistus
Exhibited finds from this sanctuary are cult statues of Zeus and Hera and two stone statuettes of eagles.
Other exhibits
Stone reliefs, tombstones, crucifixes and objects from the liturgy can be seen from the early Christian era. From the "House of Leda" a completely preserved marble table, supported by a lion statue, is exhibited. In addition to numerous other statues and statuettes, a mosaic from the villa of Dionysus can be seen, which depicts a Medusa head in a circular frame.
Coins
A wide variety of coins that were found in Dion during the excavations are on display. Including the gold stater issued by Philip II , which was the most important currency in the Balkans and Europe and was worth 2 drachmas. The silver quarter drachm (τετράδραχημο), which Alexander the Great had minted, was widespread throughout the east of his empire. A display in the basement of the museum shows the minted coins in connection with the ruling kings of Macedonia on a time axis.
However, the predominant material used to make coins was silver. Heavy, valuable silver coins were mainly minted, pieces of which were found in Mesopotamia, Egypt or the Levant. But smaller coins, intended for payments in everyday life, were also minted.
In addition to the common means of payment, coins were found on which gods such as Zeus, Athena or Artemis were depicted.
The Macedonian coinage
In northern Greece, coins were introduced quite early as a medium of exchange. Due to precious metal mines on the Chalkidiki peninsula and the Pangaion Mountains, enough raw materials were available for minting coins. In the first half of the 5th century BC In BC Alexander I introduced coinage in the Macedonian Kingdom. The main reason for this step was the obligation to pay taxes to the Persians. By expanding his kingdom to the east, Alexander I brought more mines, located in the Philippi area, under his control. The yield from these mines alone was put at one talent of silver (approx. 26 kg) per day. Depending on the availability of the raw material silver, the coins were made either from pure silver or from a silver alloy mixed with other metals. From the 5th century BC Two currencies existed in parallel. Heavier and more valuable coins for foreign trade and smaller, lesser denominations for payments within Macedonia. Towards the end of the 5th century, the smaller pieces of silver were gradually replaced by bronze coins. Philip II expanded the Macedonian state further and gained control of other mines. In addition to the mint in Pella , another, presumably in Amphipolis, was built. From this time on, gold coins were produced according to the Attic standard (see Attic talent ), which was introduced by Philip II.
A special coin category are the so-called ghost coins (Greek δανακέ, danake; English ghost coins). They are made of gold leaf and were placed in the mouths of the deceased to pay the ferryman Charon . According to Greek mythology, this brought the dead across a river into the realm of the dead of Hades .
The pieces found in Dion and the surrounding area date from the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Chr.
The Roman coinage
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After the emergence of the Roman Empire (31 BC), Rome secured the sole right to mint gold coins. The aureus was the only gold coin in circulation. It was used to make payments in foreign trade and to pay senior officials of the Roman state. The denarius was in circulation as the internal currency . The production of silver coins in Macedonia was stopped, at most bronze coins for local trade were still allowed to be produced. There was also a local mint in Dion; many of these coins were found during the excavations.
Another innovation in Roman coinage was that, for the first time, all coins had a uniform appearance.
Water organ
In the summer of 1992 the hydraulic organ called Hydraulis (ύδραυλις) was found during excavations within the remains of a building opposite the villa of Dionysus. It is one of the most important exhibits in the museum and dates from the 1st century BC. It corresponds to the instruments mentioned by Heron of Alexandria and Vitruvius . The organ pipes are arranged in two rows and consist of 24 additional and 16 narrower pipes. They were decorated with silver rings. The body of the organ was decorated with silver stripes and multi-colored, rectangular glass ornaments. The instrument found in Dion is the only find of its kind in Greece; it is the oldest specimen ever discovered in the world.
Tools and items for everyday use
Building materials such as floor tiles, roof tiles, bricks, clay and lead pipes are exhibited. Household pottery vessels containing oil or wine were produced with the help of pottery wheels and burned in kilns. The traces of processing of various tools are shown on pieces of marble. A large number of different chisels are exhibited, next to which one can directly see the effects of the processing of the material on the marble. A small loom shows how fabrics were made. Mortars and pestles are exhibited on stone tools.
A plow from the 3rd century AD, which was found south of the Hellenistic theater, should be mentioned separately. From the 1st century BC A hand scale was found that was very finely adjustable. Also from the 1st century BC A speculum, an instrument that was used for gynecological examinations, comes from the 4th century BC.
A model of the hypocaust shows how the city's baths were heated.
Exhibits from the wider area
Excavation of Pigi Athinas (source of Athena)
This excavation is located at the eastern foot of the lower Olympus . The presence of humans began in the first half of the 7th millennium BC. Proven. The first settlements date from the middle and late Neolithic period (5600-4500 BC). A few thousand years later (2100-1050 v. Chr.) Were mounds created (tumuli). The central grave was considerably larger and deeper than the surrounding graves, indicating a special status of the deceased.
A Roman cemetery from the 4th century AD consists of 16 graves for 12 adults and 4 children. The numerous grave goods (kterismata) were completely preserved.
Excavation of Tribina
Named after the Tribina (or Derbina) river, the remains of a settlement from around 2500 BC were found during excavations at this site. Exposed. 24 graves date from the Mycenaean period, in which either a single person or up to three people were buried. The graves do not have a uniform shape. Grave goods such as vessels, weapons and jewelry are exhibited.
Pigi Artemidos excavation
Located at the foot of Mount Olympus; the first traces of human presence date back to the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. A barrow from the late Bronze Age was enclosed by a stone ring (10 m in diameter). Nine graves were found within the tumulus. The tomb was marked by the collection and arrangement of stones in a certain shape (sema).
The graves of Katerini
Two graves (named grave "A" and grave "B") were discovered two kilometers north of Katerini in 1977. Grave "A" consists of two rectangular chambers with a marble door between the grave chamber and the vestibule. This type of Macedonian tomb is the forerunner of the great Macedonian tombs because it lacks the ornate facade that is commonly found in Macedonian tombs. It was covered by a flat roof. Grave "B" is smaller and has only one burial chamber. Although the tombs were robbed long ago, there are still impressive burial objects exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
Excavations of Pydna
A girl's skull was found in grave 108 near Makrygialos during excavations from 1994 to 1996. It had died young because its teeth were not yet fully developed. It was decorated with a bronze diadem for his funeral. It also wore a bronze bracelet, three finger rings, a necklace and metal fittings on its belt. Archaeologists gave it the name "sleeping girl" (sleeping girl). The grave goods included three Mycenaean clay pots. Tiaras of the type that the girl wore were very rare as grave goods for girls or young women. They underline the rank of the deceased.
Outbuildings
The archaeothiki
The Dionysus mosaic is exhibited in this building to the west of the museum and completed in 2007 . It can be viewed from all sides from a gallery. The latest finds from excavations in Dion and the surrounding area are presented to the visitor in showcases. A video informs about the dismantling of the mosaic at its place of discovery, the transport to the archaeothiki and the subsequent restoration. The building was built especially for the exhibition of the Dionysus mosaic.
The laboratory
The scientific laboratory is located south of the Archäothiki. It is operated by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki .
The workshops and storage rooms
Archaeological finds from Dion, Leibethra and the surrounding area are stored in an elongated building southeast of the museum . In a workshop, specialist staff deal with cataloging, cleaning and restoring the finds. Repairs to broken pottery are carried out at a table that can be walked all around. With the help of a microscope, the finest work is done, parts of found objects are analyzed, coins are polished, etc. The final cleaning of some finds is done with clear water and toothbrushes. In the workshops, copies of special finds are made.
Eagle of Zeus Hypsistus
Marble door
Medusa head, Villa Dionysus
Copies of the finds
literature
- Dimitrios Pandermalis: "Dion. The archaeological site and the museum.", Athens 1997
- Hellenic Republic, Ministry of culture and sports, Onassis Foundation USA: Gods and Mortals at Olympus. Edited by Dimitrios Pandermalis, ISBN 978-0-9906142-2-7
Web links
- Ministry of Culture and Sports | Archaeological Museum of Dion. Retrieved September 3, 2017 .
- Museums of Macedonia, Greece - Archaeological Museum. Retrieved September 3, 2017 .
- Museums in Pieria and Mount Olympus. Retrieved September 3, 2017 .
Remarks
- ^ Hellenic Republic, Ministry of culture and sports, Onassis Foundation USA: Gods and Mortals at Olympus. Edited by Dimitrios Pandermalis, page 90ff., ISBN 978-0-9906142-2-7
- ^ Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, chapter 17, section 2. Retrieved September 3, 2017 .
- ^ Hellenic Republic, Ministry of culture and sports, Onassis Foundation USA: Gods and Mortals at Olympus. Edited by Dimitrios Pandermalis, page 146, ISBN 978-0-9906142-2-7
Coordinates: 40 ° 10 ′ 14 ″ N , 22 ° 29 ′ 13 ″ E