History and archeology of Pieria

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Map of the Macedonian Kingdom

This is a consideration of important historical developments and archaeological finds at Olympus ( Greek Όλυμπος ) and in Pieria (Πιερία), Central Macedonia over different epochs. During the past few decades, ancient sites have been excavated around Macedonian Olympus, starting from the Neolithic to the Byzantine period.

location

The prefecture of Pieria is the southernmost regional district of Central Macedonia, with the main town Katerini ; Pieria borders on Thessaly in the south .

Historically and archaeologically significant epochs

Neolithic , approx. 6500 to 3000 BC Chr.

In the 7th millennium BC The area around Olympus and the Pieria Mountains was populated, possibly from the east. The environment offered the settlers good living conditions, such as a mild climate, water, fertile arable land and hunting grounds. Finds from this period come from the area around Korinos, Ritini, Pigi Athinas and Makrygialos. The remains of settlements have hardly been excavated, but graves with various grave goods have been found: stone and clay figures, clay vessels, tools made of bone and stone, arrowheads made of flint and pieces of jewelry made of bone or clay.

Bronze Age, approx. 3000 to 1000 BC Chr.

Mycenaean culture (approx. 1400 BC)

The settlement shifted from the mountains towards the sea in the Bronze Age . Metal processing, seafaring and the associated trade brought some prosperity to the region. The archaeological finds from this period come from Platamonas (the ancient Heraklion), Aiginio, the ancient Methone, the ancient Pydna, Pigi Artemidos, Trimbina, Kitros (Louloudies) and Korinos.

In addition to individual graves, necropolises and settlements were also discovered. The finds from this period include clay vessels and earthenware storage vessels, as well as metal tools and weapons, as well as jewelry made of gold, silver, bronze and glass.

Mycenaean Period, ca.1650 to 1050 BC Chr.

The late Bronze Age, is called in southern Greece and Crete as Mycenaean period as these areas under the cultural influence of Mycenae stood. During this time, not only were Mycenaean goods traded in the Mediterranean, but customs and traditions were also adopted. Mycenaean tombs and pottery have been handed down from this period, the latter being very helpful in dating archaeological finds. The northern limit of the spread of the Mycenaean culture is in Pieria, further north no signs have been discovered so far.

Iron Age , approx. 1000 to 700 BC

Gun parts, iron age
  • Settlers expelled from Kerkira (Corfu), who originally came from Eretria (Euboea), settled in the second half of the 8th century BC. In ancient Methone.
  • Around 800 BC The ancient Leibethra was settled.
  • Methone was written in Greek script.
  • Probably in the second half of the 8th century BC. Homer wrote the Odyssey and the Iliad. He thus laid the foundation for Greek mythology, whose gods resided on Olympus.

The population in the area of ​​the coast grew and some Bronze Age settlements were apparently abandoned. People settled in places that offered natural protection (e.g. Sfendani, Kouko or Livadi), existing settlements were fortified (ancient Methone with a three meter high wall). Trade relations were developed and the Phoenician alphabet was introduced and modified for the Greek language.

Finds from this period include jewelry, pottery, weapons and tools as well as remains of wooden grave borders.

Archaic and Classical Greek Period, c. 700 to 323 BC Chr.

Archaeological Museum, Dion
Marble table with lion foot
  • The production of iron has spread across Europe.
  • Hesiod wrote the theogony and thus established the cult of gods in ancient Greece.
  • Around 700 BC The Macedonian Kingdom was founded.
  • In the first half of the 5th century BC In BC Alexander I introduced coinage in the Macedonian Kingdom.
  • 432 BC Pydna was besieged by the Athenians.
  • Around 424 BC BC Thucydides first mentioned the existence of Dion.
  • After the capture of Pydna by King Archelaus , 410 BC. BC, he had the city moved 20 stadiums inland.
  • End of the 5th century BC Archelaus moved the capital of the kingdom from Aegae (now Vergina) to Pella . He introduced the Dion Olympics, a nine-day festival in honor of the nine muses .
  • In the 2nd quarter of the 4th century BC The Macedonian tombs of Katerini were erected. The discovery of a coin from the time of Amyntas III. underpins this dating.
  • In the late 4th century BC The Macedonian tombs of Korinos were built; one goes from their use up to the beginning of the 3rd century BC. Chr. From.
  • 356 BC Alexander the great was born.
  • 354 BC BC Philip II besieged and defeated Methone.
  • Before his campaign against the Persians, Alexander made sacrifices to the gods in Dion.
  • After the Battle of Granikos (334 BC), Alexander had the respected sculptor Lysippus erect 25 bronze statues of the horsemen who had fallen in the Battle of Granicus and set them up in the sanctuary of Zeus Olympios in Dion.

Hellenistic period, approx. 323 to 146 BC Chr.

  • 323 BC Alexander the great died.
  • 219 BC Dion was destroyed by the Aitolians . Philipp V had the city rebuilt.
  • 169 BC The Romans moved into their camp in the plain between Heraklion (today Platamonas) and Leibethra.
  • 168 BC The Macedonian king Perseus was defeated in the battle of Pydna by the Roman general Lucius Aemilius Paullus . Macedonia is divided into four regions by the Romans, the Macedonian elite are expelled from the country.
  • 148 BC BC Andriscus tried to free Macedonia from the Romans with the help of an army of Thracians and the support of the local population, but was defeated by the Romans under the command of Metellus. Then the Romans founded their first province in the east, with Thessaloniki as the capital.

Roman period, ca.146 BC. To 330 AD

  • Around 100 BC Leibethra was destroyed by a natural disaster and abandoned by its inhabitants.
  • Approx. A temple dedicated to Dionysus was built in Dion between 150 and 200 AD .
  • In 212 AD, Rome grants Roman citizenship to all inhabitants of the empire.
  • In 285 AD the Roman Empire was divided, and the Western Roman and Eastern Roman Empire emerged.
  • The Nonae Capratinae were held in Dion on July 7th of one year . At this festival, female slaves enjoyed certain liberties. There was a connection between the worship of Zeus Hypsistus and the Nonae Capratinae, probably in honor of Jupiter Capitolinus, Jupiter Optimus Maximus .

The archaeological finds from the more than 1000-year period from the end of the Iron Age to the end of the Roman rule over Pieria are very extensive. Dion is the leading archaeological site here, property issues have been clarified there, and archaeologists can work unhindered in a large area. Elsewhere, such as Methone, there are privately owned properties under the surface of which antiquities are suspected. Methone was able to benefit from the collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for several years; this enabled valuable knowledge to be gained about the beginnings of the Greek alphabet. In Leibethra and Pydna, where digging could take place without any problems, the Greek state currently lacks the financial means (May 2018).

The finds are either exhibited in museums or they are stored. The archaeological museum in Dion is fully equipped, only replicas are exhibited in the Leibethra Park, the previous finds from Leibethra are stored in the Dion Museum. In the archaeological museum of Makrygialos, small artifacts and clay vessels are on display; the museum is (as of May 2018) not yet open to the public.

Coins, jewelry, earthenware and glass vessels, weapons, tools, building materials, sarcophagi, grave steles, statues, statuettes, fountain surrounds, mosaics, a water organ and many other pieces were discovered.

Byzantine Period, c. 330 to 1453 AD

Agia Triada Church, Vrondou
  • 343 Dion was appointed bishopric; The bishop's basilica was built in two phases in the 4th and 5th centuries.
  • In the last quarter of the 5th century, Louloudies, near ancient Pydna, was expanded to become a bishopric.
  • Dion was last mentioned in the 10th century as an administrative district of the Byzantine emperor Konstantinos Porphyrogennetos .
  • The Kanalon Monastery was founded in 1055. The French archaeologist Heuzey dated the foundation to the year 955.
  • In the 12th century the name Heraklion was replaced by Platamon.
  • In 1204, during their conquest of Constantinople , Frankish knights founded the kingdom of Thessaloniki , which also included the castle of Platamon.
  • Founding of the monastery of Agia Triada in Sparmos; Records show that the monastery has been inhabited since at least 1386. The exact date of its founding is not known, the monastery may well be older.

Important archaeological sites of the Byzantine period are the castle of Platamonas, Louloudies and the castle of Pydna, which was built by Frankish knights over the ruins of the ancient city. The monasteries Kanalon and Agia Triada, Sparmos, which are still inhabited today, date from Byzantine times. There are also numerous church buildings from this period, such as the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada), located above Vrondou, and the Church of the Assumption of Mary in Kontariotissa.

Significant archaeological finds from this era are mainly of church origin. They are exhibited in the archaeological museum of Dion or in the museums of the monasteries.

Important archaeological sites

Pydna, part of a wall

Archaeological sites

Kanalon Monastery

Modern times

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 .
  • Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquities of the northern Pieria (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, Μεθώνη και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Πιερίας Α 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , (in Greek) .
  • Efi Poulaki-Pantermali: Makedonikos Olympos. Myth - Istoria - Archäologia. Ed .: Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport, Thessaloniki 2013, ISBN 978-960-386-110-2

Remarks

  1. ↑ PARASKEVI TRITSAROLI AND SOPHIA KOULIDOU: Human remains from the Pigi Artemidos LBA tumulus, region of Macedonian Olympus, Pieria Ed .: National Kapodistrian university of Athens, Faculty of history and archeology, Volume 1, May 2018
  2. ↑ FROM THE NEOLITHIC ERA TO THE EARLY IRON AGE (in English). Retrieved February 25, 2018 .
  3. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquities of the northern Pieria (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, Μεθώνη και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Πιερίας . Α 'Έκδοση: Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , pp 27-55 , (in Greek).
  4. ^ New Bronze Age cemetery and earlier settelement at Platamonas, Pieria, Greece (in English). Retrieved February 25, 2018 .
  5. ↑ Efi Poulaki-Panter Mali: Makedonikos Olympos. Myth - Istoria - Archäologia. Ed .: Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport, Thessaloniki 2013, page 45, ISBN 978-960-386-110-2
  6. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, Μεθώνη και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Πιερίας . Α 'Έκδοση: Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 78 f, (in Greek).
  7. ↑ Hesiod, Theogony. Retrieved February 27, 2018 .
  8. ^ Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 1.61.
  9. ^ Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War , 4.78.6
  10. ↑ Diodor , Bibliothḗkē historikḗ 13:14.
  11. ↑ M. Besios, Anaskafikes erevnes sti Voreia Pieria (Ανασκαφικές έρευνες στη Βόρεια Πιερία), AEMθ 5 (The archaeological work in Macedonia and Thrace 5), 1991, pages 173-177
  12. ^ Letters from the Underground, Ministry of Culture - Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki - 27th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, p. 16
  13. ↑ Liv. 45, 29, 5: << deinde in quattuor regiones dividi Macedoniam >>
  14. ↑ Koromila Charikleia, Numismatic evidence and other metal findings from the Roman Cemetery at Platamon (Pieria) 2017, p. 14.
  15. ↑ A small temple dedicated to Dionysus is built at Dion. Retrieved March 1, 2018 .
  16. ^ Roman citizenship granted to all inhabitants of the empire. Retrieved March 1, 2018 .
  17. ^ The Roman empire is split into the Western and Eastern Roman empires. Retrieved March 1, 2018 .
  18. ^ The Nonae Capratinae in Dion and Religious Associations and Public Festivals in Roman Macedonia. Retrieved May 15, 2018 .
  19. ↑ Leibethra Archaeological Park, Timeline. Retrieved March 1, 2018 .
  20. ↑ Léon Heuzey: Le mont Olympe et l'Acarnanie: exploration de ces deux régions, avec l étude de leurs antiquités, de leurs populations anciennes et modern, de leur geographie et de leur histoire . Ministère de l'Instruction publique au ministère de d'État, Paris 1860 Online
  21. ↑ Koromila Charikleia Numismatic evidence and other metal findings from the Roman Cemetery at Platamon (Pieria) 2017, p. 11.
  22. ↑ Iera Moni Agias Triadas Sparmou: Iera Moni Agias Triadas Sparmou Olymbou (Ιέρα Μονή Αγίας Τριάδας Σπαρμόυ Ολυμπου). Ed .: Self-published by the monastery, 2006, ISBN 960-89151-0-4
  23. ↑ BYZANTINE AND MODERN MONUMENTS. Retrieved March 2, 2018 .
  24. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 60, ( in Greek).
  25. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 315, ( in Greek).
  26. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 212, ( in Greek).
  27. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 293, ( in Greek).
  28. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 67, ( in Greek).
  29. ↑ Komboloi etc. Retrieved on February 26, 2018 .
  30. ^ Farmhouses of the Macedonian Olympus. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  31. ↑ Korinos, etc. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  32. ↑ Krania etc. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  33. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , page 39, ( in Greek).
  34. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 61, ( in Greek).
  35. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquities of northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, Μεθώνη και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας , ISBN , p. in Greek).
  36. ↑ Tritsaroli P. 2014. Human remains from Pigi Athinas, Greece, 1999-2011. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  37. ↑ Platamon Stop. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  38. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquity of the northern Pierias (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 35, ( in Greek).
  39. ↑ Besios, Matheos. Pieridon Stefanos: Pydna, Methone and the antiquities of the northern Pieria (Πιερίδων Στέφανος: Πύδνα, και οι αρχαιότητες της βόρειας Μεθώνη Πιερίας .alpha. 'Έκδοση. Κατερίνη 2010), ISBN 978-960-99308-0-2 , p 286, ( in Greek).
  40. ↑ Olive oil production in Hellenistic Greece: the interpretation of charred olive remains from the site of Tria Platania, Macedonia, Greece. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  41. ↑ Treis Elies. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  42. ↑ Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης) The Archaeological Work in Macedonia and Thrace Volume 18, 2004, ISSN 1106-5311. Retrieved July 7, 2018 .
  43. ↑ spathes - Xerolakki. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .
  44. ↑ Rema Xydias. Retrieved February 26, 2018 .