Apollonia, Macedonia – Part III

Continued From Apollonia, Macedonia – Part II North of the monastery is the bulk of the archeological site. About 100 meters on is what is referred to as the monumental center of Apollonia. The main path intersects and follows the cardo that would have led north into this center. Along the east side of this…

Read More

Apollonia, Macedonia – Part II

Continued From Apollonia, Macedonia – Part I From the tower, the road begins to slope uphill toward the main archaeological site. Another 250 meters on or so, on the east side of the road, are the remains of a large residential building. The residence, referred to as the House of Athena after a statue of…

Read More

Apollonia, Macedonia – Part I

Most Recent Visit: July 2024 Atop a hill overlooking the modern Albanian town of Pojan are the remains of the ancient settlement of Apollonia. Located near the mouth of the Anios (the modern Vjosa, but also called the Aias and Aoos in antiquity), Apollonia seems to have started as a small Greek trading post sometime…

Read More

Beroea, Macedonia

Most Recent Visit: May 2024 The ancient city of Beroea (also Berea or Beroia) was located in Macedonia at the foot of the mountain of Bermion (modern Vermio Mountains) on the banks of the longest river in Greece, the Haliakmon. Today the modern town of Veria occupies the site of its ancient predecessor. According to…

Read More

Dium, Macedonia – Part V

Continued From Dium Part IV The walls of Dium continue southward and the path continues to follow the exterior (there is no path along the interior), with some spolia such as an altar visible within the walls. Some drainage features can also be seen. Some more robust towers (in comparison to the northern interior wall)…

Read More

Dium, Macedonia – Part IV

Continued From Dium Part III To the west of the forum of Dium, across the previously mentioned small road running along the west side of the forum, is the Episcopal Basilica. Construction was begun on the basilica in the late 4th century CE, but was never finished due to destruction from an earthquake. A new…

Read More

Dium, Macedonia – Part III

Continued From Dium Part II From the Sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos, the Sanctuary of Isis is tantalizingly close to the east, and despite a sign indicating access to the temple through this area, there is none. From here, the Sanctuary of Isis is across the modern course of the river. A bridge apparently used to…

Read More

Dium, Macedonia – Part II

Continued From Dium Part I Continuing on and retracing back from Hellenistic Theater to the main path and then south for about 115 meters, to a point where the path curves, are a set of remains identified as part of a Roman-era bathing complex with two phases of construction. The large room in the northeast…

Read More

Dium, Macedonia – Part I

Most Recent Visit: June 2021 Known to the Greeks as Dion, the city that would become Dium under Roman rule is located on a plain in the foothills to the north of the Mons Olympus, Mount Olympus, in the region of Piera, the homeland of the Pieran people. The name Dion derives from Dios, a…

Read More