Implementing agency:
Ministry of Culture / Ephorate of Antiquities of Pieria
Regional Unit:
Pieria
Project budget:
The archaeological site has an area of approximately 750 acres and consists of the city within the walls and the area of the sanctuaries, south of the city. The market of Dion is located within the homonymous building block, with total dimensions of 129.20 m. (E-W) x 190.65 m. (N-S). This is the first building block that one encounters when entering the southern gate of the city and moving along its central street (cardo maximus). The block was the core of the city’s public life and included the Roman market (forum), that is, a large paved square surrounded by arcades and other public spaces.
The project concerned the protection and restoration of the most important square of the city, as well as its overall promotion, through the improvement of the legibility of the architectural remains, the upgrading of the information services and the expansion of the visitor movement routes with the possibility of use by people with disabilities. At the same time, the completion of the archaeological narrative was achieved, in terms of the geometry and public functions of the market, but also in terms of the subsequent private and laboratory use.
The general interventions of the project concerned the entire building block of the market and in beautification works, such as vegetation management, surface cleaning, removal of brought and fallen materials, soil shaping, filling of old excavation pits and collection of scattered building materials. The protection, restoration and enhancement works focused on the forum area (square, arcades and southern section), the “House of Evvoulou” (rescue conservation of the mosaic floors), the “House of Epigenous” and the so-called “Sevastion” and briefly concern the following:
Restoration of the ground surfaces: In the areas where additional uncovering of the architectural remains was required, excavation and extensive earthworks were carried out, while old excavation pits and research sections were covered with inert materials, in order to give a unified image of the spaces.
Consolidation and reinforcement of the wall structures, with the necessary additions and recoveries: The works included the removal of the loose binding material and deep grouting with new mortar, after having read and understood the architectural structure and the construction logic. The completion of the collapsed walls and the recovery are carried out at selected points, where it is deemed necessary for their rescue. ·
Conservation of the mural painting of the so-called Sebasteion (Fig. 3), the mosaic floors in the “House of Epigenous” and in the “Sebastion” and the surviving stone slabs, with which the market square was paved. The mortars that were applied are of special specifications, with compositions proposed by the Laboratory of Building Materials of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and their application was carried out following the instructions for achieving the desired strength.
Final coating of the surfaces of the floors with different materials, in order to render the geometry of the spaces in an understandable way. The materials used for the final coatings are quarry aggregates of different shades, as well as a mixture of dry materials, in order to give the appearance and texture of an earthen floor (Fig. 2). The gaps in the mosaic floors of the house of “Epigenous” and “Sevastion”, as well as in the stone slabs of the market square, were filled with river pebbles, a material that highlights the surviving floors in color. At the same time, the information services for visitors to the archaeological park were upgraded. A unified visual identity and logo were created for ancient Dion and a printed information booklet, website, digital audio tour, information signs, brochures, as well as information signs and information material for people with visual impairments were produced. Visitor access to the project area is possible by extending the existing tour route that was carried out, which is adapted for people with disabilities, and includes viewing and resting platforms. This new design ensures equal treatment of all visitors, both with the possibility of physical approach to the monuments themselves and with the possibility of access to the information that accompanies them.
The project “Restoration and Promotion of the Building Square of the Agora of Dion” was included in the OP “Central Macedonia 2014-2020” with the implementing body being the Ephorate of Antiquities of Pieria, with a budget of €1,366,272.34 and was segmented into the Program “Central Macedonia 2021-2027” with a budget of €1,339,634.69. During the course of the project, the physical and financial object was modified with a total budget of €1,887,000.00.
Phase 1 of the Project was implemented in the OP “Central Macedonia 2014-2020” with a budget of €26,637,65 €. Phase II of the project is expected to be completed in March 2026.
