Northern
Greece Pictures
History, archaeology
and photos of Greek Macedonia and northern Greece
For
the majority of tourists, their trip to Greece stops short of northern
Greece. They tend to ignore this area due to its distance from Athens,
most of the archaeological excavation taking place here is relatively
new and
people are unaware of the important and abundant archaeological
treasures,
ruins and rich culture that can be found in Greek Macedonia. Before I
planned
my trip to northern Greece, I knew that there were a lot of ancient
sites
to visit, but I was unaware of their significant historical importance.
There are simply too many historical and cultural sites to
visit and
experience.
The area is rich in culture as seen through their artwork,
architecture,
funerary items and rituals, and their intricate mosaics. I will briefly
summarize the rich history and sites that you can visit.
Vergina
One
of the most important archaeological sites in all of Greece can be
found
in Vergina. Not only is Vergina the site of Macedonia's first capital
Aegae,
it is also the site of the tomb of Alexander the Great's father King
Philip
II of Macedon and as well as other royal tombs which is now a museum.
The
Macedonians used to bury their royalty and nobility in elaborate tombs
or monuments. They sort of resemble miniature temples or large
mausoleums.
You can view an example by clicking on thumb nailed of the
Tomb
of Anthemia. You can see how beautiful this temple is and the
importance
of funerary rituals for burials during this period in history. The
Macedonian
tradition was to bury the dead in these elaborate tombs and then cover
them with soil for eternity. All you would see would be mounds of earth
dotting the landscape.
The
museum in Vergina is unique because it has covered the burial site from
the elements and maintained the tombs in situ for everyone to see.
There
you'll see 3 royal tombs, including Philip II's, various gold, silver
and
ivory artifacts, wartime items, reliquaries and other daily artifacts.
The finds from these tombs are amazing to see. They are intricate,
beautiful
and shows that a lot of wealth and skill was required to create them.
Although
some items can be seen here, the majority of the artifacts from Vergina
can be found in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
Unfortunately
I do not have any photos from the Vergina museum as we were not allowed
to take photographs.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
has many places to visit from museums to churches, Roman and Byzantine
ruins. Begin by visiting the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
where
you'll find the majority of artifacts from Vergina as well as other
parts
of Macedonia and Thessaloniki. One church worth noting is Ayios
Dhimitrios
and be sure to see the crypt. Other sites worth taking a look
at include the remnants of the wall surrounding parts of the city from
the Byzantine period, the Palace of Galerius, and the various
Roman ruins that have been excavated or are currently being excavated.
Pella
and the Museum
Under
King Archelaus, the capital was moved to Pella. Here you can visit the
ruins and the museum where you'll see beautiful and intricate pebble
floor
mosaics. Some are left outside in situ while others have been relocated
into the museum. One of these can be seen in.
Dion
Dion
is located in the foothills of Mount Olympus and is the sacred city of
the Macedonians with it's temples, sanctuaries to Zeus, Demeter,
Artemis
and later to foreign gods such as Isis and Serapis. This is where
Alexander
and Philip came to make their sacrifices before their expeditions. The
excavations at this site began in the 1990's, so the finds are
relatively
new. Here you will see beautiful mosaics, sanctuaries, various ruins
and
Roman baths. See first two photos for examples.
Philippi
Philippi
named after Philip II is historically significant. The fate of the
Roman
empire was determined here at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. St Paul
visited here in 49 AD. You can see the prison of St Paul and Philippi
was
the beginning of his mission in Europe. The ruins consist of Roman
buildings,
the Roman road Via Egnatia, a theatre and churches. One of these
was the first domed church which caved in. It structurally failed soon
after
it's construction.
This
is just a brief summary with photographic examples of what you can see
and learn in Greek Macedonia. You'll be amazed during your visit. It's
an historically and culturally rich area in Greece. I recommend that
you
read Fodors
Greece for an introduction to this area or pick up
a book on
the history
of Macedonian Greece to familiarize yourself before visiting this area.
