Description

The Archaeological Museum of Dion (Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Δίου) was established in 1983 to display finds unearthed from the ancient city of Dion, the archaeological site of Dion, and other archaeological sites in Pieria region.

The Archaeological Museum of Dion is a 10-minute walk west of the archaeological park, along the main road to the village. It presents Dion city center and the public buildings, its sanctuaries, and the Necropolis through exhibits dated back to Mycenaean civilization, 1600-1100 BC, Ancient historical times, 1050 BC-AD 324, and Early Byzantine period, AD 324-610 organized in sections according to the place they were discovered.

The museum is filled with votive sculptures from Hellenistic and Roman times, including Portraits, Tools, Mosaics, Marble and Clay Marble, and Statuettes. Also, it contains many other objects like Reliefs, Pottery, Funerary, Sarcophagi, Jewelry, tombstones, bronze figurines, votive and grave monuments, coins, and other small items found in Dion.

The museum's Basement is devoted to objects related to the daily life of ancient Greeks who lived in Dion. Additionally, it contains construction materials such as floor tiles, roof tiles, bricks, clay, and lead pipes. Pottery household vessels containing oil or wine were produced with the help of pottery wheels and burnt in kilns. The processing traces of various tools are illustrated on marble pieces.

On the upper floor, you can find one of the most important exhibits of the museum, the Hydraulic organ (ὓδραυλις, hydraulis), given its room. It was found in 1992 on excavations within the remains of a building situated opposite the villa of Dionysos.

The organ dates from the 2nd century AD. It corresponds to the instruments mentioned by Heron of Alexandria and Vitruvius. The organ’s pipes are arranged in two rows and consist of 24 additional and 16 narrower pipes. They were decorated with silver rings. The organ’s body was decorated with silver stripes and multi-colored, rectangular glass ornaments. It is one of its kind not only in Pieria region but also in Greece and is the oldest found to date anywhere in the world. On a stone slab, there are also the remains of an alliance agreement between the Macedonian king Philip V and the citizens of Lysimacheia in Thrace.

It is also worth mentioning that The Archaeological Museum of Dion offers guided tours for school children in Pieria region. It also has a room devoted to educational activities where you can watch a multilingual video about the history of the excavations at Dion.

Archaeological museum of Dion ticket price:
Full: €8, Reduced: €4

Opening Hours:
The Archaeological Museum of Dion opens from 08:00-20:00 and on Tuesday
11:00-19:00 during Summer.

In Winter, it opens from 8:30 to 15:30. Every Tuesday CLOSED

Every individual regulation-change in the days and hours of operation of the Museums is announced on the hub of the Ministry of Culture and Sports ( https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/service/SitePages/view.aspx?iiD=2710 )

We suggest you confirm by phone the opening hours for the Museums you wish to visit.

Free entrance days:

6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri)
18 April (International Monuments Day)
18 May (International Museums Day)
The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
28 October
Every first Sunday from 1 November to 31 March.

Visitors' entrance is allowed up to 20 minutes before closing time.
All archaeological sites, monuments, and museums remain closed on Easter Sunday and May 1st, official state holidays. On Good Friday, they operate from 12:00 pm to 17:00 pm, and on Holy Saturday from 8:30 am to 15:30 pm
On holidays, for public service and public entities employees (Law 1157/81, Government Gazette 126/A/12-5-81, Article No. 11) (such as Easter Monday, Whit Monday, August 15th, and October 28th), archaeological sites and monuments operate according to the designated schedule.

Address: 60100 DION, PIERIA, GREECE

Facilities: museum shop - parking - wheelchair ramp

Tel.: +30 23510 53206

Visit also: Archaeological Park of Dion