Stadium of Dion
24/01/2017
The ancient stadium of Dion is an earthen structure, created by excavating and banking up the soil, which consists of a beaten earth track (conistra), a perimetric drainage channel dug into the ground, and earthen cunei. It is located in the area of the sanctuaries, south of the city wall and northeast of the Hellenistic theatre. The dating of the stadium is based on a large number of coins found during the excavation. They represent almost all the Macedonian kings, from Alexander I (498-454 BC) to Philip V (238-179 BC). The earliest coin is a silver tetrobol (with a horse on one side and a helmet on the other) of Alexander I, whose coins continued to circulate for many years after his death. The stadium of Dion is connected to the “Olympia at Dion” mentioned in ancient sources. These games are also attested by an inscription of the late 4th century BC, setup in the sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus. The inscription refers to gymnic and scenic games, which were presumably held in the stadium and theatre of ancient Dion, the sacred city of the Macedonians. ...