He then set forth eastward to cross into Asia to confront and defeat the Persian army at the Battle of Granicus. This was but a prelude to his further march east, that saw him reach the Indus River.
To this day the ruins of the many new cities he founded after the Macedonian model chart his path. This makes Dion a very special place in Greek history.
Given the heat wave in Greece, we set off early and found ourselves the only visitors to the 150ha historic park for much of our stay. Decades of archaeological excavations have uncovered the history, beginning as far back as the 5th century BC, when The Bacchae of Eurypides was premiered in the Greek theatre. Only as recently as 2000 was the sanctuary of Zeus Olympios discovered.
One can now explore, mercifully for much of the time in the shade of the trees, not only the Macedonian temples and tombs, but also the later Roman city.
Being on the flat and only 1.5km from the sea, defence was essential and the city walls, that have withstood more than one earthquake, are constructed of massive blocks of Mount Olympus limestone covering nearly 3km, fully 3m thick and once rising to a height of 10m.
Water is a vital component of city life, and the Vaphyras River flows out of springs next to the city walls. This river was designated a god in its own right and it flowed past a temple dedicated to Aphrodite, a goddess the faithful sought out to aid in fertility. As one wanders through the historic site, one cannot help but muse on the great games that the Macedonian kings instituted there, and the victory celebrations of their many wars.
In 169BC, Dion was captured by the Romans, and, over the next three centuries, the site was reborn as a major Roman city. Like all others, it had its forum, splendid homes and bath house replete with the hypocaust system to heat the mosaic floors, linked to a 400-seat theatre.
After suitable refreshment, we drove to the base of Mount Olympus and clambered up a pathway into a massive gorge that cut into the heart of the mountain. A stream was gushing beside us, cascading over a waterfall, as we glanced up to the home of gods. Despite the searing heat there were still pockets of snow.
