Archaeological Museum of Dion

The Archaeological Museum of Dion is one of the best regional museums in northern Greece. The collection is large, well displayed, and includes finds from over five decades of systematic excavation. You will need at least ninety minutes to do it justice.

The highlights are the hydraulis (water organ), a series of stunning marble statues from the Sanctuary of Isis, and the mosaic floors from the Roman baths. The funerary and votive objects from the Macedonian period illustrate the religious life of the ancient city. Labels are in Greek and English throughout.

things to do museum archaeology
A story
The museum's showpiece is a near-complete hydraulis — a water organ invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria around 250 BC. The Dion example, dating from the 1st century BC, is the best-preserved ancient water organ in the world. It was found in pieces in a cistern and painstakingly restored; a working replica demonstrates how the instrument produced sound by forcing air through pipes using water pressure.