PIERIA (region)
Ancient region of northeast Greece
- Kind of place
- Region
- Patron
- Muses
- Where
- 40.25° N, 22.42° E
Pieria is the beautiful seat of the Muses and the holy slope of Olympus. Euripides, Bacchae 402-416 Mnemosyne gave birth to the Muses in this region. The Theogony ll. 53-74 Pieria is described as having shadowy mountains. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 68-86
Described in the sources
The Graces and Desire reside in this area. Euripides, Bacchae 402-416 +1 Pydna is considered to be part of the region of Pieria. Strabo 7.fragments.20 +1 Pieria is located near the plains of Emathia. Strabo 1.2.20 part 1 The region of Pieria extends as far as Macedonia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.15 ¶1 Xerxes remained in this region for an extended period. Herodotus 7.131.1 Pieria is located behind the town of Pheræ in Thessaly. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.15 ¶1 The Muses dwell near the highest peak of snowy Olympus. The Theogony ll. 53-74 Mount Pieria is located near the Macedonian city of Dium. Pausanias 10.13.5 Pieria is currently in the possession of the Macedonians. Strabo 10.3.17 The town of Æginium is located in the country called Pieria. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.17 ¶1
Gods and worship
Pieria is a place where the Muses are held in honour. Strabo 10.3.17 It is a place where the Bacchae are permitted to celebrate their rites. Euripides, Bacchae 402-416
Stories and history
The region is noted for producing a specific type of pitch. Herodotus 4.195.3 Hermes plucked brushwood in Pieria while preparing for his journey. Hymn IV to Hermes ll. 68-86 Pieria is identified as the source of the most esteemed pitch in Greece. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 14.25 ¶6
Myths set at Pieria
- The Theft of Apollo's Cattle. Hermes steals Apollo's cattle while the god is herding them in Pieria. The story ends with the theft occurring on the fourth day of the month. Apollodorus 3.10.2 +5 Apollo
- The Gathering of the Trees. Orpheus travels to the deep woods of Olympus to perform a feat of musical magic. He uses his lyre to lead wild oak trees from Pieria into ordered ranks at Zone. Argonautica 1 ¶4 +1 Orpheus