Pieria (regional unit)

Pieria
Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Πιερίας
Municipalities of Pieria
Municipalities of Pieria
Pieria is located in Greece
Pieria
Pieria
Pieria within Greece
Coordinates: 40°15′N 22°25′E / 40.250°N 22.417°E / 40.250; 22.417
CountryGreece
Geographic regionMacedonia
Administrative regionCentral Macedonia
SeatKaterini
Area
 • Total1,516 km2 (585 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total119,384
 • Density79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
60x xx
Area code(s)235x0
Vehicle registrationΚΝ
Websitewww.pkm.gov.gr/p-e-pierias/
Mount Olympus
The Venetian Platamon Castle

Pieria (Greek: Πιερία) is one of the regional units of Greece located in the southern part of the Region of Central Macedonia, within the historical province of Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Katerini. The name Pieria originates from the ancient Pieres tribe. In Pieria, there are many sites of archeological interest, such as Dion, Pydna, Leivithra and Platamonas. Pieria contains Mount Pierus, from which Hermes takes flight in order to visit Calypso,[2] and is the home of Orpheus,[3] the Muses,[4] and contains the Pierian Spring. Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and throne of the ancient Greek gods, is located in the southern part of Pieria. Other ancient cities included Leibethra and Pimpleia.

  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Homer, Odyssey, Book 5, line 50". Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved 2020-05-04. On to Pieria he stepped from the upper air, and swooped down upon the sea, and then sped over the wave like a bird, the cormorant, which in quest of fish over the dread gulfs of the unresting sea wets its thick plumage in the brine. In such wise did Hermes ride upon the multitudinous waves.
  3. ^ Guthrie, William Keith (1993). Alderink, Larry J. (ed.). Orpheus and Greek Religion: A Study of the Orphic Movement. Mythos: The Princeton/Bollingen Series in World Mythology. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0691024998.
  4. ^ Marchant, E.C., ed. (1891). Thucydides Book II. London: Macmillan. between Mount Olympus and the Thermaic Gulf, the original home of the Muses and birth-place of Orpheus