Ancient Pella

Pella was built in the Hippodameion system, with wide vertical and horizontal streets, creating building blocks. The private residences of Pella had the form of ancient Greek homes, where the living quarters were located around a central courtyard with a colonnade (peristylion: a roofed gallery with pillars). The floors were decorated with pebbled mosaics depicting wonderful scenes from mythology.
Ancient Pella, where King Philip achieved greatness and Alexander the Great was born, is the most important archaeological site of Macedonia (along with Vergina). Excavations brought to light wonderful finds documenting the economic and artistic flourish of the capital of ancient Macedonians.
In the symposium rooms, the men’s quarters, in the mansion of Dionysus, mosaic floors of great craftsmanship made with natural pebbles have been found, dating to 325-300 B.C. God Dionysus riding a panther, and a depiction of a griffin rending a deer.
The most impressive mosaic from Pella, decorating the new museum, is the lion hunt scene, discovered in the mansion of Dionysus. Hunting was the main form of entertainment for Macedonian kings. It is speculated that the two forms are Alexander the Great and his friend Krateros, who saved him from the lion’s attack.