Louloudies

In the construction of the railway line between Athens and Thessaloniki, a fortified bishop's seat from the Byzantine era was discovered in Louloudies (luˈluðιés) (Greek Λουλουδιές).

The complex is located 11.3 km northeast of the town of Katerini, 3.3 km northeast of the village of Korinos and 5.8 km south of the ancient Pydna in the region Pieria, Macedonia in Greece. In the middle of the 19th century the French archaeologist Heuzey localized the hills north-west of Louloudies as the place where 168 BC, the decisive battle between the Roman troops and the soldiers of the last Macedonian king Perseus took place.

In 479 the Goths laid siege to the city of Thessaloniki. In order to avert damage to Thessaloniki, the besiegers agreed with the City Magistrate to put some Macedonian cities under Gothic supervision. Among them were the cities of Pella, Pydna, Dion and Veria. Pydna was appointed a bishops seat, but the bishop himself resided at Louloudies.

The fortress-like complex was built in the last quarter of the 5th century at the road between Thessaloniki and Larissa. Probably it is the same place that was called in Roman records Anamon. During the reign of Justinian I (527-567), the complex was expanded. In the middle of the 6th century the buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The bishop left the place and it was later used as a cemetery. In the 7th century the place was finally abandoned after barbarian attacks.

The entire complex has a floor area of ​​80 by 90 meters. He was surrounded by a wall, and four rectangular towers, which were at the corners of the walls, were built for his defense. At the western side of the wall was a double gate. In the first phase, a three-aisled basilica and a residence for the bishop were erected. The reception area and the colonnades of the building were striking. The floors are decorated with mosaic that, unlike the mosaics of Dion, represents only ornaments. Under the bishop's palace were remnants of a villa from the early 4th century BC found. At the time of Justinian facilities for the production of wine and olive oil were established.

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Wikipedia