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Katerini

During ancient times, about 700 BC, when the Macedonians conquered, the so called "Macedonia by the sea"- Pieria, they compelled a part of the Pierian Thracians to move off North, while those who remained were gradually integrated with the Macedonians.

The most crucial battle in ancient times between the Greeks and Romans was destined to take place in Pieria, at the city of Dion. The historical battle occured on June 22nd. in 168 BC between the Rivers Aison and Leukos in Pieria (today's "Mavroneri" and "Pelekas" respectively), where the Romans, under the Consul Emilius Paulus, defeated the Macedonians of the Macedonian king, Perseus, signposting thus the period of the Roman Occupatoion in Greece. Even more, Perseus was captured to serve as a "Trophy" at the Emilius Paulus' triumph in Rome later on. Emilius Paulus would exhibit, besides Perseus, 250 carriages full of statues stolen from Macedonia mainly, many of which certainly came from Pieria, such as the 25 statues representing Dion's "Associates", which were made after Alexander the Great's order.

In order that they might acquire prestige and glamour, the Romans converted Pieria into a Roman province, nominating Pella, the once capital of the almighty Macedonian State, as its capital. Being under status-quo of the "Pax Romana", the Pierian cities would not be any more exposed to external dangers and were not threatened by anyone.

During the years of the Turkish occupation in Greece, Pieria would comprise a seperate administrative region and the small village of Katerini in the center of this region began to develop, to become, later on, the capital of the province. Nevertheless, the oppression of the population by the conquerors was severe, and thus the Greeks assumed a disobedient attitude against the tyrant during the early 16th. century, the rebels taking to the mountains, and the village Milia serving as their headquarters!

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