The Tempi area is associated with celebrations, rituals and legends of antiquity, in which Poseidon, along with Apollo and Artemis, has a dominant position.

The Tempi Valley was dedicated to the worship of God Apollo, the god of religious cleansing and divination.

Traces of the sanctuary of Apollo Pythian, or Tebeti, were found at the eastern exit of the valley, on the right bank of Pinios, at the edge of the present bridge of the river.

The name Tempi has been preserved for a very long time and is probably related to the greek word "τέμνω" (témno) which means "cut".

According to historians Herodotus, Apollodoros and Strabo, a few millennia ago Mount Olympus and Mount Kisavos were a single mountain range.

The ancient writers say that the geomorphology of the area is the result of a massive earthquake that separated the two mountains and created a way to the sea for the waters of the vast lake, that once covered the Thessalian valley.

The Valley has been a major strategic passage that unites Macedonia with Thessaly since the ancient times. During the Ottoman domination, the area was called "Baba" from the village of Baba at the entrance of the valley, which is now called Tempi.

 

Tempi Valley was known for its natural beauty during the time of the great travelers.

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