in Ancient Geography, a central division of Macedonia, encircled on the north by the rivers Erigon and Axius, and on the south by the Halaecon. It formed naturally a distinct and isolated country, comprising within its own limits all the elements of independence. The rivers and mountain ranges which begirt it on every side secured it against all attack from without, while its fertile plains, adorned with every variety of wood and water, formed the most important of its internal resources. Some of the strongest natural fortresses in Greece belonged to Emathia, such as Edessa and Bercea. It was in this country that the Macedonian dynasty, which ultimately subdued the whole of Greece, first began to develop itself.

Under the Romans Emathia formed part of the third region of Macedonia. Its principal cities at this time were Almopia, Atalanta, Bercea, Citium, Cyrrhus, Edessa, Euro- pus, Gortynia, and Idomene. (See Leake's Northern Greece, vol. iii.)