The remains of this walled city lie at the foot of an acropolis in north-eastern Greece, on the ancient trade route linking Europe and Asia, the Via Egnatia, thus making it a forefront of major historical events.
Founded in 356 BC by the Macedonian King Philip II, the city was adopted conquered and developed by different empires, religions and civilisations. It was developed as a “small Rome” with the establishment of the Roman Empire in the decades following the Battle of Philippi, in 42 BCE. The Battle of Philippi was waged between the armies of the Republicans Cassius and Brutus, and supporters of Julius Caesar, Octavian and Mark Antony, and which set the course of the Roman Republic towards the Empire that was to conquer the Ancient World.
The vibrant Hellenistic city of Philip II, of which the walls and their gates, the theatre and the funerary heroon (temple) are to be seen, was supplemented with Roman public buildings such as the Forum and a monumental terrace with temples to its north. It was also a centre of the Christian faith and key in the expansion of Christianity with the arrival of many apostles, among them Apostle Paul, who visited Philippi in 49-50 CE.
Philippi is full of archaeological monuments that are exceptional testimony to the early establishment of Christianity, and examples of early Christian architecture like the three Early Christian basilicas, the Octagon church, baths that remained in use into the Christian period, the “Bishop’s Palace” and private houses dating from the mid-4th century AD onwards.
Relevant Links:
Apr 04 2017 – Kavala Marks Philippi UNESCO Inclusion with Two-day Events; GTP Headlines
Lucas Thanos ~ Ancient Epic Dance from Lucas Thanos on Vimeo.
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