Philippi is an ancient archaeological site near Kavala in East Macedonia and Thrace and is famous for being the place where the apostle St Paul was imprisoned.
The ancient site of Phílippi (or Filippoi) is 18km (11 miles) northwest of Kavála and was once a thriving town. Its impressive remains today straddle the main Kavála-Drama road. The site was named after King Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, after he captured it from the Thracians in 356 BBC. The remains that are visible now date mostly from the Roman period, though.
The most famous part of the site is the remnants of the prison in which St Paul was allegedly kept when he arrived here on his first visit to Europe to preach the Gospels of Christ in 49AD. It's thought that Philippi was the first place that the apostle preached on European soil. In spite of this unfriendly welcome, he remained here for a time and established a congregation, and returned here two more times, in 56 and 57AD.
Prior to the arrival of St Paul, the town was most notable for the Battle of Phílippi, which took place in 42 BC. The murderers of Julius Caesar, Brutus, and Cassius, had fled with their armies but were confronted here by the pursuing forces of Mark Antony and Octavian. When it was clear that they were going to be heavily defeated, Brutus and Cassius both killed themselves.
There is a sizeable theatre on the site, which dates back to the time of Philip II but was rebuilt during the Roman era for use as an amphitheatre. On this side of the road – which was part of the Via Egnatia linking Rome with Istanbul and which passes through Thessaloniki – is also the site museum, although if time is limited it can be safely skipped as the main attractions are actually still in situ.
On the opposite side of the road are the bulk of the town’s remains, including two rather contrasting features. One is the foundations of a church known as Basilica B, which is impressive in its scale, and the other is the remains of the public latrine, equally impressive for the state of preservation of its fifty marble seats. To complete the ablutions, the remains of the Roman Baths are nearby, which were built in 250AD but destroyed soon afterwards in a fire.
More Information
Visit the official Greek website for Philippi.
An ancient gold ring dating back to Mycenaean times was recently returned to Greece by Sweden’s Nobel Foundation, according to an announcement of the Greek Culture Ministry. The Mycenaean signet ring…
Kastellorizo, one of Greece’s smallest islands located in the Dodecanese, is getting ready to host the 1st Rock Solid island trail race, scheduled to take place during June 11-12.
Greece is among the six winners of the 2022 edition of the Natura 2000 Awards, an event that recognises conservation success stories across the EU and raises awareness on the Natura 2000 protected are…
The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has handed over under a concession deal a 1934 silo on the port of Piraeus and the surrounding space to the Greek Culture Ministry so that it may be converted into a M…
Peel Me a Lotus by Charmian Clift is a Hydra travel writing classic, describing her family’s life on this tiny Greek island near Athens in the 1950s.
The churches of Thessaloniki are remarkable and include UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, Byzantine masterpieces, and a church dating from the 5th century.
Greece’s beaches are among the world’s cleanest with the region of Halkidiki and the island of Rhodes in the lead this year, according to the 2022 Blue Flag quality award list for beaches, marinas and…
The Municipality of Lipsi is saying “no” to sunbeds on the island’s beaches and is encouraging travelers to enjoy eco-conscious summer holidays this year in order to live authentic experiences. “We ar…
The Municipality of Ioannina, the capital of the Region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, has launched action to associate the city’s gastronomy with the destination’s brand-name and identity. “Adding t…
The Athens Municipality recently completed the first phase of a 4.2-million-euro refurbishment project aiming to upgrade the National Garden, one of the Greek capital’s landmark sites. The refurbished…