Philippi: A City of Immeasurable Significance
Philippi is a city rich in ancient history, and is possibly the most important archeological site of the great plain of eastern Macedonia.? The ancient town has seen the fate of the West played out within its borders on several occasions and majestic ruins left from the town?s extraordinary history testify to the great civilizations that have inhabited the region.? Philippi is most famous for two reasons: it was the scene of one of the most decisive battles in history, and it was the first European city to accept Christianity (Willett).
Located in the Northeast crescent of Greece, Philippi sits about nine miles north of the shore in the province of Macedonia, and lies within the district of Kavᬡ at the foothills of Mt. Pangaion.? Philippi is also located on the Via Egnatia, a Roman road and important trade route that connects ports on the Adriatic Sea.? The road heads east through the Macedonian region directly through Philippi, and continues into Byzantium, Turkey. Historically, Philippi occupied a strategic position between the rivers Strymon and Nestos.? It commanded a view of the plain of Drama, along with the river Gangites, and overlooked the mountain pass between Pangaeus and Haemus (The Unbound Bible).
Beginnings and the significance of Philippi
Philippi is not a working city, and as a result, the significance of what happened here is more important than what can actually be seen.? Therefore, a clear grasp of past events is essential toward appreciating the importance of the land.
In 360 B.C., a group of colonists from Thasos led by Callistratus, an exiled Athenian, founded the first city called Krenides, which means, ?little springs.? ?The small town b...
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...Western civilization and have spurred archeologists to repair and renovate the ruins to better illustrate these events.? Philippi?s fortunate location has earned it a well-respected place in our history.
Bibliography
BiblePlaces.com. ?Philippi? <http://www.bibleplaces.com/philippi.htm>
Neosguide: Mainland Greece, Athens, and the Ionian Islands. Michelin Travel Publications. 2002
Odysseus Hellenic Ministry of Culture Server. ?Philippi. lt;http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21118a/e211ra01.html>
The Unbound Bible. ?Mission in Philippi.? < http://unbound.biola.edu/acts/index.cfm?lang=English&item=philippi2
Willett, David, Hall, Rosemary, Hellander, Paul, Barta, Brigitte, Bain, Carolyn. Lonely Planet:
Greece. 5th Edition. Lonely Planet Publications. 2002.
Zaroulis, Andrew. Let?s Go: Greece. Let?s Go Travel Guide, Inc. St. Martin?s Press. 2004
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Morris, Ian. Classical Greece: ancient histories and modern archaeologies. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Print.
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