Alexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes Atticus
The port where Paul saw the Macedonian vision and raised Eutychus
Found 1993 — Elmar Schwertheim, University of Münster (1993–2010s); continued by Erhan Öztepe (Ankara University); harbour survey and stadium discovery in recent seasons
Where Dalyan (Alexandria Troas), Çanakkale Province (Turkey)
Dates from City founded c. 310 BCE; baths c. 135 CE; Roman colony from Augustus · Hellenistic–Roman · Paul's second and third journeys (Acts 16, 20); 2 Timothy 4:13
Now at In situ; finds in Çanakkale Archaeological Museum
How Alexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes Atticus was found
The ruins (Turkish 'Eski Stambul') were long quarried for stone. Münster's teams mapped the 10 km wall circuit, cleared the odeon, agora temple and the great bath-gymnasium, and identified the silted twin harbours; a Hellenistic stadium was found in the 2010s.
What it is
A large Roman colony on the Aegean coast with a 3rd-century BCE gate, an aqueduct of Trajan, an odeon, and the huge bath-gymnasium (about 123 by 84 m) that the millionaire sophist Herodes Atticus paid for around 135 CE — still the best-preserved building on the site, called 'Bal Saray' by locals. The ancient harbour basins lie silted beside the shore.
Why it matters for the Bible
At Troas Paul saw the vision of the man of Macedonia and crossed to Europe (Acts 16:8–11); on his return he preached until midnight in an upstairs room, where young Eutychus fell from the window and was restored (Acts 20:6–12); and he left his cloak and parchments here with Carpus (2 Timothy 4:13). The excavated harbour and streets are the setting of these scenes, and Roman Troas' multi-storey insulae explain a third-floor window in a crowded lamp-lit room.
The Hebrew word: chah-LOHN
חַלּוֹן
חַלּוֹן is pronounced chah-LOHN and means window — where Eutychus sat and fell (Strong's H2474).
People this discovery connects to
- Eutychus — אֶבְטִיכוֹס (ev-TEE-chos) — Greek Eutychos, 'fortunate'
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (shah-OOL) — 'asked for'; Latin Paulus
Places
- Troas — טְרוֹאַס (tro-AHS) — Greek Troas, the region of ancient Troy
Events
Vision of the man of Macedonia · Raising of Eutychus · Paul's cloak and parchments left at Troas
Alexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes Atticus in Scripture
Acts 16:8-10 The Macedonian vision at Troas and the crossing to Europe. (First mention of Troas.)
Acts 20:7-9 Eutychus falls from the third-storey window at Troas; the city's Roman housing sets the scene.
2 Timothy 4:13 The cloak and parchments left with Carpus at Troas.
Questions people ask
What is Alexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes Atticus?
A large Roman colony on the Aegean coast with a 3rd-century BCE gate, an aqueduct of Trajan, an odeon, and the huge bath-gymnasium (about 123 by 84 m) that the millionaire sophist Herodes Atticus paid for around 135 CE — still the best-preserved building on the site, called 'Bal Saray' by locals. The ancient harbour basins lie silted beside the shore.
When was Alexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes Atticus discovered?
It was found in 1993 by Elmar Schwertheim, University of Münster (1993–2010s); continued by Erhan Öztepe (Ankara University); harbour survey and stadium discovery in recent seasons, at Dalyan (Alexandria Troas), Çanakkale Province.
Where is Alexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes Atticus today?
In situ; finds in Çanakkale Archaeological Museum.
Which Bible verses does Alexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes Atticus relate to?
Acts 16:8-10, Acts 20:7-9, 2 Timothy 4:13.
Related discoveries
- עַכּוֹAcco / Ptolemais (Tel Akko)The Canaanite–Phoenician port Asher never took, where Paul spent a day with the believers
- קֵיסָרCaesarea MaritimaHerod's harbor city, seat of the Roman governors and home of Cornelius and Philip
- דֶּרֶךְAssos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the EastThe clifftop port where Paul rejoined his companions on foot
- אֳנִיָּהPuteoli and the Alexandrian Grain FleetThe Bay of Naples port where Paul landed and the giant grain ships he sailed on
- דֶּרֶךְVia Egnatia and the Port of NeapolisThe Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
- תַּרְשִׁישׁTarsus: The Roman Road and Cleopatra's GatePaved street and city gate of Paul's 'no mean city'
Sources
- Alexandria Troas (Turkish Archaeological News)
- Alexandria Troas Herodes Atticus Baths (Kültür Envanteri)
- 'Eutychus in Troas: The Architecture and Archaeology of his Fall' (Academia.edu)
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