Assos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the East
The clifftop port where Paul rejoined his companions on foot
Found 1881 — Joseph Thacher Clarke and Francis H. Bacon for the Archaeological Institute of America (1881–1883), with Robert Koldewey; Turkish excavations under Ümit Serdaroğlu (1981–2005) and Nurettin Arslan (since 2006)
Where Behramkale (Assos), Çanakkale Province (Turkey)
Dates from Temple c. 530 BCE; Roman city 1st century CE · Archaic–Roman · Paul's third journey (Acts 20:13-14)
Now at In situ; sculpture in the Louvre, Istanbul Archaeological Museums and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
How Assos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the East was found
The AIA's first-ever excavation cleared the Doric temple on the acropolis, the agora, gymnasium, theatre and harbour street; its reliefs were divided between the Louvre, Istanbul and Boston. Modern work has restored temple columns and studied the harbour and necropolis.
What it is
A walled Greek city on a 238 m volcanic crag above a small harbour, crowned by the only Archaic Doric temple in Asia Minor, with a carved frieze of Herakles and sphinxes. Below lie the agora with stoas, the bouleuterion, a theatre facing the sea, well-preserved 4th-century BCE walls and gates, and the paved road descending to the port.
Why it matters for the Bible
Luke records that Paul chose to walk the 30 km from Troas to Assos while his companions sailed round Cape Lectum, then boarded ship at Assos for Mitylene (Acts 20:13–14). The excavated harbour, the road down from the city and the well-dated walls all belong to the town Paul entered on foot. Assos also housed Aristotle for three years, a reminder of the Greek learning Paul met in these cities.
The Hebrew word: DEH-rech
דֶּרֶךְ
דֶּרֶךְ is pronounced DEH-rech and means road, way, journey — Paul's overland walk while the others sailed (Strong's H1870).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (shah-OOL) — 'asked for'; Latin Paulus
- Luke — לוּקָס (loo-KAHS) — Greek Loukas; the 'we' narrator who sailed to Assos
Places
- Assos — אַסּוֹס (AH-sos) — Greek Assos
Events
Paul's walk from Troas to Assos
Assos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the East in Scripture
Acts 20:13-14 Paul goes by land to Assos and boards ship there; the excavated harbour and road are the setting.
Questions people ask
What is Assos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the East?
A walled Greek city on a 238 m volcanic crag above a small harbour, crowned by the only Archaic Doric temple in Asia Minor, with a carved frieze of Herakles and sphinxes. Below lie the agora with stoas, the bouleuterion, a theatre facing the sea, well-preserved 4th-century BCE walls and gates, and the paved road descending to the port.
When was Assos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the East discovered?
It was found in 1881 by Joseph Thacher Clarke and Francis H. Bacon for the Archaeological Institute of America (1881–1883), with Robert Koldewey; Turkish excavations under Ümit Serdaroğlu (1981–2005) and Nurettin Arslan (since 2006), at Behramkale (Assos), Çanakkale Province.
Where is Assos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the East today?
In situ; sculpture in the Louvre, Istanbul Archaeological Museums and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Which Bible verses does Assos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the East relate to?
Acts 20:13-14.
Related discoveries
- 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
- 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
- חַלּוֹןAlexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes AtticusThe port where Paul saw the Macedonian vision and raised Eutychus
- תַּרְשִׁישׁTarsus: The Roman Road and Cleopatra's GatePaved street and city gate of Paul's 'no mean city'
Sources
- The Assos Excavations (Archaeology Magazine archive)
- Clarke, Bacon, Koldewey, Investigations at Assos (1902–1921), digitised
- Archaeological Site of Assos (UNESCO tentative list)
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