Via Egnatia and the Port of Neapolis
The Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
Found 1914 — Paved stretches cleared at Philippi by the École française d'Athènes; milestones recorded since the 19th century (Heuzey & Daumet 1861)
Where Philippi and Kavala (Neapolis), eastern Macedonia (Greece)
Dates from built c. 146–120 BCE; in use through Byzantine times · Roman Republic–Imperial · Paul's journeys through Macedonia (Acts 16–17, 20)
Now at In situ; paved section visible at Philippi; milestones in Greek and North Macedonian museums
How Via Egnatia and the Port of Neapolis was found
The road is known from surviving paving through Philippi's forum, Roman milestones naming the proconsul Gnaeus Egnatius who built it, and the ancient itineraries. Neapolis (Kavala) preserves harbour remains under the modern port.
What it is
A paved Roman military road about 1,100 km long from Dyrrhachium on the Adriatic to Byzantium, passing through Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, and Thessalonica. Neapolis was its Aegean port, 16 km from Philippi.
Why it matters for the Bible
Acts 16:11–12 records Paul sailing from Troas to Neapolis and walking up to Philippi; Acts 17:1 lists Amphipolis and Apollonia on the way to Thessalonica, exactly the Via Egnatia's stations in order. The road explains the route, the speed, and the choice of cities on Paul's second journey, and later carried his letters and the messengers of the Macedonian assemblies.
The Hebrew word: DEH-rech
דֶּרֶךְ
דֶּרֶךְ is pronounced DEH-rech and means road, way (Greek hodos) (Strong's H1870 / G3598).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (Shah-OOL) — asked for (Greek Paulos)
- Luke — לוּקָס (LOO-kahs) — Greek Loukas; the 'we' passages begin at Troas–Neapolis
Places
- Neapolis — נֵאַפּוֹלִיס (neh-AH-po-lees) — Greek Neapolis, 'new city'; modern Kavala
- Amphipolis — אַמְפִיפּוֹלִיס (ahm-FEE-po-lees) — Greek Amphipolis
Events
Paul's crossing from Troas to Macedonia · Journey Philippi–Amphipolis–Apollonia–Thessalonica
Via Egnatia and the Port of Neapolis in Scripture
Acts 16:11-12 Landing at Neapolis and going on to Philippi — the port and road described here.
Questions people ask
What is Via Egnatia and the Port of Neapolis?
A paved Roman military road about 1,100 km long from Dyrrhachium on the Adriatic to Byzantium, passing through Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, and Thessalonica. Neapolis was its Aegean port, 16 km from Philippi.
When was Via Egnatia and the Port of Neapolis discovered?
It was found in 1914 by Paved stretches cleared at Philippi by the École française d'Athènes; milestones recorded since the 19th century (Heuzey & Daumet 1861), at Philippi and Kavala (Neapolis), eastern Macedonia.
Where is Via Egnatia and the Port of Neapolis today?
In situ; paved section visible at Philippi; milestones in Greek and North Macedonian museums.
Which Bible verses does Via Egnatia and the Port of Neapolis relate to?
Acts 16:11-12.
Related discoveries
- 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
- מָקוֹם תְּפִלָּהLydia's Baptism Site on the Gangites (Zygaktis) RiverThe riverside 'place of prayer' outside Philippi where Europe's first recorded believer was immersed
- מוֹשָׁבָהPhilippi: Forum, Bema, and the Prison TraditionThe Roman colony where Paul was beaten before the magistrates and freed by an earthquake
- שׁוּקThessalonica: The Roman Forum and the Arch of GaleriusThe city centre where 'the world was turned upside down', found by accident in 1962
- אַרְיֵהAmphipolis: The Lion Monument and the Kasta TombMacedonian splendour on the Via Egnatia, where Paul passed on the way to Thessalonica
Sources
- Ch. Koukouli-Chrysanthaki, 'Via Egnatia', in Philippi at the Time of Paul and after His Death (1998)
- N. G. L. Hammond, 'The Western Part of the Via Egnatia', JRS 64 (1974)
- Wikipedia, "Via Egnatia" (2nd-century BCE construction under proconsul Gnaeus Egnatius; milestone evidence)
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