Arriving Greek Mainland: Neapolis

 The seaport Neapolis

Neapolis means the New City in Greek, today the city is called Kavala. The city in Roman times was situated on the ancient route of Via Egnatia; which was a continuation of the Via Appia from Rome, after crossing the Adriatic Sea, stretching all the way to Byzantium (later Constantinople, today Istanbul).

It was 160 km east of Thessaloniki and 14 km south of Philippi. 

The Via Egnatia and the seaport set its significance as a trade hub.

Today it is still a small but interesting city of about 56,000 people. 

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Let's Go to Greece!!

Going over to Greece

Paul and his team confirmed that it was God's leading that they should go west into Macedonia (Greece) to preach the Gospel, therefore they immediately took action.

So putting out to sea from Troas, we sailed a straight course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. And we were staying in this city for some days.     (Acts 16:11-12)

As mentioned before, Alexandria Troas was a major sealine hub of the region. Merchant vessels were going in all directions.

They embarked on a ship going west, the first stop is at an island called Samothrace.

This is a rather small island, today the population is less than 3,000 islanders. In ancient times, there were settlements, not of any significance, the only attraction was the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, now an archaeological site of important Hellenic and pre-Hellenic religious importance.

The most famous artifact from the temple complex is the 2.5-metre marble statue of Nike (now known as the Winged Victory of Samothrace), which dates from about 190 BC.  It is now located in Room 703 (Daru staircase), Denon wing, Level 1, at the Louvre in Paris. 

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Photos #6 Alexandria Troas: coastline

 Alexandria Troas was the best harbor of that region in her golden days. This was the hub of traffic in 3 directions: 

1. to the west: towards Traces, Macedonia and Greece.
2. to the south & east: towards the Roman Province of Asia, along all the coast of Anatolia
3. to the north &east: through the Dardanelles Straits to the Marmara Sea and further east to the Black Sea.
   
   
   

This once famous and busy harbor was choked up with sand and led to the collapse of the city. Many of the stones from the ruins of the buildings were shipped to Constantinople for reuse.

Here are some of our photos along the coast and modern pier of Dalyan.

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