Alexandria's founded by Alexander

Alexandria's founded by Alexander the Great (by year BC): 334 Alexandria in Troia (Turkey) - 333 Alexandria at Issus/Alexandrette (Iskenderun, Turkey) - 332 Alexandria of Caria/by the Latmos (Alinda, Turkey) - 331 Alexandria Mygdoniae - 331 Alexandria (Egypt) - 330 Alexandria Ariana (Herat, Afghanistan) - 330 Alexandria of the Prophthasia/in Dragiana/Phrada (Farah, Afghanistan) - 330 Alexandria in Arachosia (Kandahar, Afghanistan) - 330 Alexandria in the Caucasus (Begram, Afghanistan) - 329 Alexandria of the Paropanisades (Ghazni, Afghanistan) - 329 Alexandria Eschate or Ultima (Khodjend, Tajikistan) - 329 Alexandria on the Oxus (Termez, Afghanistan) - 328 Alexandria in Margiana (Merv, Turkmenistan) - 326 Alexandria Nicaea (on the Hydaspes, India) - 326 Alexandria Bucephala (on the Hydaspes, India) - 325 Alexandria Sogdia - 325 Alexandria Oreitide - 325 Alexandria in Opiene / Alexandria on the Indus (confluence of Indus & Acesines, India) - 325 Alexandria Rambacia (Bela, Pakistan) - 325 Alexandria Xylinepolis (Patala, India) - 325 Alexandria in Carminia (Gulashkird, Iran) - 324 Alexandria-on-the-Tigris/Antiochia-in-Susiana/Charax (Spasinou Charax on the Tigris, Iraq) - ?Alexandria of Carmahle? (Kahnu)

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

The extent of Philippopolis

Latest archaeological works have revealed that in the 4th century BC and in early Hellenistic times, Philippopolis was much larger than assumed initially.

Photo: TV grabs from the Bulgarian National Television

The oldest hills are Nebet Tepe, Dzhambaz Tepe, and Taksim Tepe, where traces of prehistoric times have been found. As the settlement grew, it spread out over the seven hills we know today, called “tepeta” – from “tepe”, the Turkish word for hill that was used by the Ottomans.

Philip’s Philippopolis occupied those initial three hills and until the 1st century AD, the Romans also used the appropriate name of Trimontium. After this date, the city expanded into the surrounding plains where six luxury residential quarters were uncovered. During ongoing excavations, numerous public buildings like a temple were unearthed, as well as an inn with a tavern, and a brothel.
The Roman Eastern Gate from the 2nd century AD has also been exposed. It was, in fact, a marble triumphal arch meant to honor Emperor Hadrian, who – as so often - visited the city.



Photo: TV grabs from the Bulgarian National Television

Entering Philippopolis through this Gate, one would walk through one of the town’s most beautiful streets which were 13 meters wide, and still carry the deep ruts left by the heavy traffic of carts moving goods in and out of the city. As usual, the street is lined with a colonnade running along the edge of the sidewalks on either side.


At Nebet Tepe, the remains of Hellenistic and Roman fortresses have been found. The entrance gate known as Hisar Kapiya built under Trajan and Marcus Aurelius is the best preserved.

As mentioned in earlier blogs (see: Philip’s Macedonia included also today’s Bulgaria and Plans enough to dig out Philippopolis) most of Philip’s proud city is still hidden underneath modern Plovdiv. Among the hidden treasures is a huge Stadium that was 180 meters long and could seat as many as 30,000 spectators. It appears that Septimius Severus organized contests at Philippopolis that were not unlike those held by the Greeks in their Olympic Games.

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