(from 9th century Christoupolis)
It was probably founded by Thasios around the middle of the 7th century BC for the control of the gold-bearing Pangaeus and the road to Thrace. In the middle of the 5th c. BC joined the First Athenian Alliance and maintained close relations with Athens until its capture by Philip II. In the Hellenistic era and during Roman times it was preserved as the port of Philippi (Colonia Augusta lulia Philippensis).
The core of the ancient city was located on the current peninsula of Panagia. Almost in the center, within an enclosure of granite boulders, were found walls, hearths and some marble architectural elements of a monumental Ionic temple of Parthenos, a Hellenized form of the Thracian goddess Vendidos (around 500 BC). The sanctuary already existed from the 7th century BC. Parts of the wall that surrounded the peninsula (early 5th century BC) were also uncovered. Finds are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Kavala.
In early Byzantine times it was fortified by Justinian (527 - 565).
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou