Roman era History of Thessaloniki

the roman forum in central thessaloniki.



the arch of galerius.

after fall of kingdom of macedon in 168 bc, thessalonica came called in latin, became city of roman republic. grew important trade-hub located on via egnatia, roman road connecting byzantium (later constantinople) dyrrhachium (now durrës in albania), facilitated trade between europe , asia. city became capital of 1 of 4 roman districts of macedonia while kept privileges ruled praetor , had roman garrison. short time in 1st century bc, thessalonica became capital greek provinces. due city s key commercial importance, spacious harbour built romans, famous burrowed harbour (Σκαπτός Λιμήν) accommodated city s trade, 18th century. later, of silt deposits axios river, land reclaimed , port expanded. remnants of old harbour s docks can found in present-day under frangon street, near city s catholic church.

thessaloniki s acropolis, located in northern hills, built in 55 bc security reasons, following thracian raids in city s outskirts @ time.

about 50 ad, while on second missionary journey, paul apostle reasoned jews scriptures in city s chief synagogue on 3 sabbaths , sowed seeds thessaloniki s first christian church. during paul s time in city, both jews , greeks came believe gospel, of city s leading women. however, because remaining jews @ synagogue furious paul d done in community , furious had come believe paul s message, apostle , traveling companions, silas , timothy, sent out of thessaloniki during night new christian converts. there church planters went veroia, aka berea, people in city heard , believed gospel. enraged thessalonian jews when found out paul , companions had done, jews went berea , persecuted evangelists in city also. 3 men continued travels , ministry; and, paul wrote 2 letters new church @ thessaloniki, between 51 , 53, first epistle thessalonians , second epistle thessalonians. these letters encourage new believers persist in faith in face of strong opposition, encourage personal sanctification, encourage them had fallen asleep, yet warn lord returning thief in night , correct incorrect thinking coming antichrist, among writing other important matters.

in 306, thessaloníki acquired patron saint, st. demetrius. credited number of miracles saved city , roman proconsul of greece, under anti-christian emperor maximian. st. demetrius martyred @ roman prison, church of st. demetrius lies today. church first built roman sub-prefect of illyricum, leontios, in 463. other important remains period include arch , tomb of galerius, located in city centre of modern thessaloniki.

in 390 gothic troops under commands of roman emperor theodosius i, led massacre against inhabitants of thessalonica, had risen in revolt against germanic soldiers.