Philippopolis (Thrace)

Philippopolis

Φιλιππούπολις
Philippopolis Shown within Bulgaria
Location	Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Region	Thrace
Coordinates	42°08′36″N 24°44′56″E / 42.143333°N 24.748889°E / 42.143333; 24.748889
Type	Ancient Thracian, Greek and Roman Settlement
Area	Wall circuit: ca.78 ha (190 acres)[1] Occupied: 78 ha (190 acres)+
History
Founded	4th century BC
Periods	Hellenistic Greece
Site notes
Excavation dates	1960–present
Website	Site

Part of a series on the ancient city of
Philippopolis
Buildings and structures
Public  • Theatre  • Stadium  • Forum  • Odeon  • Library Religious  • Great Basilica  • Small Basilica  • Synagogue Fortification  • Nebet Tepe  • Hisar Kapia  • Eastern gate Residential  • Eirene Residence
Related topics
History Timeline
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Philippopolis (Ancient Greek: Φιλιππούπολις, Φιλιππόπολις) is one of the names of the ancient city (amongst which are Thracian Eumolpia/Pulpudeva, Roman Trimontium) situated where Plovdiv is today. The city became one of the largest and most important in the region and was called "the largest and most beautiful of all cities" by Lucian. During most of its recorded history, the city was known by the name Philippopolis (Greek: Φιλιππούπολις, translit. Philippoúpolis, lit. "Philip's city") after Philip II of Macedon. Philippopolis became part of the Roman empire and capital of the Roman province of Thracia. According to Ammianus Marcellinus, Philippopolis had a population of 100,000 in the Roman period.^[2]

Philippopolis was in a fertile region on the banks of the Maritsa River (the ancient Hebrus). The city historically developed on seven syenite hills, some of which are 250 metres (820 feet) high, because of which Plovdiv is often referred to in Bulgaria as "The City of the Seven Hills".