Recent archaeological work at the ancient city of Philippi, Greece, has uncovered significant findings, reshaping our understanding of the city's history and its inhabitants. The project, initiated to install a fire safety network, has revealed structures that confirm long-held archaeological theories about the city's grandeur and its continuous habitation beyond the 6th century AD.
Among the discoveries are a large public building featuring a wall-embedded statue of a young male figure, sections of ancient streets, public baths from both Roman and early Christian periods, and various workshops and residences. These findings corroborate previous scientific studies and highlight the city's rich legacy since its founding in 356 BC by King Philip of Macedonia.
Stavroula Dadaki, director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kavala-Thassos, noted, "This project allowed us to validate results from geophysical surveys, which located buried walls and greatly assisted in pipeline routing to avoid damaging antiquities. The fire safety project also provided new evidence of the city’s history after the 6th century AD, debunking the belief that Philippi was abandoned during this time. We found structures dating from the 9th to the 11th century AD, indicating the city was still inhabited then."
The fire safety initiative, with a budget exceeding €2.5 million, is expected to be completed by autumn 2025. It aims to enhance safety in the archaeological site, which spans 60 acres, while preserving its archaeological integrity. New water supply pipelines and fire hydrants will be installed, ensuring modern amenities without compromising the site's aesthetics.
Philippi, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016, has seen a marked increase in visitor numbers post-COVID-19, with 100,000 visitors recorded in 2024, up from about 40,000 annually before the pandemic. This surge is attributed to significant projects that began in 2019, which have transformed the site’s presentation and opened avenues for future excavations.
Among the notable structures identified for future excavation is a large building near the ancient theatre, presumed to have served a public function, and a potential public bath southwest of the palaestra, which features early Christian elements. The ongoing work has also uncovered a wall along the Egnatia road, suggesting a monumental configuration that separated different levels of the city.