Thessalonica

Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia situated on the Via Egnatia. According to Strabo, the city was founded by Cassander c. 315 BCE and named after his wife, Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great (Geography, 7, fr. 21). The inhabitants supported Marcus Antonius and Octavius in the battle of Philippi and as a result were rewared by having their city declared a "free city" (civitas libera). Strabo says that in his day Thessalonica was the most populous city in Macedonia (Geography, 7.7.1).

Ruins of Thessalonica To the left is a photograph of the excavated ruins of the agora at Thessalonica dating from the late second century. Possibly the Thessalonian agora that Paul knew would have been similar.