Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle in Ad Navseam Episode 46 as they welcome their former mentor Dr. Ken Bratt to discuss the archaeology of Philippi. From the battlefields of Brutus and Cassius to the prison of Paul, discover how archaeology brings the ancient world to life.
Introduction: Vomitorium East and Fancy Shoes
Welcome back to the “Vomitorium,” listeners! It is Episode 46 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, and the atmosphere is a little more elevated than usual. Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle are broadcasting from “Vomitorium East,” and Dr. Winkle has actually dressed up for the occasion. Instead of his usual grubby t-shirt, he is wearing a shirt with buttons and a pair of “fancy brown leather shoes” that scream “Florence”.
Why the sartorial upgrade? Because today they are welcoming a very special guest: their former professor and mentor, Dr. Ken Bratt. Dr. Bratt taught both hosts back in the day at Calvin College (now University), and he is here to take us on an archaeological tour of the ancient city of Philippi.
Shout-Out: The Homeschooling Master
Before digging into the ruins, the hosts offer a shout-out to Mrs. Victoria Crane. Victoria lives in South Carolina (originally from Maine) and has achieved the impossible: homeschooling her children for five years while simultaneously finishing a master’s degree from Liberty University. She writes that she “traveled a lot in her youth, not having been schooled by Ad Navseam”—a clever play on the Latin participle that earns her high marks from Dr. Noe. To Victoria and all the multitasking moms keeping the love of history alive: Salvete!.
The Opening Quote: Sparse Evidence for the Early Church
Dr. Noe sets the academic stage with a quote from William McDonald, writing in The Biblical Archaeologist way back in 1940.
“Although there is good reason to believe that the church at Philippi made steady progress… the archaeological discoveries relative to the Christian community during the early period are quite rare.”
McDonald cites an inscription from AD 262/263 by a “Junior Presbyter” named Aurelius Capito. This highlights a common frustration in biblical archaeology: the gap between the textual evidence (like the Book of Acts) and the physical remains, which often don’t show up until centuries later.
A Brief History of Philippi: Gold, Marshes, and Kings
Dr. Bratt takes us back to the beginning. Philippi wasn’t always Philippi. It started as a settlement called Krenides in the 6th century BC, was refounded by colonists from the island of Thasos in 360 BC, and then taken over by Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) in 356 BC.
Why did Philip want it?
- Strategic Location: It controlled the road to the port of Neapolis (modern Kavala).
- Gold: It was right next to Mount Pangaion, famous for its gold and silver mines. This gold funded Philip’s army and his beautiful coinage.
- The Marshes: Philip had to drain the massive marshes in the south to build the city walls—a feat of engineering that made the city habitable.
The Battle of Philippi (42 BC): The End of the Republic
Philippi is perhaps most famous in Roman history as the site of the final battle between the assassins of Caesar (Brutus and Cassius) and the avengers (Mark Antony and Octavian). In 42 BC, the republican forces were trapped against the marshes. In two separate engagements, Antony and Octavian crushed them. Brutus and Cassius committed suicide, and the Roman Republic effectively died in the dust of northern Greece. After the battle, the city became a Roman Colony settled by veterans. Octavian (later Augustus) renamed it the Colonia Iulia Augusta Philippensis—a way of planting his flag and rewarding his loyal soldiers with land.
Paul’s Arrival: The Vision of the Macedonian Man
Fast forward to AD 49/50. The Apostle Paul is in Troas when he has a vision of a “Man of Macedonia” pleading, “Come over and help us” (Acts 16). Dr. Winkle asks a practical question: How did Paul know he was Macedonian? Did he wear a funny hat? Did he have an accent? Dr. Bratt suggests that while Hellenization had smoothed out many cultural differences, regional dialects likely persisted. Or perhaps, as some scholars suggest, the “man” was actually Luke (the author of Acts), who may have been a native of Philippi.
The First Convert in Europe: Lydia by the River
Paul lands at Neapolis (Kavala) and walks the 10 miles west along the Via Egnatia to Philippi. On the Sabbath, he goes outside the city gate to a “place of prayer” by the river, since there apparently weren’t enough Jewish men in the city to form a synagogue.
There he meets Lydia, a seller of purple cloth. Dr. Bratt notes that the modern “Baptistery of Lydia” is a beautiful, park-like site that likely marks the general area of this encounter. It is a peaceful spot where the Gangites River flows, and today you can even see christenings or “name day” parties celebrated there.
The Prison of Paul: Fact or Fiction?
Now for the big question. Tourists in Philippi are always shown a dark, stone chamber identified as the “Prison of Paul.” Is it real? Dr. Bratt says: No. “It is very unlikely,” he explains. Archaeologically, the structure is a cistern for storing water, not a jail. Furthermore, the Romans didn’t typically build long-term prisons; they preferred immediate punishment (whipping, execution) or house arrest.
However, the site became significant later. By the 6th or 7th century, Christians had turned this cistern into a shrine, painting frescoes of Paul inside. So while it probably isn’t the actual cell where the earthquake happened, it has been a holy place of memory for 1,500 years.
The Real Location: The Bema
If not the cistern, where was Paul? Dr. Bratt points to the Bema (judgment seat) on the north side of the Forum. This is where the magistrates would have sat. This is where Paul and Silas were likely stripped and beaten. If they were held overnight, it would have been in the Praetorium (the governor’s residence), not a water tank.
The Basilica of Paul: A Hidden Gem
Dr. Bratt highlights his favorite building: the Basilica of Paul. Discovered in the 1970s, this massive church dates to the early 4th century (c. AD 340), making it the oldest datable Christian structure in Greece. A mosaic inscription explicitly names it the “Basilica of Paul in Christ.” Even more fascinating, it was built directly over a pagan Hero Shrine. The Christians didn’t destroy the hero’s tomb; they incorporated it, effectively replacing the old pagan protector with the new Christian saint. Some scholars, like Helmut Koester, even argue (controversially) that this might be the actual burial place of Paul, suggesting he wasn’t buried in Rome after all.
The Nerd of Delphi
The interview wraps up with some lighthearted roasting. Dr. Bratt recalls a trip to Greece in 1991 (during the first Gulf War) where a young Jeff Winkle declared himself the “Leading Nerd of the Trip.” Dr. Bratt confirms that Jeff won the title easily, partly for his endless puns and partly for his ability to mimic the “tremulous voice” of an older traveler reading from a guidebook. It seems the “Ad Navseam” spirit was alive and well even back then.
Sponsors: Fuel for Your Archaeological Digs
This journey into the past is brought to you by:
- Ratio Coffee: Whether you are draining a marsh or brewing a dark roast, you need the right tools. The Ratio 6 brews with the precision of a Roman engineer (and without the “brackish tang” of a scorched pad).
- The Deal: Visit ratiocoffee.com and use code ANCO for 15% off.
- Ad Astra Roasters: Based in Hillsdale, Michigan, Patrick Whalen’s team roasts the beans that fuel the Vomitorium. Try the Tenebris blend or the Poetry Series.
- The Deal: Visit adastraroasters.com and use code ANAA for 10% off.
- Hackett Publishing: For the best translations of the classics (including the Latin language course Lingua Latina), Hackett is the gold standard.
- The Deal: Visit hackettpublishing.com and use code AN2021 for 20% off and free shipping.
Conclusion: Gorgias and the Sandwich
Next week, the hosts return to the Greek world to discuss Gorgias’s Encomium of Helen. Is it a sandwich? No, it’s a speech praising Helen of Troy. Was she guilty or innocent? Tune in to find out.
The Gustatory Parting Shot
Dr. Winkle leaves us with a quote from Jay Leno, capturing the universal experience of fast food:
“I went to McDonald’s yesterday and said, ‘I’d like some fries.’ And the girl behind the counter says, ‘Would you like fries with that?'”
Valete!
Resources for the Latin Learner:The Moss Method: Want to read the New Testament in Greek or learn the Latin language of the Roman inscriptions at Philippi? Dr. Noe’s self-paced course takes you from “Neophyte to Erudite.” Visit latinperdiem.com.
