Philippi, located in Macedonia about 10 miles from the Aegean Sea, was not originally a seaport city and was initially named Krenides, meaning fountains or springs, due to its abundant water supply. It was a center for gold and silver mining, attracting miners and becoming a significant commercial area. In 356 BC, King Philip II of Macedon renamed it Philippi after himself, expanding the city through construction projects and increasing its population. He recognized its strategic value, commanding a vital valley from the Aegean Sea northward, which later became crucial for controlling traffic through the region. In 42 BC, a significant battle occurred west of Philippi between Octavian and Marc Antony against Brutus and Cassius, largely over control of the Via Ignatia, a major Roman road. This road made Philippi a crossroads of the world, as nearly all land traffic between Egypt, Palestine, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, and Rome passed through it. The victory of Octavian and Marc Antony in this battle shaped the political direction of the Roman Empire. Following the battle, Octavian made Philippi a Roman military colony, and by 31 AD, after defeating Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium, he elevated its status, renaming it Colonia Augusta Julia Philippensis in 27 BC. This designation as a Roman colony conferred great dignity, a status not shared by nearby cities like Athens or Thessalonica. As a Roman colony, Philippi began as a military outpost with about 300 veteran soldiers and their families sent to maintain peace. It sat astride the Via Ignatia, embodying Roman citizenship as its dominant characteristic. The colony enjoyed autonomous government, immunity from tribute, and treatment as if it were in Italy, with Roman language, clothing, customs, and ceremonies strictly observed. The citizens were staunchly Roman, resisting assimilation into surrounding cultures. Philippi's strategic, political, and military location, along with its commercial significance, made it a chief city in the area despite not being the largest. It was the first place in Europe visited by the apostle Paul during his second journey around 52 AD, after a vision directed him to Macedonia. Arriving from Troas via the port city of Neapolis, Paul chose Philippi over other regional capitals like Thessalonica or Amphipolis, recognizing its importance as a crossroads where east met west.