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Via Egnatia

Via Egnatia

The Via Egnatia is the name of a Roman Road that connected ports on the Adriatic Sea with Byzantium.  From west to east, a traveler from Rome (Italy – not on map) would head southeast overland to Brundisium (a port on the east coast of Italy).  There they would sail east across the Adriatic Sea landing at either Apollonia or Dyrrhachium (both on map).  From there they would head east on the “Via Egnatia” toward Byzantium — via ThessalonicaAmphipolisPhilippi, and Kypsela.  In modern Albania Pekin on Via Egnatia (Roman bridge) and Ad Quintium (a well preserved rest stop).

Although completed in stages, it was begun in the second century B.C. and it was expanded and repaired by the Romans in subsequent centuries.  It is named after the second century B.C. Roman proconsul of Macedonia, “Gnaios Egnatios.”

Its length varied according to the period, but Roman milestones suggest it was 535 Roman miles long (= 493 English miles [790 km.]).

Paul probably traveled this road on both his second and third missionary journeys, as he traveled between Philippi and Thessalonica.