Basilica and Curia

View looking west at the "basilica" that stretches the length of the west end of the forum.  The paved area in the lower left quadrant is part of the very large forum.

The "record house" is located near the two columns on the left and on the right (north) is the Curia.  The basilica and curia are probably the places where the magistrates of the city met.

Paul and Silas appeared before these magistrates who, because Philippi was a Roman Colony settled by veterans, would have been high-ranking military men—or descendants of them.  In the NT (Acts 16 they are called στρατηγὸς (= captain, commander, chief magistrate).