Alexandria Troas

Alexandria Troas, called “Troas” in the Book of Acts, covers some four square kilometers (2.5 square miles) on the northeast coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Türkiye). Troas was one of the largest and busiest ports of Asia Minor because it was:

1. At the entrance of the Hellespont, an important inland waterway that connected the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea, today called The Dardanelles.
2. At the intersection of two major trade routes, one between Asia Minor and Greece, and the other between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

In the AD 50s, When the Apostle Paul was on his second missionary journey, in Troas, he had a vision of a man in Macedonia calling to him “Come and help us!” So it was from Troas that Paul sailed to the Greek island of Samothrace, then to Neapolis in Macedonia (mainland Greece), and brought the Gospel of Christ to Europe.

The History of Alexandria Troas

The Hellenistic Years

Sometime between 311 and 307 BC, after Alexander the Great and his generals had conquered Asia Minor and much of the rest of the known world, Alexander’s generals divided up the conquered lands between them. One of Alexander’s generals, Antigonus I Monopthalmus (“the one-eyed”), knew the strategic position of northwestern Asia Minor, and its group of settlements near the Hellespont.

So Antigonus founded the new city, which he named Antigoneia, after himself. Then he ordered the residents of the local settlements to move to and populate his new city.

In 301 BC Lysimachus, and other former generals formed an alliance and defeated and killed Antigonus at the Battle of Ipsus. Now in control of Antigonus’ territory, Lysimachus re-founded the city and called it “Alexandria in the Troad” after Alexander the Great. The word “Troad” refers to the area around the Hellespont and the ancient city of Troy. It also distinguishes the city from the many other cities called “Alexandria.” The name later became “Alexandria Troas.”

The Roman Years

Eventually, Rome conquered Greece and much of the territory formerly controlled by Alexander’s former generals. They took over Troas, and in 129 BC, incorporated it into the Roman province of Asia (comprising much of western Asia Minor). Under Roman protection and generosity, the city prospered even more. So much so that both Julius Caesar and Constantine the Great considered making Alexandria Troas the new capital of the Roman Empire. Constantine’s choice of Byzantium (later called Constantinople, and today called Istanbul) over Alexandria Troas was one of the reasons it fell into decline.

Alexandria Troas in the New Testament

Alexandria Troas figures prominently in the New Testament Book of Acts because it was the port the Apostle Paul used during his missionary journeys to sail back and forth between Asia Minor and Greece. Paul also stayed and preached the Gospel in Troas for seven days.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16:6-10)

Paul, Silas, Timothy, and their other companions had been traveling through central and northwestern Asia Minor, namely the regions of Phrygia, Bithynia, and Mysia. At the border of Mysia, the Spirit of Jesus stopped them. So they went to Alexander Troas.

While in Troas, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia calling out to him: “Come to Macedonia and help us!” Paul concluded that this was God telling him to go and preach the Gospel in Macedonia. So Paul and his companions sailed from Troas to the Greek island of Samothrace, then to Neapolis, in Macedonia.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20:1-13)

While the Apostle Paul was in Ephesus the silversmiths, makers of idols in the form of the Greek goddess Artemis, caused a riot against Paul because his preaching of the Christian Gospel was hurting their business. Paul was in danger, so he went back to Greece. The Book of Acts doesn’t say if Paul sailed from Troas, but he probably did, since if you wanted to go to Greece during that time and from that area, you sailed from Troas. The Book of Acts does say, however, that Paul returned from Greece to Asia Minor and landed at Troas. And that he stayed there for seven days. But let’s back up a little to when Paul was in Greece.

Paul wanted to get to Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost. He got word that a group of Jews was planning to ambush and kill him if he took his intended route, so he decided to back to Jerusalem through Macedonia and Troas. His companions left five days ahead of Paul and would meet Paul in Troas.

After Paul arrived in Troas and met his companions there, he stayed for seven days, preaching to the people there.

Eutychus Falls from a Window

Paul was preaching in an upper room of a house in Troas. As he went on, a man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and fell asleep, then fell to the ground. Everyone thought he was dead. But Paul rushed down and wrapped his arms around him, saying “Don’t be alarmed! He is alive!” Paul then went back upstairs and ate, then continued preaching until morning.

Paul Walks to Assos

On the next day, Paul’s companions boarded a ship for nearby Assos, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Troas. Paul walked for some 12 hours to get there and joined his companions in Assos.

Other Biblical References to Troas

In 2 Corinthians 2:12-13, Paul mentions again being in Troas. When that happened is uncertain, since he might have been referring to his third missionary journey.

In 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul asks Timothy to bring him his cloak, books, and parchments he had left in Troas.

Alexandria Troas Today

Note: Click on the icon at the top left for a clickable menu of the sites at Alexander Troas. Click on the icon at the top right for the large custom map. When you are at Alexander Troas, you can use the large map to see your GPS position and find your way around the city.

You’ll find Alexandria Troas near the modern village of Dalyan in Çanakkale province, around ten kilometers (six miles) south of the town of Geyikli.

Most of the stones that made up the buildings there have been removed to make other buildings elsewhere, and it is somewhat overgrown with vegetation. Here is what you’ll see there today.

City Walls

There are still around eight kilometers (five miles) of city walls.

Aqueduct of Emperor Hadrian

The Roman emperor Hadrian was a benefactor of Troas and built the aqueduct and had it built, along with Herodes Atticus, between AD 135 and 138.

Baths of Herodes Atticus

Herodes Atticus was the prefect of free cities of the Roman province of Asia. He was also a benefactor of Troas. Along with the aqueduct, the gymnasium and bath complex was built and named after him. The walls and arched entrance can still be seen today, as depicted in the feature image of this article.

Temple

Unfortunately, only the foundation of the temple remains. It may have been a temple dedicated to Apollo.

Theater (or Odeon)

The theater, or odeon, which is a smaller version of a theater, is near the temple of Apollo.

Basilica

Only the walls and arches remain of this early Christian basilica.

Harbor

The harbor, which eventually silted up, is near the village of Dalyan. Most of the stonework was removed and taken to Constantinople for use in buildings there. But you can still see the remains of the outer and inner harbor, and some columns are lying on the sea bed and along the lagoon. There are also some remains of a stoa that circled the inner harbor.