Krinides, Kavala

Krinides is a lowland town in the prefecture of Kavala at an altitude of 140 meters[1] next to perhaps the most important archaeological site in Eastern Macedonia, Philippi.
Geography - Sights

Krinides is located on the border of the prefecture with the prefecture of Drama, northwest of Kavala at a distance of 15.5 km.. South and west of the town passes the EO Drama - Kavala. West and next to it is the archaeological site of Philippi, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site[2] with the most important attraction being the ancient theater of Philippi. It dates back to the 4th BC century, was built of marble and is one of the early stone theatrical buildings in Greece[3]. In the same area there is the Archaeological Museum of Philippi, built in the 1960s with a multitude of exhibits on two floors[4][5] and on a hill above the ancient theater, the Acropolis of Philippi or Tower of Krinides. The fortification of the hill dates back to the 4th century BC, while the construction of the tower is placed in the Palaiologoi era (14th century).[6] The prehistoric settlement found at the site of "Dikili Tas" and dating back to the Neolithic era (6400-4000 BC) and the Bronze Age (3000-1100 BC) is considered a very important archaeological site.[7] A landmark of the area is the Krinides Mud Baths (Krinides Mud Baths) which combine the use of therapeutic clay and thermal water.[8] In general, clay therapy in Krinides has the following therapeutic indications: Chronic rheumatism, skin diseases, gynecological diseases, eczema, psoriasis and cosmetic preparation. The Clay Therapy Center of Krinides is visited by many people from various places every year to experience the beneficial effects of the therapeutic clay.
History

The history of the settlement of Philippi begins in 360/359 BC, when colonists from Thassos founded the first city, Krinides. When in 356 BC they were threatened by the Thracians, they asked for the help of Philip II, who, seeing the economic and strategic importance of the city, occupied it, fortified it and renamed it Philippi.
Archaeological Site of Philippi

In Roman times, Philippi was the most important city of Eastern Macedonia, built in a very strategic position and in the middle of a region rich in goods. After the Battle of Philippi (42 BC) it was converted into a Roman colony and was colonized by the Romans twice. The first colonization (deductio) took place immediately after the battle, by order of Antony and was attended by veterans of the Roman army. The second colonization, in which Italian citizens also participated, took place after the naval battle of Actium (31 BC) by order of Octavian Augustus, who was considered the second settler of the city (after Philip II) and for this reason the colony bore the name of his clan: colonia Iulia Augusta Philippensis. Since the colony was mainly agricultural in nature, the Roman colonists did not settle only in the city of Philippi but also in the communes and rural villas that were scattered throughout the vast territory of the colony, which included within its borders most of the present-day Prefectures of Drama and Kavala, as well as a part (Pangaeion region) of the Prefecture of Serres.[9]

The main road artery of the Egnatia road passed through Philippi, which after a course of 10-12 Roman miles led to Neapolis and from there to Thrace, as evidenced by the Roman Itineraries and the mileposts that have been found so far. The Egnatia entered the city from the Amphipolis gate, passed through the forum - where a paved section of it survives -, exited from the Neapolis gate and, after crossing an extensive suburb, continued its course southwards. Another important Roman road also had its starting point in Philippi, which led successively to the cities of Siris (Serres), Heraclea Sintica and ended in ancient Sardis (present-day Sofia).[10]

A very important date was the year 49 or 50 AD, when the Apostle Paul visited Philippi, baptized Lydia - the first European Christian - and founded the first Christian Church in Europe.[11] This event elevated the city to the metropolis of Christianity. During the Byzantine period (963 to 969 AD) the city walls were rebuilt and the towers and the wall of the acropolis were built.

Archaeological research

Excavation research began in Philippi in 1914 by the French Archaeological School. After World War II, the Archaeological Service and the Archaeological Society carried out systematic excavations. Today, the Archaeological Service, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the French Archaeological School continue archaeological research. The findings of the excavations are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Philippi.

Restoration work has been carried out on most of the monuments of the Archaeological Site of Philippi. Today, a program of consolidation, restoration and reconstruction of the Ancient Theatre of Philippi is underway, within the framework of the 1994 European program "Historic Buildings and Spectacle Sites".
Name - Administrative

The old name, from the time of the Turkish occupation, was Rachtsa[12] and under this name it is mentioned in 1919 in the Government Gazette 251A-20/11/1919 to be annexed to the then community of Seliani which belonged to the prefecture of Drama. It was renamed to Krinides in 1926[13]. According to the Kallikratis program, it constitutes the municipal community of Krinides which belongs to the municipal unit of Filippi of the municipality of Kavala and according to the 2021 census it had a population of 2,925 residents, down from 3,365 in 2011[14].
Folklore

On the second day of Easter, a famous egg-rattling battle between hens and guinea fowls takes place in the area, called avgomachias.[15]
Personalities

Anton Tsaous (1912-1979), resistance fighter and politician.
Anastasios Anastasiadis (Pourtoul), resistance fighter.
Dimitris Kairidis (1969 - ), Minister.
Kostas Mitroglou (1988), international footballer.
Giorgos Charalampou Georgiadis (1972), former international footballer, who started with the local team Keravnos Krinidones and played for Doxa Dramas, Panathinaikos, Newcastle, PAOK, Olympiacos, Iraklis.
Andreas Theodoridis (1968), international Greek volleyball player with many distinctions.
Sofoklis Theodoridis (1972), Greek volleyball player and coach, brother of Andreas Theodoridis.
Stelios Sfakianakis (1976), footballer who played for, among others, Kavala, OFI, Olympiacos Piraeus, Atromitos and Panetolikos.
Alexandros Kalpakidis, actor.
Saint Lydia of Philippi, the first Christian in Europe.

External links

World Heritage Site of the Archaeological Site of Philippi[dead link] from the website http://www.ert.gr
Archaeological Museum of Philippi from the website Municipal Public Benefit Enterprise of Kavala
The Christmas Path at Krinides, Kavala at https://www.youtube.com
Mud Baths of Krinides, Kavala from the website https://www.iefimerida.gr

References

Encyclopedia New Structure. Athens: Tegopoulos - Maniateas. 1996. p. 276, vol. 18.
Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. «Archaeological Site of Philippi». UNESCO World Heritage Centre (in English). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
Mamali, O. (2007). PHILIPPI, the theater - ancient drama performances 1957-2007. Kavala: Ministry of Macedonia Thrace, Municipality of Kavala. p. 25.
"Ministry of Culture and Sports | Archaeological Museum of Philippi". odysseus.culture.gr. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
"Archaeological Museum of Philippi". Visit Kavala. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
Papathanasiou, Manolis. "Acropolis of Philippi". Castrologist. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
"Krinides of Kavala: Excavations and studies will continue at the prehistoric settlement of Dikili Tas". kavalapoint.gr. November 17, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
"Home - OnePage Revolution Slider". Krinides Clay Spa. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
D. K. Samsaris, Historical geography of Eastern Macedonia in antiquity, Thessaloniki 1976 (Published by the Society for Macedonian Studies), pp. 78-84, 146-148
[1] Archived 2017-04-24 at the Wayback Machine. D. K. Samsaris, Historical geography of Eastern Macedonia, pp. 45-51. ISBN 960-7265-16-5.
P. Pilhofer, Philippi, I. Die erste christliche Gemeinde Europas, Tuebingen 1995
"Pandektis: Rachtsa -- Krinides". pandektis.ekt.gr. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
"Administrative Changes of Settlements". EETAA. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
"Official Gazette of the results of the 2011 PERMANENT population census Archived 2021-10-04 at the Wayback Machine.", p. 10493 (p. 19 of the pdf)
"Eggfights". mythotopia.eu. Institute for Speech Processing. Retrieved August 26, 2023.

Municipal unit Filippoi
Municipal Community Zygos
Zygos (Ζυγός, ο)
Πρόσφυγες, οι
Municipal Community Krinides
Krinides (Κρηνίδες, οι)
Community Amygdaleonas
Αμυγδαλεών, ο
Community Koryfes
Koryfes (Κορυφές, οι)
Community Kryoneri
Kryoneri (Κρυονέρι, το)
Community Limnia
Βουνοχώρι, το
Limnia (Λιμνιά, τα)
Lykostomo (Λυκόστομο, το)
Community Lydia
Lydia (Λυδία, η)
Community Παλαιάς Καβάλας
Παλαιά Καβάλα, η
Community Polynero
Kranochori (Κρανοχώρι, το)
Polynero (Πολύνερο, το)
Community Polystylo
Dato (Δάτο, το)
Mikrochori (Μικροχώρι, το)
Polystylo (Πολύστυλο, το)
Community Φιλίππων
Φίλιπποι, οι

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