Assos – Overview | Close-up | Assos acropolis
Alexandria Troas – Ancient site | No labels | Close-up of harbor
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Assos, a first-century seaport on the northwest shore of Asia Minor, is mentioned only once in the New Testament (Acts 20:13). The Apostle Paul stayed a little longer at Troas as his ship set sail for Assos, where he rendezvoused with it after a 20-mile transit. He probably rode a horse or donkey to make the journey.
Assos was famous for hosting the academy of Aristotle and was also the birthplace of the philosopher Cleanthes. Atop its 238 meter-high acropolis was a temple dedicated to Athena, built in 530 BCE. Remains of the 4th-C. BCE city wall are still visible. Assos had an excellent harbor, the ancient breakwater of which still remains.
Want to Dive Deeper?
For purchase:
Clyde E. Fant and Mitchell G. Reddish. A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey. New York: Oxford University, 2003.
Mark Wilson. Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor. Revised ed. Istanbul: Ege Yayinarli, 2020.
For online study:
“Archaeological Site of Assos” (UNESCO World Heritage Convention)
“Assos” (Wikipedia)
Joseph T. Clarke. Report on the Investigations at Assos, 1882-1883. (New York: Macmillan, 1898). Part I | Coins (1921).
D. G. Hogarth, “Assos,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11 edition (1910). 1:790.
Stephen Mitchell, “Assos,” 194-195 in Oxford Classical Dictionary. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University, 1999.
Richard Norton – “Two Reliefs from Assos” (Archaeological Institute of America, 1897).