Stobi

For more than a century the ancient city of Stobi - the capital of Macedonia Secunda - has been attracting scientist from all over the World to reveal its secrets. The first historiography records that mention Stobi are provided by the Roman historian Titus Livy, and concern the victory of the Macedonian king Philip V over Dardanians in the vicinity of Stobi. In A.D. 69 Empreror Vespasian granted Stobi the rank of municipium and the right to mint its own coins. The salt trading and the good strategic position between two rivers, on the cross-road of Via Axia and branches of Via Diagonalis and Via Egnatia, brought to the city a long-lasting prosperity from first to third century A.D. In 267/69 Stobi suffered from the raids of Goths and Herules, but was rebuilt after their devastating attacks. In the fourth century A.D. the city became the seat of mighty bishops, and in the fifth century – the capital city of Macedonia Secunda. It was devastated several times by the raids of Huns, Ostrogoths, Avars and Slavs, but an earthquake in A.D. 518 marked the end of the urban living in Stobi. By now only 15% of the territory of Stobi has been excavated. Season 2010 envisions excavations in three sectors: the theater (built in second century A.D.), the Western Necropolis (first century B.C. - fourth century A.D.) and an ancient Roman temple