The rocky island of Samothraki or Samothrace in the northern Aegean Sea was home to the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, enigmatic deities who were thought to grant protection to seafarers. Archaeologists have found evidence of a mystery cult dating to at least as early as the seventh century BCE within the sanctuary.
Its name today is best known for the magnificent Hellenistic Nike sculpture, the Nike of Samothrace, excavated on the island in the 19th century CE, which is now on display in the Louvre, Paris.
Samothrace, a mountainous Aegean island with an area of 178 km², was first inhabited in the Neolithic period and was then colonized by Greek settlers c. 700 BCE, probably from Samos. In literature, Samothrace appears in Homer’s Iliad when Poseidon settles himself on the island’s mountaintop to watch the spectacle of the Trojan War unfold. The city was ruled by five tribes who had Athena as their patron, and they minted their own coins.
It’s a destination for nature lovers and not a typical whitewashed Cycladic style island.
Samothrace boasts a rich history and pristine nature that remains largely unspoiled.
Photo Credit: eyeofhorus
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