Samothrace
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==Samothrace== | ==Samothrace== | ||
| - | [[Image: | + | [[Image:SamothrakeS.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Satellite view of Samothrace<br/>''Click for larger view'']] |
===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
| - | + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samothrace Samothrace] (Σαμοθράκη) or Samothraki is small island of 180 km2 and about 2900 inhabitants is located in the NE corner of Greece. It is a remote and rugged, wind-swept, island with it highest peak, Mt. Fengari at 1676 m (5500 ft) which is covered with snow for about 9 months of the year. Here sat the God of the sea [http://www.maicar.com/GML/Poseidon.html Poseidon] to watch the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_War Trojan War]. | |
| - | + | Samothraki is best known today for the famous statue of [http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225805&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225805&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500817&bmLocale=en Victory], alas not here but at the [http://www.louvre.fr/llv/musee/alaune.jsp?bmLocale=en Louvre Museum]. In the antiquity, however, Samothraki was one of the best known and most visited islands, because of it was the center of the cult of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samothrace_temple_complex#Cult_of_the_Great_Gods ''Great Gods of the Underworld''], people flocked here to be initiated to the cult's mysteries. | |
| + | <table border="0" summary="Picture" cellspacing="6" cellpadding="1"> | ||
| + | <tr align="left" valign="top"> | ||
| + | <td>[[Image:Samothrake_Niki.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Victory of Samothrace<br/>''Click for larger view'']]</td> | ||
| + | <td>Owing to its strategic position, at the entrance of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dardanelles Dardanelles], the island was heavily populated since [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Age Neolithic times]. Indeed, the name of straits was from the native of Samothraki, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dardanus Dardanos], the legendary founder of Troy. The early inhabitants of the island were from Thrace, most likely [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelasgians Pelasgians]. Samothraki was colonized on the 8th century BC by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolians Aeolians] from [[Lesvos]] who mingled with the early natives. They were worshiping [http://www.maicar.com/GML/Athena.html Athena] and the ''Great Gods''. The early Thracian language survived, in the religious rituals to the 1st century BC. By the 5th century BC, Samothraki had reached the height of its importance and had joined the [file:///Users/vasilis/Documents/Thetis%20CD/Anchorages/C/cyclades/cyclades.html#DELOS Delian League]. The sanctuary had become the religious center of the North Aegean, attracting pilgrims for all the Greek world. Important visitors from the mythical [http://www.maicar.com/GML/ARGONAUTS.html Argonauts], to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotus Herodotus], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Macedon Philip II the Macedon] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great Alexander's] father), and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemies Ptolemies]; all came here to be initiated to the cult. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic Hellenistic] and Roman rulers, also used Samothraki as a naval base but by the Roman times the island started a decline caused by pirate attacks and earthquakes. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Paul_%28apostle%29 St. Paul] visited the island but failed to convert its inhabitants to Christianity. They held on to their belief in the ''Great Gods'' and kept their sanctuary running until the 4th century AD when the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantines Byzantines] outlawed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism paganism] and destroyed many statues. Most of the island was depopulated. The few remaining inhabitants retreated up the mountain to Chora to avoid the frequent raids of the pirates. The Byzantines were succeeded by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa Genoese], Gatttilusis who built the castle of Chora. They in turn, were followed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottomans Ottomans] who forced the island inhabitants to re-settle in Istanbul. From that point on the island went into obscurity until 1821 when its few inhabitants joined the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_War_of_Independence Greek War of Independence], but the island continued under Ottoman domination. Samothraki joined Greece in 1912.</td> | ||
| + | </tr> | ||
| + | </table> | ||
===Charts=== | ===Charts=== | ||
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===External Links=== | ===External Links=== | ||
| - | + | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samothrace Samothrace] (Wikipedia) | |
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Revision as of 15:36, 8 May 2008
Samothrace
File:SamothrakeS.jpg
Satellite view of Samothrace
Click for larger view
Click for larger view
Background
Samothrace (Σαμοθράκη) or Samothraki is small island of 180 km2 and about 2900 inhabitants is located in the NE corner of Greece. It is a remote and rugged, wind-swept, island with it highest peak, Mt. Fengari at 1676 m (5500 ft) which is covered with snow for about 9 months of the year. Here sat the God of the sea Poseidon to watch the Trojan War.
Samothraki is best known today for the famous statue of Victory, alas not here but at the Louvre Museum. In the antiquity, however, Samothraki was one of the best known and most visited islands, because of it was the center of the cult of the Great Gods of the Underworld, people flocked here to be initiated to the cult's mysteries.
 Click for larger view |
Owing to its strategic position, at the entrance of the Dardanelles, the island was heavily populated since Neolithic times. Indeed, the name of straits was from the native of Samothraki, Dardanos, the legendary founder of Troy. The early inhabitants of the island were from Thrace, most likely Pelasgians. Samothraki was colonized on the 8th century BC by Aeolians from Lesvos who mingled with the early natives. They were worshiping Athena and the Great Gods. The early Thracian language survived, in the religious rituals to the 1st century BC. By the 5th century BC, Samothraki had reached the height of its importance and had joined the [file:///Users/vasilis/Documents/Thetis%20CD/Anchorages/C/cyclades/cyclades.html#DELOS Delian League]. The sanctuary had become the religious center of the North Aegean, attracting pilgrims for all the Greek world. Important visitors from the mythical Argonauts, to Herodotus, Philip II the Macedon (Alexander's father), and the Ptolemies; all came here to be initiated to the cult. Hellenistic and Roman rulers, also used Samothraki as a naval base but by the Roman times the island started a decline caused by pirate attacks and earthquakes. St. Paul visited the island but failed to convert its inhabitants to Christianity. They held on to their belief in the Great Gods and kept their sanctuary running until the 4th century AD when the Byzantines outlawed paganism and destroyed many statues. Most of the island was depopulated. The few remaining inhabitants retreated up the mountain to Chora to avoid the frequent raids of the pirates. The Byzantines were succeeded by the Genoese, Gatttilusis who built the castle of Chora. They in turn, were followed by the Ottomans who forced the island inhabitants to re-settle in Istanbul. From that point on the island went into obscurity until 1821 when its few inhabitants joined the Greek War of Independence, but the island continued under Ottoman domination. Samothraki joined Greece in 1912. |
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