Samothrace
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| Samothrace Σαμοθράκη |
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|---|---|
 The port of Samothrace |
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Island Chain: | North Aegean |
| Area:[1] | 177.977 km² (69 sq.mi.) |
| Highest Mountain: | Mt. Fengari (1,611 m (5,285 ft)) |
| Government | |
 Greece |
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| Periphery: | East Macedonia and Thrace |
| Prefecture: | Evros |
| Capital: | Samothrace (town) |
| Statistics | |
| Population: | 2,723 (as of 2001) |
| Density: | 15 /km² (40 /sq.mi.) |
| Postal Code: | 680 02 |
| Area Code: | 25510 |
| License Code: | EB |
| Website | |
| www.samothraki.gr | |
Samothrace (Greek: Σαμοθράκη, or Samothraki or Samothracia) is an island municipality in Greece, in the northern Aegean Sea. The town is locally called Chora. It is a self-governing deme in the prefecture of Evros and is the westernmost in the prefecture of Evros and the southernmost in the province of East Macedonia and Thrace. It is the southernmost island and point in Greek Thrace. It is only a few kilometres west of the maritime boundary between Greece and Turkey. The island is 17 km (11 mi) long and is 178 km² (69 sq mi) in size and has a population of 2,723 (2001 census). Its main industries are fishing and tourism. Resources on the island includes granite and basalt.
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[edit] History
[edit] Antiquity
Samothrace was not a state of any political significance in Ancient Greece, since it has no natural harbour and most of the island is too mountainous for cultivation: Oros Fengari (Mount Moon) rises to 1,611 m (5,285 ft). It was, however, the home of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, site of important Hellenic and pre-Hellenic religious ceremonies. Among those who visited this shrine to be initiated into the island cult were King Lysander of Sparta, Philip II of Macedon and Cornelius Piso, father-in-law of Julius Caesar.
The ancient city, the ruins of which are called Palaeopoli ("old city"), was situated on the north coast. Considerable remains still exist of the ancient walls, which were built in massive Cyclopean style, as well as of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, where mysterious rites took place which were open to both slaves and free people (in contrast to the Eleusinian Mysteries).
Samothrace was first inhabited by Pelasgians and Carians, to which later added themselves Thracians. At the end of the 8th century BC the island was colonised by Greeks from Samos, from which the name Samos of Thrace, that later became Samothrace. Taken by the Persians in 508 BC, it later passed under Athenian control becoming a member of the Delian League in the 5th century BC. It was subjected by Philip II, and from then till 168 BC it was under Macedonian suzerainity. With the battle of Pydna Samothrace became independent, a condition that ended when Vespasian absorbed the island in the Roman Empire in 70 AD.
[edit] Post-Roman Era
St. Theophanes died here in 818. The Byzantines ruled till 1204, when Venetians took their place, only to be dislodged by a Genoan family in 1355, the Gattilusi. The Ottoman Empire conquered it in 1457 and was called Turkish: Semadirek; an insurrection against them by the local population during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1831) led to the massacre of most of the population. The island returned to Greek rule in 1913 following the Balkan War. It was shortly occupied by Bulgaria during the Second World War.
[edit] Today
The modern port town of Kamariotissa is on the north-west coast and provides ferry access to and from points in northern Greece such as Alexandroupoli and Kavala. There is no commercial airport on the island. Other sites of interest on the island include the ruins of Genoese forts, the picturesque hora (old town), and several waterfalls.
[edit] Landmarks
The island's most famous site is the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Greek Hieron ton Megalon Theon ; the most famous artifact of which is the 2.5-metre marble statue of Nike, now known as the Winged Victory of Samothrace, dating from about 190 BC. It was discovered in pieces on the island in 1863 by the French archaeologist Charles Champoiseau, and is now in the Louvre in Paris.
The Winged Victory of Samothrace, a Greek sculpture found on the island of Samothrace in 1863, is widely considered to be a fantastic example of Hellenistic Period sculpture and one of only a few remaining pieces from this period. The sculpture dates from 220BC to 190BC and, today, is housed in the Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
[edit] Communities
- Alonia (pop. 251)
- Ano Karyotes (15)
- Ano Meria (58)
- Dafnes (11)
- Kamariotissa (969)
- Kato Karyotes (37)
- Katsampas (12)
- Lakkoma (329)
- Makrylies (9)
- Mpaxedes (0)
- Palaiopoli (25)
- Potamia (3)
- Profitis Ilias (214)
- Samothrace/Samothraki (677)
- Therma (74)
- Xiropotamos (39)
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Island population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,871 | - | 16.13/km² |
| 1991 | 3,083 | +112/+3.90% | 17.32/km² |
| 2001 | 2,723 | -360/-11.67% | 15.30/km² |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Michel Mourre, Dictionnaire Encyclopédique d'Histoire, article Samothrace, Bordas, 1996
- Marcel Dunan, Histoire Universelle, Larousse, 1960
[edit] External links
- Official Samothrace webpage (in Greek)
- Mapquest - Samothraki, street map not yet available
- Coordinates:
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