Editing Samothrace (section)

===Antiquity===
[[File:Αρχαιολογικός χώρος Παλαιόπολης.jpg|thumb|left|[[Samothrace temple complex|Sanctuary of the Great Gods]], Paleopolis]]
[[File:Samothraki island.jpg|thumb|left|Samothrace, with Mount Fengari in the background]]
[[File:Σαμοθράκη - Κήποι.jpg|thumb|200px|Landscape]]
[[File:Samothrace from Imbros at sunset.jpg|thumb|View of Samothrace from [[Imbros]] at sunset]]
[[File:Gria vathra.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Waterfall and pond, characteristics of the island]]

Samothrace never became a state of any political significance in [[ancient Greece]], since it lacks natural harbours and most of the island is too mountainous for cultivation: Mount [[Fengari]] (literally 'Mt Moon') rises to {{cvt|1611|m|ft|0}}. It was, however, the home of the [[Samothrace temple complex|Sanctuary of the Great Gods]], site of important Hellenic and pre-Hellenic religious ceremonies. Those who visited this shrine to be initiated into the island cult included [[Lysander]] of [[Sparta]], [[Philip II of Macedon]] and [[Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus (consul 58 BC)|Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus]], father-in-law of [[Julius Caesar]].

The ancient city, the ruins of which are called '''Palaeopolis''' ('old city'), stood on the north coast. Considerable remains 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 (Samothracian Mysteries),<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Google books |title =Initiation into the Mysteries of the Ancient World |page=37|id=N2zyCQAAQBAJ}}</ref> which were open to both slaves and free people (similar to the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]]), took place. [[Demetrios of Skepsis]] mentions the Samothracian Mysteries,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> as does [[Aristophanes]] in his [[Peace (play)|''Peace'']].<ref>Aristophanes. ''Peace'', line 277</ref>

The traditional account from antiquity is that Samothrace was first inhabited by [[Pelasgians]] and [[Carians]], and later by [[Thracians]]. At the end of the 8th century BC [[Greeks]] from [[Samos]] colonised the island and named it "Samos of Thrace", that later became Samothrace; however, [[Strabo]] denies this. The archaeological evidence suggests that Greek settlement took place in the 6th century BC.

Samothrace came under [[Persian Empire|Persian]] occupation in 508 BC, followed by a period of [[Athenian]] control, and eventually became a member of the [[Delian League]] in the 5th century BC. It was subjugated by [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]] and from then till 168 BC it was under [[Macedon]]ian suzerainty. After the 168 BC [[battle of Pydna]], Samothrace became independent,<ref>
{{cite book
 |editor-last1         = Lehmann
 |editor-first1        = Karl
 |editor-link1         = Karl Lehmann (archaeologist)
 |editor-last2         = Williams Lehmann
 |editor-first2        = Phyllis
 |editor-link2         = Phyllis Williams Lehmann
 |year                 = 1959
 |title                = Samothrace: Excavations Conducted by the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University, New York University. Institute of Fine Arts. Part 2: The inscriptions on ceramics and minor objects
 |url                  = https://books.google.com/books?id=P-tQAQAAMAAJ
 |series               = Bollingen series, volume 60
 |publication-place    = New York
 |publisher            = Pantheon Books
 |page                 = 10
 |access-date          = 21 February 2025
 |quote                = After the battle of Pydna, Perseus took refuge on Samothrace, where he was apprehended by Roman officials.[...] From this point on, the island enjoyed independence under Roman protection [...].
}}
</ref>
a condition that ended when [[Vespasian]] absorbed the island in the [[Roman Empire]] in AD 70.

During the Roman and particularly the imperial period, thanks to the interest of the Roman emperors, the influence of the sanctuary of the Great Gods extended beyond Greek borders and Samothrace became an international religious center, where pilgrims flocked from all over the Roman world. Apart from the famous sanctuary, also playing a decisive role in the great development of Samothrace were her two ports, situated on the sea road from [[Troad | Troas]] to Macedonia. Furthermore an important role was played by her possessions in Perea, which were conceded by the Romans at least during the imperial period, as evidenced by inscriptions of the 1st AD century.<ref>D. C. Samsaris, Historical Geography of Western Thrace during the Roman Antiquity (in Greek), Thessaloniki 2005, p. 120–126</ref>

The [[Book of Acts]] in the Christian Bible records that the [[Apostle Paul]], on his second missionary journey outside of Palestine, sailed from [[Alexandria Troas|Troas]] to Samothrace and spent one night there on his way to Macedonia.<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|16:11|KJV|}}</ref> The island is mentioned in the [[King James Version]] of the Bible with the name ''Samothracia''.<ref>{{Cite web  |title=Acts 16:11 - King James Version  |url =https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016%3A11&version=KJV  |access-date =2022-12-04  |website=Bible Gateway  |language=en  |archive-date=2022-12-04  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204202802/https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016:11&version=KJV  |url-status=live  }}
</ref>