Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rites and sacrifices associated with the cult had attracted famous pilgrims, including
Egyptian Queen Arsinou, Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) and
Greek historian Herodotus. Remarkably, the Sanctuary operated until paganism was for-
bidden in the 4th century AD.
The principal deity, the Alceros Cybele (Great Mother), was a fertility goddess; when
the original Thracian religion became integrated with the state religion, she was merged
with the Olympian female deities Demeter, Aphrodite and Hecate. The last of these was a
goddess associated with darkness, the underworld and witchcraft. Other deities wor-
shipped here were the Great Mother's consort, the virile young Kadmilos (god of the
phallus), later integrated with the Olympian god Hermes; and the demonic Kabeiroi
twins, Dardanos and Aeton, the sons of Zeus and Leda. Samothraki's Great Gods were
venerated for their immense power; in comparison, the bickering Olympian gods were
considered frivolous.
Little is known about what actually transpired here, though archaeological evidence
points to two initiations, a lower and a higher. In the first, the Great Gods were invoked
to grant the initiate a spiritual rebirth; in the second, the candidate was absolved of trans-
gressions. This second confessional rite took place at the prominent
Hieron
, whose re-
maining columns are easily the most photographed ruin of the sanctuary.
For all its mystery, the rituals at the sanctuary were open to all - men, women, cit-
izens, servants and slaves; and since death was the penalty for revealing the secrets of the
sanctuary, the main requirements seem to have been showing up and keeping quiet.
Sights
Although the site is well-labelled, visiting the
museum
( 25510 41474; free with site tick-
et; 8.30am-3pm Tue-Sun)
first helps to get an overview of the sanctuary. Museum
ex-
hibits
include a striking marble frieze of dancing women, terracotta figurines and am-
phora, jewellery and clay lamps, indicative of the nocturnal nature of the rituals. A
plaster cast stands in for the celebrated Winged Victory of Samothrace (now in the
Louvre), found in 1863 by French diplomat and amateur archaeologist Champoiseau.
A good map of the site is available upon entrance, and the paths are well marked. Ex-
cavation is on-going at the sanctuary.
About 75m south of the museum and entrance stands the
Arisinoeion
(rotunda), a gift
from Queen Arisinou of Egypt; the sanctuary's original rock altar was discovered nearby.
Pilgrims assembled at the adjacent and rectangular
Anaktoron
for their first initiation.
The second took place at the sacred
Hieron
, followed by a celebratory feast in the adja-
cent hall, the
Temenos
. Opposite the Hieron stand remnants of a
theatre
. Nearby, a path
