SHRINE OF THE GREAT GODS

The Sanctuary of the Great Gods has surely developed from the veneration of chthonic deities, which precede the pantheon of the Greek gods. The cult of these deities referring to an underground world was surely brought to Samothrace by the Phoenician colonists. The main deity worshipped here was certainly the "Mother Earth" or "Great Mother". Over the centuries and colonizations, the Sanctuary opened to the worship of other deities, which archaeologists have still not identified today - which contributes to the mysterious opacity of the place.

This center of initiation became so important that the candidates to the initiation came from all the Mediterranean world to follow the rites there, then later to pay homage to the places. Thus Philip II of Macedonia met here his wife Olympias during their respective initiations, before they gave birth to Alexander the Great. What explains that the Hellenistic and Macedonian dynasties made many offerings to the Sanctuary!

Contrary to the mysteries of Eleusis, the initiation was open to all: adults, children, men, women, free citizens, slaves, Greeks and non-Greeks. It went through three phases, which could take place in one stay or be spread out over time. Nothing is known of these three phases(myesis, telete then epopteia), the rite being occult and the initiates held with the greatest secrecy. A large part of the initiations probably took place at night, as attested by the numerous places dedicated to lanterns found on site. These initiation rites promised protection at sea for the initiates and access to a state of greater general wisdom. They were held during the sailing season (April-November).

The Sanctuary is built on a vast hillside, where two rivers flowed creating three sets. Today, the shrine is visited starting with the living quarters and then proceeding up the ritual grounds to the entrance used by the candidates for initiation. This backwards visit can seem a little confusing, especially since there is no indication on site. Here are a few points of reference:

After the ticket office, you first walk along a river bed and discover the western area of the site. There, you will see the remains of the buildings dedicated to the hospitality of the visitors: rooms and refectories are located below the long and impressive stoa to the south-west, which was closed by the pedestal of the Nikè where stood the famous Victory of Samothrace, dominating the whole, overhanging the theater.

The central part of the site, between the two rivers, was dedicated to the rites themselves. One can admire theHieron, whose construction started at the end of the ^IVth century BC and was completed only 175 years later. In front of it stands the Hall of the Choral Dancers or Temenos , which housed ritual dances that were fundamental in the initiation process. Next to it, theArsinoeion is the largest circular building bequeathed by ancient Greece. Donated by the Egyptian queen, Arsinoe (289-285 BC), it may have been a place of sacrifice.

Overlooking it, the Theatrical Circle where the initiates certainly advanced in the dark night and were subjected to fears that they had to overcome. Finally, in the eastern part, the Ptolemaion - majestic propylaea - spanned the second river, and led to the original entrance of the site.