Listed 93 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "EVROS Prefecture GREECE" .
KAVISSOS (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
Since ancient times there has been disagreement on the location of this Homeric city.
MESSIMVRIA (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
(following URL information only in Greek)
SAMOTHRAKI (Island) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
Samothraki, the Greek island where you can bathe under the shade of the sycamore trees
DIDYMOTICHO (Town) EVROS
Didymoteichos (Didumoteichos), a Thracian town opposite to Plotinopolis,
situated not far from the point where the Eurus empties itself into the Hebrus,
on an island of the former. It is now called Demotica. (Nicet. Chr. p. 404.)
DORISKOS (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
Doriskos. a coast town of Thrace, in a plain west of the river Hebrus,
which is hence called the plain of Doriscus (Dopiskos pedion). During the expedition
of Darius the place was taken and fortified by the Persians; and in this plain
Xerxes reviewed his forces before commencing his march against Greece. In the
time of Livy it appears to have been only a fort - castellum. The neighbourhood
of Doriscus is now called the plain of Romigik.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
DRYS (Ancient city) SAMOTHRAKI PERAIA
EVROS (River) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
Hebrus (Hebros: Maritza), the principal river of Thrace, has its sources
near the point where mount Scomius joins mount Rhodope, in the northwestern corner
of Thrace. Its course at first has a south-eastern direction; but below Adrianopolis
it takes a south-western turn, and continues to flow in that direction until it
reaches the Aegaean near Aenos. (Thucyd. ii. 96; Plin. iv. 18; Aristot. Meteor.
i. 13.) The tributaries of the Hebrus are so numerous and important, that it becomes
navigable even at Philippolis, while near its mouth it becomes really a large
river. (Herod. vii. 59.) Near its mouth it divides itself into two branches, the
eastern one of which forms lake Stentoris. (Herod. vii. 58; Acropolita, p. 64.)
The most important among its tributaries are the Suemus, Arda, Artiscus, Tonsus,
and Agrianes. About Adrianople the basin of the Hebrus is very extensive; but
south of that city it becomes narrower, the mountains on both sides approaching
more closely to the river. During the winter the Hebrus is sometimes frozen over.
(Comp. Herod. iv. 90; Polyb. xxxiv. 13; Eurip. Here. Fur. 386; Strab. vii. pp.
322, 329, xiii. p. 590; Ptol. iii. 11. § 2; Arrian, Anab. i. 11; Mela, ii. 2;
Virg. Eel. x. 65, Georg. iv. 463, 524; Val. Flac. ii. 515, iv. 463, viii. 228.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
MESSIMVRIA (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
Dor. Mesambria: Eth. Mesembrianos. An important Greek city in Thrace,
situated on the coast of the Euxine and at the foot of Mt. Haemus (Scymn. Ch.
738); consequently upon the confines of Moesia, in which it is placed by Ptolemy
(iii. 10. § 8). Strabo (vii. p. 319) relates that it was a colony of the Megarians,
and that it was originally called Menebria (Menebria) after its founder Menas
; Stephanus B. (s. v.) says that its original name was Melsembria (Melsembria),
from its founder Melsas; and both writers state that the termination -bria was
the Thracian word for town. According to the Anonymous Periplus of the Euxine
Mesembria was founded by Chalcedonians at the time of the expedition of Darius
against Scythia; but according to Herodotus (vi. 33) it was founded a little later,
after the suppression of the Ionic revolt, by Byzantine and Chalcedonian fugitives.
These statements may, however, be reconciled by supposing that the Thracian. town
was originally colonized by Megarians, and afterwards received additional colonists
from Byzantiurn and Chalcedon. Mesembria was one of the cities, forming the Greek
Pentapolis on the Euxine, the other four being Odessus, Tomi, Istriani and Apolloniatae.
Mesembria is rarely mentioned in history, but it continued to exist till a late
period. (Mela, ii. 2; Plin. iv. 11. s. 18 ; Ptol. I. c.; Tab. Peut.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
PLOTINOUPOLIS (Ancient city) DIDYMOTICHO
Plotinopolis (Ptol. iii. 11. § 13). A town of Thrace, on the road
from Trajanopolis to Hadrianopolis, and connected with Heraclea by a by-road.
(Itin. Ant. pp. 175, 322.) According to the Itinerary, it was 21 miles distant
from Hadrianopolis. It was probably founded by Trajan at the same time with Trajanopolis,
and named after his consort Plotina. It was restored by Justinian. (Procop, Aed.
iv. 11.) Variously identified with Dsjisr-Erkene, Bludin, and Demotica; but Pococke
(iii. c. 4) thinks that the ruins near Uzun Kiupri belong to it.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
SALI (Ancient city) EVROS
Sale a town on the S. coast of Thrace, near the W. mouth of the Hebrus, and nearly equidistant from Zone and Doriscus. It is mentioned by Herodotus (vii. 59) as a Samothracian colony.
TEMPYRA (Ancient city) SAMOTHRAKI PERAIA
Tempyra. Tympira, Timpirum (Ad Unimpaira). A town in the S. of Thrace, on the
Egnatian Way, between Trajanopolis and Maxiniamopolis. It was situated in a defile,
which rendered it a convenient spot for the operations of the predatory tribes
in its neighbourhood. Here the Thrausi attacked the Roman army under Cn. Manlius,
on its return, loaded with booty, through Thrace from Asia Minor (B.C. 188); but
the want of shelter exposed their movements to the Romans, who were thus enabled
to defeat them. (Liv, xxxviii. 41.) The defile in question is probably the same
as the Korpilon stena mentioned by Appian (B.C. iv. 102), and through which, he
states, Brutus and Cassius marched on their way to Philippi (Tafel, de Viae Egnatiae
Parte orient. p. 34). Paul Lucas (Trois Vog. pp. 25, 27) regards it as corresponding
to the modern Gurschine.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
TRAIANOPOLI (Ancient city) EVROS
Traianopolis. An important town in the S. of Thrace, which was probably
founded by or in honour of the emperor Trajan, about the time when Plotinopolis
was founded, to perpetuate the name of his wife Plotina. Its exact site appears
to be somewhat doubtful. Some authorities describe it as situated on the right
bank of the Hebrus, near the pass in the range of Mount Rhodope, through which
that river flows, and about 40 miles from its mouth. Now this is the site of the
modern Orikhova, with which accordingly it is by some identified. It would be
difficult, however, to reconcile this with the various distances given in the
Itineraries: e. g. Trajanopolis is stated to be 9000 paces from Tempyra, and 29,000
from Cypsela; whereas the site above mentioned is nearly equidistant from those
assigned to Tempyra and Cypsela, being, however, more distant from the former.
But this is only one example out of many showing how extremely imperfect is our
knowledge of the geography of Thrace, both ancient and modern. In the map of the
Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge Trajanopolis is placed on the Egnatian
Way at a considerable distance W. of the Hebrus, and at a point which fulfils
tolerably well the conditions of distance from the two places above mentioned.
Trajanopolis became the capital of the province of Rhodope, and continued
to be a place of importance until the fourth century. It is remarkable, however,
that it is not mentioned by Ammianus in his general description of Thrace; according
to him, the chief cities of Rhodope were Maximianopolis, Maroneia, and Aenus.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
TRAUSI (Ancient tribe) GREECE
Trausi (Trausoi, Herod. v. 3, 4; Thrausi, Liv. xxxviii. 41), a Thracian
people, who appear, in later times at least, to have occupied the SE. offshoots
of Mount Rhodope, to the W. of the Hebrus, and about Tempyra. Herodotus tells
us that the Trausi entertained peculiar notions respecting human life, which were
manifested in appropriate customs. When a child was born, his kinsfolk, sitting
around him, bewailed his lot in having to encounter the miseries of mortal existence;
whereas when any one died, they buried him with mirth and rejoicing, declaring
him to have been freed from great evils, and to be now in perfect bliss.1
Suidas and Hesychius (s. v.) mention a Scythian tribe called the Trausi,
who, according to Steph. B. (s. v.), were the same people as the Agathyrsi. The
last-named author speaks of a Celtic race also, bearing this appellation. On this
slight foundation the strange theory has been built that the Thracian Trausi were
the original stock of the Celts; and by way of supporting this notion, its propounders
arbitrarily read Trausoi instead of Prausoi in Strabo, iv. p. 187, where Strabo
expressly says that lie was unable to state what was the original abode of the
Prausi: had he been writing about the Thracian Trausi we may safely assume that
no such ignorance would have been acknowledged. (Cf. Ukert, ii. pt. 2, p. 230.)
1 Mela has followed Herodotus very closely in the
following passage (ii. 2): Lugentur apud quosdam puerperia, natique deflentur:
funera contra festa sunt, et veluti sacra, cantu lusuque celebrantur.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
DORISKOS (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
A town in Thrace at the mouth of the Hebrus, in the midst of an extensive plain of the same name, where Xerxes reviewed his vast forces.
EVROS (River) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
(Hebros). The modern Maritza; the principal river in Thrace,
rising in the mountains of Scomius and Rhodope, and falling into the Aegaean Sea
near Aenos, after forming by another branch an estuary called Stentoris Lacus.
The Hebrus was celebrated in Greek legends. On its banks Orpheus was torn to pieces
by the Thracian women; and it is frequently mentioned in connection with the worship
of Dionysus.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
KIKONES (Ancient country) GREECE
A Thracian people on the Hebrus, and near the coast of the Aegean.
MESSIMVRIA (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
A celebrated town of Thrace on the Pontus Euxinus, and at the foot of Mount Haemus, founded by the inhabitants of Chalcedon and Byzantium in the time of Darius Hystaspis, and hence called a colony of Megara, since those two towns were founded by the Megarians.
SAMOTHRAKI (Island) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
(Samothraike), Samothraca, and Samothracia (Samothraikia). A
small island in the north of the Aegaean Sea, opposite the mouth of the Hebrus
in Thrace. It was the chief seat of the mysterious worship of the Cabiri. The
political history of Samothrace is of little importance. The Samothracians fought
on the side of Xerxes at the battle of Salamis; and at this time they possessed
on the Thracian mainland a few places, such as Sale, Serrhion, Mesambria, and
Tempyra. In the time of the Macedonian kings, Samothrace appears to have been
regarded as a kind of asylum, and Perseus accordingly fled thither after his defeat
by the Romans at the battle of Pydna.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ALEXANDROUPOLI (Municipality) EVROS
DIDYMOTICHO (Municipality) EVROS
FERES (Municipality) ALEXANDROUPOLI
METAXADES (Municipality) DIDYMOTICHO
TRAIANOUPOLI (Municipality) ALEXANDROUPOLI
TRIGONO (Municipality) ORESTIADA
ALEXANDROUPOLI (Town) EVROS
Alexandroupolis today is modern town that is continuously developing. The town has more then 50.000 inhabitants and is the capitol of the county. Alexandroupolis is build by the sea and has a coast- line, which is 35km long. The town is accessible by airplane, train, car and ship.
AVAS (Village) ALEXANDROUPOLI
After the Byzantine castles of Potamos the road is leading to another small village called Avandas. At the northern part of the village, on a steep rock and next to the position where the road is reaching its most narrow point and the locals call it 'Tempi' you can see the remaining of a second Byzantine fortress.
DADIA (Village) SOUFLI
To the north of Alexandroupolis after a small town called Tichero, we meet on the left side the indescribably beautiful forest of Dadia in this forest the visitors can see and admire nearly all the predatory birds (36 from the 39 species that live in Europe). The visitor is allowed to walk through the forest and at certain places they can watch the birds from special for this reason-constructed observation posts. The peace-full hills of the forest are full with little rivers and ravines, the forests take turns with meadows, and pasturelands, rocks and slopes are appearing unexpected from the ground. The mountain topes are facing the wet-lands of the Evros delta and the homonymous river, which is delimited from its rich vegetation. A few km to the east at the Bosporus is another very important emigration route for the birds.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below.
DIDYMOTICHO (Town) EVROS
It is the historical continuity of ancient Plotinoupoli, it’s a city that was built from Traegnus (100 BC) on the area where a unknown Hellenic city used to exist, we came to this conclusion after the finding of classic Hellenic ceramic artifacts from the 5th BC century and mosaic floors that are presenting Lyda and the achievements of Hercules.The Bulgarians are destroying the town in the year 1206 and later it is used from the Frank conquerors. The emperor Ioannis Katakouzinos the 6th was crowned here in Didimoteicho he also was the first emperor who brought Ottoman mercenaries to Thrace to fight against Ioanni Palaiologo the 5th and his mother. It is here in Didimoteicho where the ending of the universal Hellenic culture starts, while its post- historical existence rises, the time of pain and sadness the time of the pogrom and the mass kidnapping of children, of the rapping’s and slaughtering, of the islamization and of the neo-martyrs. Here is the place where in the year 1520 the saint martyr Iakovos and his students the monks Iakovos and Dionisios were killed.
DORISKOS (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
After the settlement of Monasterake, right to the road that is leading from Alexandrpoupolis to Feres and on the road that is leading to the Evros delta at the location that is known under the name Saragia rises a rocky angle of elevation, which is supervising the flat area around the delta. Here is the place where the ancient city of Doriskos is located, according to Herodutus this is also the place where Xerxes the leader of the Persian army in 480 BC counted his men and his fleet in his campaign agents the Hellenic army, whilst Dareius in 512 BC settled a garrison. The hill of Doriskos is presenting habitation since the Neolithic until the Hellenistic ages. A minor excavation has brought to the light a part of the wall, which is constructed from porous stone.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains image.
EVROS (River) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
The river Evros has its sources in Rila, the ancient Skomio, which close to the Bulgarian capitol Sofia. The river is floating to the southeast and is the natural border between Greece- Bulgaria and Turkey. According to the mythology the ancient name of the river was Romvos. The river got its new name after the drowning of Evros who was the son of the Thracian king Kassandros. Evros jumped into the river and drowned because he was disappointed by his father’s behavior, who didn’t believe Evros when he told him that his step mother, the kings wife, wanted his love and he refused it.
For many centuries the river remains the crossroad between east and west, north and south, Europe and Asia providing vital areas to the birds on their long journey. A magical scenario, where the sea embraced with land in a never-ending dance is forming little islands, lakes, swamps and lagoons. A rich area blessed but also cruel.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains images.
FERES (Municipality) ALEXANDROUPOLI
KIRKI (Village) ALEXANDROUPOLI
At the exit of the Ag.Theodoroi ravine you can find Kerke, a small village that is surrounded by hills. This settlement is well known thanks to the tasteful wine that is produced in the region and the taverns. The name Kerke comes originally from the Turkish word kirk-ka, which means translated to Greek the forty inns or the nice inns, in the past when the country was under the domination of the Ottoman empire this settlement was used as replenishment station on the way to Konstantinoples. At a small hill close to the settlement a prehistoric Thracian open-air sanctuary was found, also at the archaeological museum of Komotene, you can see a rock with incised traces, which is from the area of the settlement and it’s dated from the end of the bronze age and the beginning of the iron age.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains image.
KORNOFOLIA (Village) SOUFLI
Kornofolia is waiting for us, a region that probably belongs to the ancient city Plotinopoli, while buried in the ground an anaglyph was found that presents a hand that is holding a bough, on it its written KYRIO EVRO. An ancient region, a Greek region, a young region.
(Following URL information in Greek only)
MAKRI (Small town) ALEXANDROUPOLI
Twelve kilometers to the west from Alexandroupolis you can find Makre with its graphic little harbor that is located in an area called Platanos. Close to the beach is a natural wodge with a hillock on its top. Inside the rock is a cave that is known to the local people as the cave of the cyclope, which is presenting tracks and findings from the prehistoric until the Byzantine ages. Around the cave you can see chiseled stairs and other manufacturing. The excavation that is performed the last few years on the hillock, have brought to the light a very unique Neolithic settlement (4500- 3000 BC) which is considered as one of the most important in the Balkans. It is a marvelous resort, where every visitor can experience
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains images.
MEGALI DOXIPARA (Village) ORESTIADA
(Following URL information in Greek only)
MESSIMVRIA (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
The excavation of this area showed us that originally on this position used to be an early iron-age settlement that was inhabited by Thracians. At the end of the 7th BC century settlers from Samothraki founded a town that was called Parea. The new settlers lived in harmony with the Thracians till the 1st AC century, where the area was abandoned.
NEA VYSSA (Small town) ORESTIADA
NEO CHIMONIO (Village) ORESTIADA
(Following URL information in Greek only)
(Following URL information in Greek only)
PROVATONAS (Small town) SOUFLI
(Following URL information in Greek only)
SAMOTHRAKI (Island) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
SAMOTHRAKI (Port) EVROS
SAMOTHRAKI PERAIA (Ancient area) EVROS
(Following URL information in Greek only)
SYKORACHI (Village) ALEXANDROUPOLI
Sekorachi (according to the locals the name means corrals on the ridge). The main characteristics of the area the excellent climate, the green hills the crystal clear waters and the taverns. The area is perfect for mountaineering and hunting.
TRAIANOPOLI (Ancient city) EVROS
The ruins of an important Roman city named Traeanoupolis, are located 14-km to the east of Alexandroupolis and south of the nearest village that is called Loutra. The city was founded in 98 - 117 AC from the emperor Marcus Ulpius Traegnus and is build on the main axis of the Via Egnatia, the visitors can see the remains of the city, right to the road that is leading from Loutra to Monasterake.
Presumable this place was chosen because of the spa, which are active until today. The Romans kept the Greek political organization. According to epigraphic and monetary sources we know about the existence of the Holly Senate, the municipality and the races. Already from the 2nd AC century we know that a Christian community is making its appearance. In 161 AC Agia Glekerea died a martyr to her faith because she refused to worship Zeus.
From the 4th AC century the city becomes a metropolis. The city was abandoned after several disasters that happened between 1343- 1347 AC.
The wall of the city according to the information of Prokopius was repaired by emperor Justus in the 6 AC century unfortunately only a few parts of the wall are remaining and these are in bad conditions. Behind the Hanna you can find baths, which are there from the ages of the Ottoman Empire.
You can also see ruins of church on the hill of Agios Georgios, presumable an Acropolis of the Roman settlement, ruins of a Turkish opium den known as Esaklar, which was described from the Turkish traveler Evligia Tselembe in 1668.
Recently a tomb with gems from the 1st AC century was found in the surrounding area of the city, nowadays the gems are exhibited in the archaeological museum of Komotene where you also can see a solar watch, which is offered to the nine muses and two marble icons from the 11th- 12th century, all those exhibits are coming from the same area.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains images.
NEA VYSSA (Small town) ORESTIADA
SAMOTHRAKI (Island) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
EVROS (Prefecture) GREECE
In the following WebPages you can find an interactive map with all the monuments and museums of the Prefecture, with relevant information and photos.
SAMOTHRAKI (Island) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
Perseus Project
DORISKOS (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
KAVISSOS (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
TEMPYRA (Ancient city) SAMOTHRAKI PERAIA
MESSIMVRIA (Ancient city) ALEXANDROUPOLI
The archaeological site is located on the mouth of the stream, which was formerly called Sapli-Dere. In the area, there is a valley bounded by Ismaros and the country of Maronia to the W, by Mt. Zonaia to the E and by the "Korpiles Strait" to the N.
PLOTINOUPOLIS (Ancient city) DIDYMOTICHO
It is between the confluence of the Erythropotamos and the Evros rivers and the railway station of Didymoticho.
TRAIANOPOLI (Ancient city) EVROS
Titular metropolitan see of Rhodope.
The city owes its foundation or restoration to Trajan.
In 1564 Gabriel is called Metropolitan of Trajanopolis, that is of
Maronia, which proves that
Trajanopolis was then destroyed and that the title of metropolitan had passed
to the neighbouring city of Maronia.
About 640 Trajanopolis had two suffragan sees; at the beginning of the tenth century,
seven. St. Glyceria, a martyr of the second century, venerated on 13 May, was
born there. The town was captured and pillaged in 1206 by Joannitza, King of the
Bulgarians.
The site of Trajanopolis was discovered by Viquesnel and Dumont on
the right bank near the mouth of the Maritza, not far from Ouroundjik.
S. Vailhe, ed.
Transcribed by: Thomas M. Barrett
This extract is cited June 2003 from The Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent online edition URL below.
SAMOTHRAKI (Island) MAKEDONIA EAST & THRACE
A mountainous island in the NE Aegean famous in antiquity for its
Sanctuary of the Great Gods. Sporadic finds indicate that it was inhabited in
the Neolithic Age, and pottery dating from the Bronze Age has been found at Kariotes
to the E of the later Greek city. The island was settled ca. 700 B.C. by Greek-speaking
colonists whose Aeolic dialect suggests that they came from NW Anatolia or Lesbos.
They mingled with the local population, whose Thracian tongue is documented as
the ritual language of the cult as late as the Augustan age. The archaic city,
as yet little explored, was protected by an impressive city wall. A naval power
owning territory on the Thracian coast, it became part of the Attic empire in
the 5th c. As its power waned, the fame of the sanctuary outside its walls grew,
culminating in the Hellenistic and early Imperial ages. Under the patronage of
the royal Macedonian house and the Diadochs, the venerable sanctuary was embellished
with splendid buildings that remained in use until the cult ceased in the late
4th c. A.D. In the 6th c. it was destroyed by an earthquake. But small Christian
churches dot the island and, like the 10th c. fortification built in the sanctuary
of spoils from its destroyed buildings, attest its continuing habitation. The
Great Gods of the Samothracian mysteries included a central divinity of pre-Greek
origin, a Great Mother (called Axieros in the native tongue, Demeter in Greek),
her spouse (Kadmilos, Hermes), and attendant demons (the Kabeiroi, Dioskouroi)
as well as the Greek Hades and Persephone (locally known as Axiokersos and Axiokersa).
Their nocturnal rites were available to men and women, freemen and slaves, unlike
the related rites at Eleusis. Initiation took place in two degrees, the myesis
and the epopteia, the latter not required but, if taken, preceded by an obligatory
rite of confession. It was not restricted to the annual festival but obtainable
at any time.
The Great Gods were special patrons of those at sea. Through their
mysteries the initiate gained protection, moral improvement, and probably the
hope of immortality. Although the initiation halls were accessible only to initiates,
the sanctuary was otherwise open to all visitors.
It lies to the W of the ancient city, is framed by two streams at
its E and W, and cut at its center by a third. The earliest monument, a rock altar
to the Great Mother, antedates the Greek settlers. In the 7th c. it was incorporated
in the N part of a double precinct beneath the later anaktoron, sacristy, and
Rotunda of Arsinoe, the S section receiving a bothros for libations to the Greeks'
underworld gods. Another rock altar outside the precinct and remnants of a small
sanctuary below the later temenos date from this period. In the 6th c. a rock
altar possibly dedicated to Hekate was added to this area and further to the S,
within and near the later temenos, additional altars and escharai were built.
In the debris from the sacrificial meals at one such place, quantities of fine
wheel-made local pottery of the 7th c. were found along with handmade ware. Within
the later Altar Court, a great rock altar arose and, adjacent to it, a rectangular
lesche, a Hall of Votive Gifts to judge by its contents, was constructed of small
limestone blocks and wooden ties. Its Doric colonnaded facade faced the central
river. The first halls of initiation were probably built at this time. The present
anaktoron, a rectangular building for the myesis, evidently succeeded a hall of
similar size, traces of which are preserved to its W. Built of stuccoed polygonal
masonry over the part of the earlier double precinct farther N, the anaktoron
contains two rooms, the larger entered through doors on its long W side; the smaller
and higher, at its rear, accessible only to initiates, who entered it through
internal doors. Installations in the larger chamber (a bothros in the SE corner,
a wooden circular platform, a grandstand along two walls) reflect the initiatory
rites. Spanned by wooden beams resting on piers engaged to its long walls, the
anaktoron is the earliest example of the Samothracian taste for clear spans of
exceptional size (10.58 m). A small building to its S served as a sacristy. Traces
of the first epopteion, an apsidal building for initiation into the higher degree
of the mysteries, are visible in the apse of its Hellenistic successor, the Hieron,
as are those of an intermediate early Classical epopteion.
About 340, an area long occupied by altars and escharai was enclosed
within a rectangular precinct preceded by a terrace. At its NE corner, where a
road descending from the E hill led down into the sanctuary, a propylon was built.
An Ionic porch with projecting wings preceded its door wall, its columns distinguished
by an ornamental necking, its coffered ceiling carved with male and female heads
shown in frontal, three-quarter, and profile views. Its entablature, the earliest
example of the later standard combination of dentils with a sculptured frieze,
also shows the first extensive use of the archaistic style for architectural sculpture:
a figural frieze probably alluding to the venerable ceremonies performed within
the precinct. The design of both the building and its sculptures may be attributed
to Skopas.
This first marble building in the sanctuary was followed by a series
of splendid structures largely built of Thasian marble. The Altar Court, dedicated
ca. 340-330 by Arrhidaios, half-brother and successor of Alexander the Great,
succeeded the rock altar beside the Hall of Votive Gifts. The Doric colonnade
of this unroofed enclosure also faced the river. Within it, steps now led to a
marble altar. The Doric Hieron was built ca. 325 to replace the early Classical
epopteion. Its rectangular cella lined with lateral benches ended in a raised
abaton, a segmental apse covered by a tentlike wooden roof. The painted stucco
walls of the cella imitated its outer drafted-margin masonry beneath a wooden
coffered ceiling and trussed roof (clear span 10.72 m). Candidates for the epopteia
entered the Hieron through its front door; epoptai, through lateral doors. A lustral
drain near the entrance, an eschara, and the curtained abaton were centers of
ritual action. The deep, hexastyle prostyle porch was not completed until 150-125
B.C. when it received a sculptured coffered ceiling (centaurs, grapes) and the
building was adorned with pedimental sculptures and akroteria at both ends (front:
the Nurturing of Aetion; rear: relief busts of the Samothracian Gods; central:
floral akroteria; lateral: Nikai pouring libations). Damaged by an earthquake,
the rear akroteria were replaced in the early Imperial age. Toward A.D. 200, the
cella was remodeled when the Kriobolia and Taurobolia of the Great Mother were
added to the cult, necessitating enlargement of the main door and the introduction
of parapets before the benches. A pair of monumental torches stood at the corners
of the porch. A third torch flanked by a pair of stepping stones outside the cella
was the scene of the rite of confession preliminary to the epopteia.
Between 323 and 316, another hexastyle prostyle Done building was
erected over a Classical predecessor. Standing on the E hill, near the entrance
to the sanctuary, it was a gift of Philip Arrhidaios and Alexander IV. A shallow
Ionic porch abutting its rear wall overlooked the paved stepped ramp leading downhill
toward the Temenos. Its coffered ceiling was carved with floral motifs. In front
of the Doric facade stood an altar or monument. Below it lay a paved circular
area ca. 9 m in diameter. Encircled by rows of concentric steps of Classical date,
it may have had a central altar. Statues, monuments, and inscriptions framed this
area.
Between 289 and 281, the rotunda dedicated to the Great Gods by Arsinoe
rose over the old double precinct. Built for sacrificial purposes, it is ca. 20
m in diameter. Its plain marble drum was surmounted by a gallery, Doric on the
exterior, Corinthian on the interior, decorated with a parapet of sculptured bucrania
and paterai. Its conical roof crowned by a hollow finial may have been screened
on the interior by a wooden dome. Inside and at its periphery, there were altars
and shafts for libation. Construction of the rotunda led to removal of the sacristy,
which was now rebuilt against the anaktoron. Marble benches, lamps, and stelai
recording initiations inserted into its stuccoed polygonal walls attest its use.
Like other buildings in the sanctuary, it shows traces of Late Roman repair.
The Propylon of Ptolemy II erected between 285 and 281 gave access
to the sanctuary from the city. On both sides of its door wall there was a deep
hexastyle porch, Ionic on the outer city side, Corinthian on the inner sanctuary
side. This is the first documented use of the latter order as an exterior structural
member in Greek architecture. Bucrania alternate with rosettes on its sculptured
frieze. A marble forecourt preceded the Ionic porch; another may have lain before
the ramp leading down to the circular area on the E hill. The river bounding the
sanctuary on the E originally passed through the cut-stone barrel vault running
diagonally through the propylon's foundation. In the wake of an earthquake, probably
in the 2d c. A.D., it assumed its present course to the W of the building. A wooden
bridge now led across the river from the propylon to the higher barren area above
the buried Classical circular structure. Neither it nor the royal dedication on
the hill was replaced.
A stuccoed limestone Doric stoa built on the W hill overlooking the
sanctuary in the 3d c. provided shelter for visitors. Two-aisled and ca. 106 m
long, its inner order was Ionic. Its painted stuccoed walls were incised with
lists of initiates. Probably its rear wall was pierced by doors giving access
to a broad area where a two-roomed structure was built against the stoa in the
4th c. A.D. A line of monuments stood to the E of the columnar facade above the
terraced hillside where structures, probably for ritual dining, were successively
built from the 4th c. B.C. to Late Roman times. A Hellenistic niche of pseudo-Mycenaean
style may have represented the tomb of a Samothracian hero. to the S, the outline
of the theater built ca. 200 B.C. appears. The white limestone and red porphyry
seats of the cavea faced the Altar Court which served as its skene. Above the
theater stood the Victory of Samothrace, part of a ship-fountain of the same period
framed by an enclosure of retaining walls. The rectangular precinct is divided
into an upper basin in which the prow of the vessel stood and a lower reflecting
basin from which natural boulders emerge and water was drawn.
North of the stoa, the W hill is largely occupied by a 10th c. Byzantine
fortification built of spoils from the sanctuary. Beneath it lie the foundations
of a large unfinished building of the early Hellenistic age; to its W a row of
three treasury-like late Hellenistic buildings once stood; to its E, a marble
building with an Ionic porch that led into the central of three rooms. Dedicated
by a Milesian lady in the 3d c., it, like other structures on the W hill, is still
under investigation.
Beyond the S limits of the sanctuary lies the S Necropolis, the most
extensive of the several burial grounds hitherto explored. Its tombs range from
the archaic period to the 2d c. A.D. and reveal the use of both cremation and
inhumation. The rich finds from the necropolis including ceramics, terracottas,
glass, jewelry, and other objects are exhibited in the Museum at the entrance
to the site.
Finds made since 1938 as well as the restored entablatures of several
buildings may be seen in the five galleries and courtyard of this museum. Objects
found by earlier expeditions, especially sculpture and architectural members,
were taken to the Louvre, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Archaeological
Museums of Istanbul and the Archaeological Seminar of the Charles University,
Prague.
P. W. Lehmann, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Oct 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
TRAIANOPOLI (Ancient city) EVROS
The ancient capital of Rhodope, founded by Trajan on the site of the
earlier town of Doriskos. Darius left a small garrison at a fort there after his
war with the Scythians. At Doriskos, Xerxes gathered men and supplies in preparation
for the invasion of Greece. Even though the surrounding territory returned to
Thracian control, the fort was still held by the Persians in the time of Herodotos,
later in the 5th c. It was garrisoned by both Philip II and Philip V of Macedon.
The site has been identified with an acropolis near Loutros at the edge of the
high ground W of the Evros (ancient Hebros) delta. In addition to prehistoric
remains, marble architectural fragments and inscriptions have been found, the
latter including a precinct boundary stone at the foot of the acropolis. Dumont
reported extensive remains of houses and streets on the plain near the sea, but
no sign of monumental public buildings.
M. H. Mc Allister, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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