The archaeological museum on the northeast Aegean island of Samothrace, where the eponymous Winged Victory or Nike of Samothrace was discovered in the mid-19th century, was reopened this month, renovated and upgraded.
Considered one of the most remote islands in the Aegean due to its distance from major Greek mainland ports and lack of an airport, green and mountainous Samothrace is nonetheless a veritable treasure trove of ancient Greek artifacts.
The island, which is more or less immune to mass tourism and a favorite among campers and nature lovers, is home to the Samothrace temple complex. Also known as the “Sanctuary of the Great Gods”, the complex is one of the pre-eminent Pan-Hellenic (meaning all Greeks could worship there) religious sanctuaries of antiquity.
As such, the island was celebrated throughout the ancient Greek world as a center for mystic religions which many scholars consider to pre-date the Olympian gods and hail from Asia Minor. Its large archaeological sites testify to this importance to this day.
