The Sanctuary of the Great gods was one of the most prestigious cult sights in Ancient Greece. Although today the sight rests in quiet ruins on the island of Samothrace, it was once a bustling development visited by pilgrims from all around the Meditteranean. These pilgrims included many powerful figures from ancient history. For example, Alexander the Great's parents actually met while on the island visiting the sanctuary. Pilgrims traveled to Samothrace in hopes of being initiated into the cult through a series of mystery rites known only by those already initiated. It was believed membership in the mystery cult would bring divine protection at sea. Diodorus further stated that membership in the cult promised to make individuals better and more pious in all ways . During peak years, the sanctuary would have housed an array of precious treasures and art. Most notably the sanctuary was home to the Winged Victory. A beautiful marble sculpture which can today be seen in the Louvre.
(360 Virtual view available by clicking image)
The site is currently being excavated by an American team sponsored by Emory University. The team has created a series of virtual resources which can be explored on the excavation website to better understand how individuals would have experienced the site through ritual interaction. The website even features a series of videos whichh allow the viewer to see what it would have looked like to walk through the sanctuary as an initiate of the mystery cult. https://samothrace.emory.edu
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