Samothrace
Population: 2,859 (2011)
ISLAND OVERVIEW
Samothrace is one of the North-East Aegean islands, 29 nautical miles south of the mainland city of Alexandroupolis. This elliptical island covers an area of 180 sq.km. It’s terrain is mountainous, and the highest peak is Fengari at 1700 mtrs. Samothraki was not a state of any political significance in ancient Greece, since it has no natural harbour and most of the island is too mountainous for cultivation. Resources on the island include granite and basalt, and its primary industries are fishing and tourism.
The modern port town of Kamariotissa is on the north-west coast and provides ferry access to and from points in northern Greece such as Alexandroupoli and Kavala. There is no commercial airport on the island. Other sites of interest on the island include the ruins of Genoese forts, the picturesque Chora and Paleapolis (Old Town), several waterfalls and the mysterious “Old Vathras”.
Samothraki became famous for the discovery of the statue VICTORY OF SAMOTHRAKI, which decorates the Louvre Museum and the Temple of the Great Gods, which in ancient times was renowned as a Panhellenic Religious Centre.
Samothraki has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. Winters are cool and rainy with occasional heavy snowstorms, especially at higher elevations.
The Island & Its History
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Pelasgians and Carians first inhabited Samothrace, and later Thracians. At the end of the 8th century BC, the island was colonised by Greeks from Samos, from which the name Samos of Thrace, that later became Samothrace; however, Strabo denies this. The archaeological evidence suggests that Greek settlement was in the sixth century BC. The Persians occupied Samothrace in 508 BC, it later passed under Athenian control, then to Macedonian and then the Roman Empire in AD 70.
The Book of Acts in the Bible records that the Apostle Paul, on his second missionary journey outside of Palestine, sailed from Troas to Samothrace and spent one night there on his way to Macedonia.
The ancient city of Palaeopolis (old city), was situated on the north coast. Considerable remains still exist of the ancient walls, which were built in massive Cyclopean style,
The Byzantines ruled until 1204, then the Venetians, a Genoan family and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire conquered it in 1457 and it was called Semadirek in Turkish. The island came under Greek rule in 1913 following the Balkan Wars.
Prayer Points
- The people on the island will realize their need for God and their eyes will be opened to the truth and love of God through reading the Bible for themselves.
- The Lord will work in the lives of all the God-fearing religious people already living on this island, and bring healing & refreshment to their lives.
ADOPT THIS ISLAND
If you are committed to praying for this island and its region, please drop us a note, we would love to know about it and keep you posted with prayer updates!
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