Re-exhibition of the Archaeological Museum of Samothraki

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni inaugurated the restored building and the re-exhibition of the Archaeological Museum during her two-day working visit to Samothraki.

Samothraki, an island in the northeastern Aegean, has long attracted the interest of archaeologists and researchers due to the historical and archaeological significance of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods. The museum, designed by Shaw and inaugurated in 1955 by Georgios Rallis, was the first archaeological museum in Thrace. After nearly sixty years of continuous operation, the Ministry of Culture included the building’s restoration and expansion in the Eastern Macedonia Thrace Regional Operational Program of the NSRF 2007-2013 in 2013, while its re-exhibition was financed by the NSRF 2014-2020.

Historical and Archaeological Significance

Kyriakos Ankonitis visited the Sanctuary of the Great Gods in October 1444, documenting valuable testimonies during his journey. Since 1863, when the French vice-consul discovered the famous statue of Nike and took it to Paris, Franco-Czechoslovak archaeological missions have been active in Samothraki, followed by American scientific groups from the Institute of Fine Arts in New York. The Greek state has been responsible for the protection and maintenance of the island’s monuments and archaeological sites since the mid-1950s.

Minister’s Remarks

In her speech, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni expressed her pleasure at dedicating the fully restored and upgraded Archaeological Museum to the island, its residents, and visitors. She noted that the Museum of Samothraki is the 21st museum that the Ministry of Culture has made accessible to the public since 2019 when Kyriakos Mitsotakis assumed the government. From 2019 to the present, the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Region, has implemented projects in the Regional Unity of Evros with a total budget of approximately 40 million euros, funded by the NSRF and the Recovery Fund. Approximately 6.5 million euros have been allocated to Samothraki for projects in the archaeological site of the Great Gods, the Castle, and the Tower of Fonias. These projects are carried out by the Ministry of Culture’s Central and Regional Directorates, thanks to the dedication of its valuable staff and the political will of the government to secure necessary funding.

Mendoni highlighted several projects, including major interventions in the Castle, the restoration of the Monastery of Christ, work on the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, and the new Archaeological Museum. She praised the exemplary cooperation between the Ephorates of Antiquities of Rodopi and Evros in these efforts.

Future Projects

Mendoni also mentioned upcoming projects planned by the Ministry of the Interior for Samothraki. These include completing studies and implementing projects to further protect the archaeological site of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods from severe flooding due to climate change, in addition to anti-flooding measures by the Region and relevant Ministries. Additionally, studies for restoring the adjacent old Xenia building will be undertaken to transform it into a shop and refreshment area managed by the Organization for the Development and Management of Cultural Resources.

Call for Local Community Involvement

Concluding her speech, Minister Mendoni emphasized the importance of the local community utilizing the state-created infrastructure. She urged the Region, Municipality, and local community to promote and highlight these cultural infrastructures to bring added value to the area. Mendoni advocated for high-quality tourism that would benefit the island and contribute to its development, leveraging its unique comparative advantages.