Archaeological Museum of Samothrace, Archaeological museum in Palaiopoli, Samothrace, Greece
The Archaeological Museum of Samothrace stands in Palaiopoli, 6 km from Kamariotissa and 250 m from the sea. It has five rooms and an atrium: Room A holds restored architectural members from the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, including the Altar Court, the Arsinoe II Rotunda and the Hall of Votive Gifts, while Room E traces the island from the mid-6th millennium BC to the early 20th century.
Construction began in 1939 and was completed in 1955 by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, to designs by Stuart M. Shaw of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A north wing was added in 1960–61. The building was renovated in 2014–2015, and its renewed permanent exhibition opened in 2024.
The collection displays restored architectural pieces, ritual objects, and inscriptions that reflect the daily religious practices of ancient Greeks at this sanctuary. These items help visitors understand how people worshipped and honored their gods in this place.
The museum is situated near the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, which can also be visited. A combined ticket provides access to both locations at a reduced rate.
The marble copy of the Nike of Samothrace in the museum courtyard reproduces the statue found at the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, whose original is in the Louvre. The museum also holds a smaller winged Nike found in 1949 by Phyllis Williams Lehmann of the American School of Classical Studies.
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