Samothrace, Volume 7

The Sanctuary of the Great Gods on the island of Samothrace was a renowned centre of religious life in the northern Aegean from the 7th century BC until the 4th century AD, and the mysteries practiced there rank in historical importance with those of Eleusis. From the beginning of Macedonian supremacy, Philip II and his successors embellished the Sanctuary with great buildings of innovative design for both pious and political ends. Volume 7 of this series focuses on the magnificent marble Rotunda dedicated by Queen Arsinoe II for cult purposes early in the 3rd century BC. The Rotunda is the largest closed, round building known from Greek architecture. In both its bold design and engineering, it embodies striking new ideas of the Hellenistic period. Provided with a new, pyramidal roof in the Early Imperial age, the Rotunda continued to dominate the Sanctuary throughout that era. The mass of pottery, coins and other materials recovered from the filling of the Rotunda's foundations provide contributions to the chronology and history of the Sanctuary.