Σαμοθρᾴκη

Samothrace

Definition

Σαμοθρᾴκη (Samothrace) is the name of a mountainous island in the northern Aegean Sea, located south of the ancient region of Thrace. In the New Testament, it is mentioned solely as a geographical location on the Apostle Paul's second missionary journey. The island served as a stopping point for Paul and his companions as they sailed from Troas to Neapolis, the port for Philippi (Acts 16:11). The name itself simply denotes the island, with no additional symbolic or metaphorical meanings attached to it in the biblical text.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 16:11. It functions strictly as a proper noun identifying a specific island. The usage is purely geographical, describing a key point in the travel itinerary of Paul, Silas, and Timothy as they carried the gospel from Asia into Europe for the first time.

Etymology

The name Σαμοθρᾴκη (Samothrakē) is of Greek origin, likely a compound. The first element 'Σαμο-' (Samo-) may relate to a height or elevation, referencing the island's mountainous terrain. The second element '-θρᾴκη' (-thrakē) clearly identifies its association with the nearby region of Thrace, meaning it was considered 'the Thracian Samos' or the 'high place of Thrace.'

Semantic Range

In the 1st century, Samothrace was known throughout the Greco-Roman world primarily for the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, a major site for an ancient mystery religion. While the biblical account in Acts makes no mention of this cultic association, many of Paul's original readers would have recognized the island's cultural significance. Its mention grounds the narrative in real geography, highlighting the deliberate movement of the gospel from one known region to another, from Asia to Europe.

Word Details

Scripture References