Megaloi Theoi
E951448
Megaloi Theoi refers to the mysterious group of chthonic deities worshipped in the ancient Samothracian Mysteries, renowned for their secret initiation rites and protective powers over sailors.
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Samothracian gods
ⓘ
chthonic deities ⓘ group of deities ⓘ |
| associatedConcept |
chthonic powers
ⓘ
fertility ⓘ protection at sea ⓘ underworld ⓘ |
| associatedPlace |
Thrace
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
northern Aegean ⓘ |
| associatedWith | Samothracian Mysteries NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| cultAccessibility |
open to Greeks and non-Greeks
ⓘ
open to men and women ⓘ open to slaves and free persons ⓘ |
| cultCenter | Samothrace NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| cultStatus | mystery aspects remain partly unknown to modern scholarship ⓘ |
| cultType |
initiation cult
ⓘ
mystery cult ⓘ |
| epithet | Great Gods of Samothrace NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| hasRole |
givers of safety at sea
ⓘ
protective deities ⓘ protectors of sailors ⓘ |
| influenced |
Hellenistic ruler cult practices
ⓘ
later mystery cults in the Greek world ⓘ |
| knownFor |
esoteric character of their cult
ⓘ
prestige among sailors and travelers ⓘ secrecy of doctrines ⓘ |
| languageOfCult | Greek ⓘ |
| nameMeaning | Great Gods NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| possibleMembers |
Axieros
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Axiokersa NERFINISHED ⓘ Axiokersos NERFINISHED ⓘ Kadmilus NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| promisedBenefit |
good fortune
ⓘ
personal protection ⓘ safety in travel ⓘ |
| religion | ancient Greek religion ⓘ |
| ritualFeature |
nocturnal ceremonies
ⓘ
purification rites ⓘ sacrifices ⓘ secret initiation rites ⓘ |
| scholarlyDebate | identification with known Olympian or chthonic gods is uncertain ⓘ |
| worshipEvidence |
archaeological remains at Samothrace
ⓘ
inscriptions ⓘ votive offerings ⓘ |
| worshipPeriod |
Classical period
ⓘ
Hellenistic period ⓘ Roman period ⓘ |
| worshipPlace | Sanctuary of the Great Gods at Samothrace NERFINISHED ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.