Samothrace

What is going to happen, friends? Tis the critical hour.

Ah, if there is some initiate of Samothrace among you, tis surely the moment to wish this messenger some accident, some sprain or strain.

Tumult.

Who returns? alas thrice again alas war what is it again you come back without it tumult the spartans too have lost their pestle war how varlet tumult they had lent it to their allies in thrace who had lost it for them long life to you thracians my hopes revive pluck up courage mortals war take all this stuff away i am going to make a pestle for myself tis now the time to sing as dotis did as he abused himself at high noon o pleasure o enjoyment o delight tis now o greeks the moment when freed of quarrels and fighting we should rescue sweet peace and draw her out of this pit before some other pestle prevents us come labourers merchants workmen artisans strangers whether you be domiciled or not islanders come here greeks of all countries come hurrying here with picks and levers and ropes tis the moment to drain a cup in honour of the good genius chorus come hither all quick hasten to the rescue all peoples of greece now is the time or never for you to help each other you see yourselves freed from battles and all their horrors of bloodshed the day hateful to lamachus has come come then what must be done give your orders direct us for i swear to work this day without ceasing until with the help of our levers and our engines we have drawn back into light the greatest of all goddesses her to whom the olive is so dear silence if war should hear your shouts of joy he would bound forth from his retreat in fury chorus such a decree overwhelms us with joy how different to the edict which bade us muster with provisions for three days let us beware lest the cursed cerebus prevent us even from the nethermost hell from delivering the goddess by his furious howling just as he did when on earth chorus once we have hold of her none in the world will be able to take her from us huzza huzza you will work my death if you don't subdue your shouts war will come running out and trample everything beneath his feet chorus well then let him confound let him trample let him overturn everything we cannot help giving vent to our joy O cruel fate, my friends, in the name of the gods what possesses you, your dancing will wreck the success of a fine undertaking.

And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

So setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

We remained in this city some days, and on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God.

a man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, Come over to Macedonia to help us! So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded God was calling us to preach the good news there.

We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis.

From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

and we stayed there several days.

It tells us about family, gender roles, wealth, and the way ancient Athenians remembered their dead.

And our second work of art is going to be the Winged Victory of Samothrace or Nike of Samothrace.

It's dramatic, powerful, practically bursting with energy.

A winged goddess lands on the prow of a warship, her clothing whipping in an invisible wind, and she looks like she's about ready to take flight right off that pedestal.

Okay, let's move from the quiet world of a family grave to one of the most spectacular sculptures ever created in ancient Greece.

Okay, well, that's my opinion.

Anyway, it's the Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace, and it dates to about 190 BCE during the Hellenistic period, so this is always associated with Alexander the Great.

The sculptor is unknown.

After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

From Troas, we put out to sea and sailed for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis.

From there, we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony, and the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and we stayed there several days.

On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river where we expected to find a place of prayer.

Standing triumphantly on the prow of a ship.

The wing victory of Samothrace.

one of the most recognizable sculptures in the world, there's just one fairly significant problem.

She doesn't have a head.

I'm James William Moore, your chaotic docent through the masterpieces, mysteries and magnificent bad decisions of art history.

And today we're asking one very simple question.

Where is the head of the winged victory of Samothrace? Unfortunately, art history's answer is, no idea.

Which is particularly irritating because we found parts of her fingers.