Thessaloniki

October 05, 2021

We’re in Thessaloniki (Thess’-a-lon-eekee) today (Oct 4) in north Greece near Macedonia. We did a tour of this ancient town, the 2nd largest in Greece, which was also settled in 4th century BC. It’s changed rulers many times over the centuries. There is so much history in this place. Our guide talked for four hours. It was fascinating but I can’t possibly regurgitate it all. We visited the archaeological museum where again, ancient graves filled with unbelievable artifacts, many made from gold, discovered through progress, tell the tales of the people of the the time of Christ, the Byzantine empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish empire, the Roman Empire, and the Greeks. We saw the remains of the city walls, the stones of which were laid before Christ. We heard about all of the different rulers who captured this region, we heard about Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great and Thessaloniki, the namesake of this city founded by her husband Cassander. We visited a basilica that was originally a place of worship prior to any type of religion being recognized. It's a rectangular shape. It has since been a mosque and a Christian church and a Greek Orthodox church dedicated to St. Demetrius - Patron of Thessaloniki. St. Paul came through Thessaloniki on his 2nd missionary journey to spread Christianity in 49 AD. Here is wrote the epistles to the Thessalonians. His journey made his way to Corinth and wrote his letters to the Corinthians there. Tomorrow we’re going to Ephesus - letters to Ephesians! I might have to read the New Testament!

A winged female Greek goddess represents "victory" and is named Nike. Clever choice for the brand.

We heard about a fire in 1912 started by a housewife cooking eggplant that burned 2/3 of the city and 9500 buildings. We heard about a 7.0 earthquake in 1978 which damaged so much more. I would love to study about this region and the Greek language. Just so fascinating!!

After our tour, David and I walked into Thessaloniki and walked through the port side streets which are very narrow and were used for trade. Now they are filled with restaurants and bars. We walked down the major shopping streets and into the square of Aristotle, who was born near here. We walked through the fish market and vegetable markets and stopped for a beer and a wine. It is disconcerting to find that graffiti is everywhere and on everything in Greece. Our guide blamed a lack of education and youth disrespect.

The mausoleum of Cassander (not actually used for that purpose but built in anticipation)

The White Tower ( a former prison )

Alexander the Great along the boardwalk of the Aegean Sea

Looking down from the highest point of Thessaloniki (the red roofs show the original buildings not burned). There is an acropolis in all Greek cities - acropolis means the highest point.

David near the Thessolaniki acropolis.

A bill of sale for a female slave

The type of garment of a buried woman with gold embellishments and jewelry

Part of the North wall. These stones were laid before Christ. I like to think about that.

Thessolaniki on a map

The North Wall of Thessolaniki

Beaded gold necklace with pomegranates and other jewelry and artifacts

Church of St. Demetrius

A gold headpiece of leaves. Popular leaves to copy in gold are from the laurel and from the ivy. Ivy leaves are shaped like hearts and were used in weddings. Laurel leaves represented victory too, thus we’re used for winners in the Olympics.