top of page

Thessaloniki

Last summer, I participated to the McGill Summer Studies in Greece and stayed in Thessaloniki for a month. In Thessaloniki I enjoyed the extraordinary experience of being in a city where the Ancient Greek, Byzantine and Modern Greek cultures intertwined. In our summer courses we did not only learn about the history of Greece but also studied the history of Thessaloniki and visited most of the museums and historical places in the city. It was after this beautiful summer course experience in Thessaloniki that I have decided to do further studies in Byzantine History.

Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC by king of Macedon, Kassander, who give the name of his wife Thessalonike, the half-sister of Alexander the Great. In 50 AD Thessaloniki became the capital of the province of Macedonia of the Roman Empire and was regarded as one of the most prosperous Roman cities. During the Byzantine period, the city became the second most important center in the region after Constantinople. Under the Ottoman rule, the city continued to be an important trading center and kept its cosmopolitan environment until the beginning of the 20th century.

Thessaloniki was an important trading center for different communities, therefore the demographic, ethnic and religious map of the city always remained diverse. From the early Roman periods until the 19th century, the city was surrounded with walls, and the inner-city was divided between three main ethnic groups; Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Christian neighborhood was located on the central and eastern part of the city. The Muslim neighborhood was situated on the upper side of the city walls over the hill under the acropolis, and the Jewish quarter was in the lower part of the city walls, near the central market and the harbor. Even though the neighbors were located in different parts of the city, the three communities had strong commercial ties.

From antiquity until Byzantine times, Thessaloniki’s urban structure was based on the Hippodamean style which was the rectangular street plan. During the Byzantine period, the establishment of large churches changed the rectangular street plan and the urban space was organized according to the monumental structures such as churches or administrative buildings. During the Ottoman era, the city changed its urban structure. The Hippodamean style mostly disappeared because of the constructions as a result of the increase of population. In 1870 the walls that were the boundaries of the city were largely demolished to extend the city. After the Great Fire of 1917, the majority of the buildings in the Jewish and Christian neighborhood were destroyed. Today, few but important monuments that has embodied the complex history of this beautiful city are still standings and continue to astonish visitors.

http://eng.travelogues.gr/collection.php?view=55

This engraving of Thessaloniki from the book of the Flemish physician Olfert Dapper (1636-1689). Dapper never traveled to Greece, however he published several books on the geography and history of the cities in Asia, Africa, China and even America. His books mostly had maps and engravings of travelers. The producer of this engraving is unknown but it portrays Thessaloniki in the 17th century. The minarets of the mosques indicate that the city was ruled by the Ottomans and it was a sign of authority for the travelers arriving to the city. The engraving clearly depicts the walls surrounding the city, and the ships arriving to the port of Thessaloniki.

The White Tower

The White Tower is the symbolic monument of Thessaloniki. The tower was built in the 15th century to replace an older 12th century Byzantine fortress. The tower was built to defend the city’s harbor but it was mostly known to be a notorious prison in the later Ottoman period. Therefore, the tower had a sinister reputation and it was known as “Tower of Blood” (Kanlı Kule). When Greece gained control of the city, the tower was whitewashed and its name was changed to “White Tower”. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the walls surrounding the tower were demolished. Today, the Tower is open for visitors and inside there are in exhibition of the history of Thessaloniki .

http://eng.travelogues.gr/item.php?view=39525

This picture was taken in 1905 by Alfred Van Den Brule. Alfred Van Den Brule stayed two years in Greece, from 1905 until 1907. After his visit, he published books on Greek history and politics. This picture is an important and interesting one because we see the walls that were surrounding the tower, and also the inhabitants of Thessaloniki who were walking along the port.


You Might Also Like:
bottom of page