Gothic Invasions and Thessaloniki

[akritas]

In the middle of the 3nd century A. D. the Roman peace was disturbed. The migrations of peoples began. Waves of them came down to the Greek Peninsula.

In their way stood Thessaloniki, the nodal point of all the lines of communicatioin Macedonia and the starting point of the mighty roads into the interior of the Balkans as far as the Danube. Probably the elevation of the city to a Roman colony in the time of Decius (about 250 that is to say at the beginning of the invasions) would have come about in order to show its inhabitants the great favour of the emperors towards them, and to strengthen their will and ability to resist the barbarian tribes. A few years earlier, in the reign of Gratian III (238-244), Thessaloniki had been honoured, as had many cities in Asia Minor, with the title sacrist ( neokoros) that is to say with the supervision of an imperial temple.

In 253, 262 and 269 repeated attacks by the Goths were beaten off, the first two from dry land, the third from the sea. Thessaloniki towered up before the hordes of invaders like an unshakeable rock. It is from this period particularly that the rcpeated afflictions of the city began, afflictions which it endured patiently and from which it always emerged victorious in the end.

Its ancient raniparts, surmounted by imposing towers and girt about with deep ditches, not merely protected its inhabitants but constituted a most secure refuge for the people from round about and for other crowds of fugitives from Macedonia.

In fact, in every century, even until very recently, the inhabitants of Macedonia 1% hen persecuted by conquerors -of various origins- have found refuge in Thessaloniki. So the city was deservedly renowned as the champion of Greek power and of Hellenic civilization ,a title which it worthily maintained until recent tirmes.

Has anyone ever deeply considered the importance of this role of Thessaloniki's in the context of the history of Greece?

Has anyone ever asked what would have been the fate of Hellenisn without Thessaloniki ?

source:
Apostolos Vakalopoulos, History of Thessaloniki

[pankration]

Does anyone have any access to pictures, paintings, drawings etc. of Thessaloniki during this age? I would love to see this almost mythical city at its prime.