Information of Pythagorio and Samos
Dear Visitors, welcome to Pythagorion !
The port you are looking at right now was the first organized harbour of ancient times. It had all infrastructure for the sailors of ancient times and this was unique.
During the 6th century BC under the rule of Polykrates the south pier was built to protect ships, mostly three-deckers, against the strong south winds. Herodot called this eminent building “the large wall in the sea” (το μέγα τείχος εις θάλατταν). Remains of this wall are still part of the southern pier in these days.
With this protected port the ancient city of Samos, today known as Pythagorion, attracted all the seamen of the Aegeanian Sea. Especially those sailors who exchanged goods with Asia Minor favoured this port because of being the safest one and because they could obtain all necessary equipment for their journeys.
Polykrates recognized the strategic importance of this harbour and the necessity to provide a safe and sufficient water supply for both the town and the ships.
He authorized Eupalinos from Megara – a town near Athens – to build a tunnel to lead spring water from the north part of the mountains to the south part of the island into the ancient city of Samos. After Eupalinos had done all necessary calculations and measurements two teams at same time started to open a tunnel, one team on the south side and the other on the north side of the mountain. Both teams met in the middle of the 1046-meter-tunnel with only a few deviation.
The safe port and the fresh water supply enabled Polykrates to intensify the trade between East and West making Pythagorion one of the richest ancient cities with a population of 80.000 inhabitants.
In the same era the temple of Hera was erected. Accoring to mythology the goddess was born in the basin of the river Imvrasos (nowadays Ireon). For this reason Samos is considered the protected island of the goddess Hera.
The ancient city of Samos was also birthplace of the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, teacher of harmony of figures and outrider of the nuclear research. A famous pupil of Pythagoras was Demokrit.
The philosophers Epicures and Aisopos were born on Samos as well as the mathematician Aristerhos who was the first to establish the theory that the sun is the centre of the world.
The ancient architects Ricos and Theodorus should be mentioned, the builders of the ancient temple of Hera and Artemis in Ephesus belonging to the seven world wonders.
The castle of Lykourgo Logotheti dominates the panorama of Phytagorion. Logotheti was the hero of the rebellion against the turks in 1821. This castle is being built on the ruins of the Polykrates’ palace. During the Roman period this palace became a favourite summer place for Roman emperors.
Excavations of pompous buildings are witness of this time. Antonius and Kleopatra built the Roman baths and Augustus gave the rare right to the Samians to become Roman citizens.
Tiberius declared Herion as a refuge and Caligula tried to erect the palace of Polykrates again.
This palace was rebuilt in the area of the today’s church (Metamorphose) next to the castle of Lykourgo Logotheti. From here you have a marvellous view to the shore of Asia Minor dominated by the imposing mountain Mykali.
On the east part of the pier you find the statue of Pythagoras and when walking along the old harbour promenade you see all the many restaurants and coffee-bars. Various shops selling jewellery and Samiotian arts and handcraft are placed on the main road.
Don’t miss a sample of local delicacies at one of the many taverns and taste the famous Samoswine that was already well known in ancient times in many countries of the world.
Discover the beauties of Samos being one of the greenest islands with its mountain Kerkis (1.443meters), the second in height in the Ageanean sea.
Many beautiful villages on the coast and in the mountains wait to be discovered.
You will surely enjoy the Samos way of living that is close to the old traditional philosophical mode of life with its close contact to nature and philosophy.
We wish you a pleasant holyday and are looking forward to see you again.
Copyright text © 2006 Tourist Information Office, Pythagorio, Tel. 0030 273061389
Copyright photos © 2006 Peter Molz
