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 SAMOS HISTORY

Between the two continents, Europe and Asia, lay the islands of the Eastern Sporades. They actually set the eastern borders of Aegean Sea and they spread along the coast of Turkey. All these islands, having common characteristics concerning both history and land, were first inhabited during ancient Greece by Iones.

During the 6th century BC, the tyrant Polycrates ruled Samos. Legend has it that Polycrates used to write to his friend Amases, about his exceptionally happy life. One day, his friend urged him to change his good fate to something less fortunate, on the grounds that he would surely come to an unhappy end. Taking his dear friend's advice, Polycrates threw his most valuable and favorite ring into the sea, though it truly upset him. The next day a fisherman arrived at the palace bearing a big fish as a gift for the king. What unhappiness was this! Within the fish's belly lay his ring. Then both Polycrates and his friend, along with all those present realized that "It's impossible to change your destiny!..".

The greatest intellects and artists of the time were from Samos. The mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras, with his celebrated theorem, the cornerstone of geometry, along with Rhoikos and Theodoros, the architects of the Sanctuary of Hera and pioneering sculptors, are the best known.

The four most impressive works constructed during this century of brilliant accomplishments were the Walls of Polycrates, the Tunnel of Eupalinos and the port of Heraion. Once 6,430 metres long, even the few sections of the Walls of Polycrates that have survived astound today's visitor.

The Tunnel of Eupalinos is one of the supreme technical achievements of that era that possessed minimal means and knowledge. The outstanding architect Eupalinos constructed it in the mid 6th century BC to supply water to the town. This tunnel, 1,036 metres long, which penetrates the mountain evokes admiration for the precision of its calculations: the excavations were conducted on both sides and met in the middle with no margin of error.

The third great work of the reign of Polycrates was the town's harbour with its piers and jetties. The Temple of Hera, the largest reported by Herodotus, lay 5 kilometres west of the city. A paved road, 4 metres wide, the Sacred Way, lined with 2,000 statues and other offerings, linked the city with the goddess's sanctuary. It was 108.73 long, 54.8 m. Wide and 25 m. high.

Other gods were also worshipped in ancient Samos and many sanctuaries were erected in their honour, but they were overshadowed by the grandeur of the Heraion. The Samians worshipped Poseidon on the cape near the Eptastadio strait, the present day Poseidonion as well as Dionysos, Athena Ergani, Apollo and Aprhodite.