Geologically, Samos was formed as a result of major tectonic upheavals, being separated from Asia Minor with which it was united (Quarternary period). In ancient times, it was known by several names: Dryousa, Elaiousa, Kyparissia and even Parthenia, since it was the birthplace of Hera and here she was espoused to Zeus. The first inhabitants were Karians and Lelegians. Ionian colonisers arrived in around 1000 BC.

During the 6th and 5th century BC Samos experienced a considerable acme, especially in 540 BC when the tyrant Polykrates came to power. Samos was conquered by the Medes during the Persian Wars and became a member of the Athenian League once they were over. In 440 BC, however, Samos renounced this alliance and the Athenians responded with intransigence, laying waste the island.

Nevertheless, Samos fought alongside Athens against Sparta during the Peloponnesian War and afterwards passed in turn into the hands of the Macedonians, Egyptian Ptolemies and Romans. During the Byzantine period it belonged to the Thema of the Aegean and was in a state of decline, harassed by pirates. When Constantinople fell to the Franks in 1204 the island was ceded first to the Franks, then to the Venetians and, from 1453 onwards, when Constantinople was taken by the Turks, the Samiotes fled their homes and sought refuge on Chios.

Thus the island remained more or less desolated until the middle of the 16th century when the Turkish pasha, to whom it had been granted, introduced a series of measures (privileges, administrative independence, religious freedoms) which successfully attracted new settlers and its repopulation was effected. Even though it played an active role in the 1821 War of Independence it was not united with Greece until 1912. During the 80 year interim phase it had a special status of autonomy under Turkish suzereinty. It suffered extensive destruction during the Second World War.

SIGHTS-MONUMENTS

The island's capital, Samos (Vathy), is built amphitheatrically around the harbour (Vathy), an inlet in the homonymous gulf. Exhibited in its museum are finds from excavations of the German Archaeological Institute at various sites on the island: Prehistoric, Geometric and Archaic pottery, wooden objects, sculpture, artefacts of ivory and bronze, votives and clay figurines.

There is also a Museum of Ecclesiastical Art in town, a Byzantine Collection, Art Gallery, Folk Museum and Municipal Library. In the immediate environs are the monasteries of the Life-giving Source (18th century) and Holy Girdle (17th century) with intricately carved icono-stases and important icons. 10 km. south of Samos is Pythagoreion, colloquially known as Tigani (frying pan) on account of its shape, a name which prevailed from the 16th century until 1955. Prior to that it was called Samos.

Excavations carried out by the German Archaeological Institute on the hill of the ancient acropolis have furnished evidence of occupation in prehistoric times, circa 3000 BC. The city was enclosed by a wall (6400 m. in perimeter) and Polykrates is accredited with its construction. Even today certain sections of it, towers and gates, are still quite well-preserved.

This wall girt the east mole of the harbour, the Kastelli hill, Ambelos hill and the monastery of the Virgin Spiliani, the hill on which the Kastro of Logothetis stands, and is reinforced by some 35 bastions. Adjacent to the Kastro of Logothetis, a fortification erected between 1822/24, stands the church of the Transfiguration, built in 1833 to commemorate the island's salvation in 1824.