Islands off Ionia. Samos
circa 408-380 BCE
Æ 12 mm, 1,73 g
Head of Hera left, wearing stephane, necklace, and earring
Facing lion’s head; Σ-Α below.
very fine
BMC Ionia pg. 364, 147; SNG von Aulock 2296.

Samos is the home of the Tunnel of Eupalinos, which is over one kilometer long and which served as an aqueduct. It was a marvel of engineering for the time because it was excavated from both sides using geometry to calculate the digging. So amazing was the tunnel at the time that Herodotus covered it in length.

We don’t know exactly when the tunnel was constructed, but it may have been in the 6th century BCE. It served its purpose for 1100 years before silting up, and is today a tourist attraction.

The island contained multiple cities. There was the ancient town of Samos itself and Pythagoreion, where the tunnel leads. The island also had one of the most famous temples to Hera in antiquity, the Heraion. Ruins of the temple may still be seen. Herodotus during his time stated it was the largest temple he knew of. It is believed to have honored Hera’s birth.

Samos was a very powerful island in antiquity and founded numerous colonies, including Bisanthe, Perinthos, Samothrace, Kydonia, Nagidos, and Kelenderis. Their principal rival in the region was Miletos, with whom they eventually fought a war.

Numerous famous people from antiquity were from Samos, but perhaps the two most known to us are the mathematician Pythagoras and Aesop, of fable fame.

During the diadochi period, Samos for some time was the main naval base of the Ptolemies.

Islands off Ionia, Samos
Circa 310 BCE
Dichalkon Bronze, 16 mm, 4.14 g, 1 h
struck under the magistrate Ariston
Diademed head of Hera to right
Rev. ΑΡΙΣΤΩN Facing lion scalp
HGC 6, 1247. SNG Copenhagen 1703
700 BCE

The Lelantine War between Chalkis and Eretria results in a Chalkis victory and Eretria’s loss of Andros, Tenos, and Koressos, Ioulis, and Karthaia on Kea. Miletos joined the side of Eretria and Samos and Thessaly on the side of Chalkis.

599 BCE

Perinthos founded by settlers from Samos.

560 BCE

The Temple of Hera at Samos is completed.

550 BCE

Approximate foundation of Nagidos by settlers from Samos.

550 BCE

The Temple of Hera and much of the ancient city of Samos are destroyed.

541 BCE

Approximate time when Polykrates becomes tyrant of Samos. He is supported by Lygdamis of Naxos.

525 BCE

Polykrates pays off Spartans besieging Samos with counterfeit coins.

522 BCE

Polykrates, tyrant of Samos, travels to Magnesia to see Oroetes, satrap of Sardis, who assassinates him.

518 BCE

Arkesilaos III of Kyrene wishes to revert the laws setup by Demonax of Mantineia. This leads to armed conflict where he is defeated and flees to Samos.

517 BCE

Arkesilaos III returns to Kyrene from Samos and is able to take the city. Fearing a backlash, he leaves to his father-in-law in Barka, where he is recognized by exiles and killed. His mother Pheretima takes over Kyrene.

494 BCE

The Battle of Lade is fought between the Ionians under Dionysos of Phokaia and the Persians. Chios has the largest contingent, followed by Miletos, Lesbos (probably Mytilene), Samos, Teos, Priene, Erythrai, Myos, and Phokaia. Most fled during the battle, but the Chians put up a bold resistance before defeat.

479 BCE
August 27

The Persians are defeated at the Battle of Mykale. An alliance of Athens, Sparta, Samos, and Corinth. As a result, Chios, Kos, and Ephesos are liberated from Persian rule. The Greek fleet sets sail from Knidos.

440 BCE

Samos revolts from Athens. Sparta considers war in their support, but the matter is put to a vote and Corinth disagrees. Peace between Sparta and Athens continues and Athens squashes the revolt.

411 BCE

Sparta defeats the Athenian fleet based in Samos.

411 BCE

Athens attacks Knidos and nearly takes it, but the next day the inhabitants strengthen their fortifications and resist. The Athenians then return to Samos.

411 BCE

Samos serves as a temporary home for the Athenian democracy.

394 BCE

Samos declares its independence and re-establishes a democracy.

387 BCE

Peace of Antalkidas, arranged by Artaxerxes II, is signed in Susa, ending the Corinthian War. Abydos, Aigai, Kalchedon, Kaunos, Klazomenai, Kyzikos, Parion, Samos, and Adramytteion become part of the Persian Empire.

377 BCE

Eresos, Byzantion, Chios,Mytilene, Methymna, Rhodes, Thebes, Korkyra, Eretria, Kios, Samos, Naxos, Andros, Myrina (Lembos), Hephaistia, Imbros, and Thasos join the Second Athenian League, reaffirming its alliance with Athens in response to the growing threat of Persian interference and internal Greek conflicts.

366 BCE

Samos is taken by Athens after a siege of eleven months.

357 BCE-
355 BCE

Chios, Paros, Rhodes, Kos, and Byzantion revolt against Athens in the Social War. Myrina and Hephaistia on Lemnos and Imbros (Athenian allies) are ravaged and Samos is besieged. After bungling by the Athenian general Chares, Persia demands Athens leave and Athens, running out of money, complies.

322 BCE

Perdikkas expels the settlers on Samos to Kolophon.

255 BCE

The Second Syrian War ends. Ptolemy II cedes land to Antiiochos II and Antigonos II remains in mastery of Greece. Antiochos II takes control over Ephesos, Samos, and Miletos.

189 BCE

Samos is given by the Romans to the Attalids.

132 BCE

Samos sides with the pretender Eumenes III against Rome.

88 BCE

Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Magnesia, Tralles, Apamea, Samos, Kolophon, Smyrna, and Sardis occupied by Mithridates VI as part of the Mithridatic Wars against Rome.