Samos Island
Museums
Hera Temple
The road that leads to
Hereon passes through the fertile plain, running close to the shore. The
famous temple of Hera was built in here, as ancients believed that this
was where the goddess was born. Menodotus claims that the Temple was
built by the Nymphs. Whilst Pausanias claims that the Argonauts were
responsible for finding it.
The first structure was
destroyed and a second Temple was built during the 8th
century B.C., only to be destroyed in turn by the forces of King Cyrus
of Persia. The final Temple was built during the rule of Polycrates.
When the Persians once more destroyed it, Polycrates assigned the task
of constructing the fourth temple to Theodoros, son of Rhoikos.
Herodotus says that this temple was the largest and most luxurious that
he ever saw. It was built in mixed Doric and Ionic style, and was
dipteral - with a length of 108.73 m, a width of 54.68 m and a height of
25 m.
Palaeontological Museum
Unique to Greece, this
huge graveyard of enormous pre-historic beasts
has been discovered, containing the bones of many animals clearly
recognizable as forerunners of today's wild and domestic life.
Palaeontologists have named one of these animals Samotherion, after the
island. It was a kind of giant giraffe. Bones have also been found of
the Samos pygmy horse (with three toes on each foot), arhoniceros head
with fearful jaws and sharp teeth, the shoulder blade of an elephant,
tiger teeth and bones, and remnants of lions, wolves and hyenas.
Byzantine Museum
There are rare displays
of the Christian civilization and Art such as manuscripts and letters
from the patriarchal. Holly ecclesiastic items and the vestments of
eminent Head Priests, such as the cloak of the national martyr Patriarch
Gregory V.
Tunnel of Efpalinus
One of the most
significant works carried out during the Polycrates era. Even today one
is filled only with admiration for the skill of the man from Megara. The
tunnel was designed to carry water to the capital of the island. From
historical records it is known that the piercing of the mountain started
from both sides, with the aim of meeting halfway. By assiduous digging,
both teams of workers managed to meet inside the
mountain, with the small difference in elevation of a couple of feet
from one side to the other. The task took many years, and the tunnel
has a total length of 1.350 meters. The other opening, on the other side
of the mountain, is 1.70 meter high. There is a portal with an
inscription at the entrance of the tunnel.
The tunnel was
constructed with the aid of primitive tools, without the help of
measuring instruments or modern machines.
Pythagorion Museum
Housed in the building
and the offices of the Mayor. It contains finds from many periods: grave
relief's from the 6th century B.C, solemn capitals, statues (including
three outstanding Archaic ones), Roman busts, marble plaques with
epitaphs to the dead and numerous marble columns.
Archaeological Museum
Samos Museum is regarded
as being one of the most interesting provincial museums in Greece. There
are exhibits from the Archaic Period, a large number of pieces of
sculpture from the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries B.C, kores and kouroi
(above life-size), sarcophagi, Ionian columns and much more. Also
included in the collection are pieces from the Hellenistic period, such
as statues (above life size), grave relics and votive offerings.
The upper floor contains
finds from the German excavations at Heraion. Also included are
Sculptures from the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods, Geometric,
Archaic and classical pottery. Bronze, ivory, and wood statuettes and
artifacts from the Geometric and Archaic ages. Pottery from Rhodes and
Laconia, statuettes and vessels from Cyprus, statuettes from Egypt,
Persia and Assyria, pre-historic vessels from the Heraion, funeral gifts
from the Mycenaean grave in the village of Myli, etc.
The
Ancient Theatre
On the slope of Mountain Kastri, near the
Monastery of Spiliani and at a somewhat lower elevation are the ruins of
the ancient Theatre
