Pythagorio: Ancient City and UNESCO World Heritage Site

Pythagorio is the fortified ancient city which, together with the Heraion of Samos, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its history can be traced through various themes: water supply, harbor facilities, and religious sites. There are also museums whose collections cover different periods. If you are interested in ancient history, this variety offers a specific focus for planning your trip.

Ancient City, Harbor, and Water Supply

The Eupalinos Aqueduct supplied the ancient city of Samos, now Pythagorio, with water and was in operation for 1,100 years. On Samos, the tunnel of Eupalinos, dating from the 6th century BC, runs 1,036 meters through the mountainside; it was built to supply the ancient city with water. Eupalinos of Megara, son of Naustrofus, is considered its builder. Both the practical water supply and its long period of operation are therefore notable aspects of the ancient city.

The archaeological heritage of Samos also includes the remains of an ancient fortified harbor with Greek and Roman monuments, as well as an impressive tunnel aqueduct. The evidence of the harbor adds another focus to the picture of life in the ancient city. In Pythagorio itself, the preserved remains of the Temple of Dionysus are centrally located, close to the Archaeological Museum. The temple is particularly important for understanding the religious life of the ancient city. The harbor, water supply, and place of worship thus represent different aspects of its history.

Temples and Museums

The restored tower of the Castle of Lykourgos Logothetis houses a museum with an exhibition on the history of the island of Samos from late antiquity to the 19th century. The exhibition gives this building its own historical focus. Check whether the tower is currently open to visitors before your visit.

On Samos, the Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreion is housed in a newly built building in the center of modern Pythagoreion, on the site of the ancient city of Samos. It contains more than 3,000 objects relating to the cultural development of the ancient city and its rural surroundings. The period represented extends from the 4th millennium BC to the 7th century AD. The collection therefore offers a broad chronological perspective that goes beyond the exhibition in the tower.

Samos in a Broader Context

The Archaeological Museum of Samos also offers its own regional overview and is spread across two locations. A two-story neoclassical building dating from 1912 displays finds from the Heraion of Samos. A new building dating from 1984 houses a collection of sculptures, including significant works from the Archaic period. The two parts of the museum have different focuses: finds from the Heraion in one, Archaic sculpture in the other.

The Great Temple of the goddess Hera is also part of the broader historical context. Construction began during the reign of Polycrates, around 535 to 522 BC. The planned temple measured 55.16 by 108.63 meters, with a peristyle of 155 columns, each about 20 meters high. These measurements describe the planned structure and convey the scale of the project.

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