Samos is a Greek island in the east Aegean, just off the coast of modern-day Turkey. It particularly flourished in the 6th century BCE and was famous in antiquity for its navy, wine, and important sanctuary to Hera. Samos was an active member of the Delian League and the celebrated philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras was born there, as was the famed astronomer Aristarchus. Hosting both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony in the 1st century BCE, the island then slipped quietly into obscurity during the Roman imperial period. Samos is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
More about: SamosDefinition
Timeline
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c. 700 BCESettlers from mainland Greece, possibly Samos, settle on Samothrace.
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570 BCE - 560 BCEA large temple is built and dedicated to Hera on Samos.
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535 BCE - 522 BCEPolycrates rules as tyrant of Samos.
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525 BCESparta and Corinth unsuccessfully attack Polycrates of Samos.
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522 BCEPersian satrap Oroetus takes Samos and the tyrant Polycrates is crucified.
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c. 520 BCEA new temple is built and dedicated to Hera on Samos during the reign of Polycrates.
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494 BCESamos is defeated at the battle of Lade.
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478 BCESamos becomes a member of the Delian League.
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c. 440 BCEThe Greek philosopher Melissus of Samos is active.
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440 BCEPericles leads the Athenian navy in the seige against Samos
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407 BCEAthenian general Alcibiades makes his naval base on Samos.
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405 BCEAthens grants Athenian citizenship to the population of Samos.
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366 BCEAthens regains control of Samos from Sparta.
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281 BCESamos comes under the control of the Ptolemies of Egypt.
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c. 270 BCEAristarchus of Samos proposes a heliocentric world view.
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246 BCEA Ptolemaic fleet uses Samos as a permanent base.
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205 BCEPhilip V of Macedon take Samos.
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197 BCESamos comes under the jurisdiction of Rhodes.
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188 BCERome gives Samos its independence.
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129 BCESamos becomes part of the Roman province of Asia.
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39 BCEMark Antony sacks Samos.
