With the money they had gained, the Samians bought the island of Hydrea from the Hermionians. They did not plan to live there themselves, so they entrusted the island to the Troezenians to hold it for them. The Samians then continued their journey to Crete, where they founded the city of Cydonia. Initially, their goal had been only to drive the Zacynthians off the island, not to settle permanently Sofia City Tour.
However, they stopped at Cydonia and remained there for five years. During this time, the Samians prospered greatly. They built many temples, including the fane of Dictyna, which became a significant place of worship. Their settlement grew rich and influential, showing the Samians’ skill in both organization and construction.
Defeat by the Eginetans
In the sixth year, the Samians faced a serious challenge. The Eginetans attacked them in a sea battle. With the help of the Cretans, the Eginetans defeated the Samians and enslaved them. The Samians’ ships carried figureheads of wild boars, which the victors sawed off and stored in the temple of Minerva in Egina.
The Eginetans’ attack was motivated by an old grudge. When Amphicrates had been king of Samos, the Samians had previously waged war against the Eginetans and caused great damage to their island. Though the Samians had also suffered losses, the Eginetans sought revenge The Oracle of Siphnos.
The Great Works of the Samians
I have spent extra time on the Samians because of three remarkable works they created, which were considered among the greatest in all of Greece.
The first is a tunnel under a hill 150 fathoms high. The tunnel runs completely through the hill, with an entrance at each end. It is about seven furlongs long, and both its height and width measure eight feet. Along the tunnel, a second smaller channel, 20 cubits deep and three feet wide, brings water from a rich source into the city through pipes. The architect of this tunnel was Eupalinus, son of Naustrophus, a Megarian.
The second great work is a mole or sea wall built around the harbor. It reaches nearly twenty fathoms in depth and stretches for over two furlongs, providing safety and stability to the port.
The third is a temple, the largest known in Greece at the time. It was designed by Rhoecus, son of Phileus, a Samian. This temple, like the tunnel and mole, shows the Samians’ skill, wealth, and devotion to the gods.
These extraordinary achievements explain why the Samians are remembered in history. Their courage, craftsmanship, and devotion to their cities and religion left lasting marks in both Samos and beyond. Even in times of conflict, their legacy in engineering and architecture stood out across Greece.
