About Samos - Villa Flora Samos apartments

Location

Samos located at the eastern part of the Aegean Sea, close to Minor Asia coast, between parallels 370 49’ & 370 37 North latitude and meridians 260 33’ and 270 04’ 30’’ east longitude.

Located east of Minor Asia, from which it is separated by the Strait Mykali, with a minimum width 1,650 meters, north lies the peninsula of Eritrea (at Minor Asia), northwest the islands of Chios, Ikaria west, southwest the islands of Fournoi Korseon and Southern Dodecanese islands, from which the closest is Agathonisi, Arki and Patmos.

At a Glance

Population 33.000, males 51.4% & females 48.6% (census 2021)
Size 477,395 km² 70% highlands, 22% semi highlands and 8% lowlands
Coastline 86 NM, (160 km)
Average temperature 18.50 ºC, hotter month July, coldest February
Regional North Aegean, with the islands Mytilene, Chios, Lemnos, Ikaria
Regional Unity of Samos, consists of 2 municipalities,
> East Samos municipality with capital the city of Samos
> West Samos municipality with capital the city of Karlovasi.
Villages 35 click for all villages
Highest peak 1.440 m at the top at Kerkis mountain

Name

During ancient times, Samos was known by various names, such as Anthemis or Anthemousa, Phyllis or Phyllas, Melamfyllos or Melanthemos, Stefani, Dryousa, and Kyparessia, inspired by its abundance of flowers, lush vegetation, plentiful acorns, and numerous cypress trees. Other names included Parthenoarousa, Parthenia, and Imvrassia, linked to the goddess Hera, the island’s patroness, who, according to tradition, was born on the banks of the Imvrassia River in Samos, where she united with Zeus. The origin of the name Doryssa, mentioned by Hesychius, remains unknown. These names were possibly used during the period 1666–1181 BC.

From the beginning of its recorded history, the island has been referred to as “Samos.” It is believed that the name “Samos” derives from the Phoenician word “Sami,” meaning “high ground,” a description justified by the height of Mount Kerkis (1,443 m) and the imposing impression it created for Phoenician sailors (merchant) passing by the island.

more about name of Samos

Topography

Samos is the eighth largest Greek island, located in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea, close to the coast of Asia Minor, from which it is separated by a 1,650-meter-wide channel.

It belongs to the North Aegean region and is divided into two municipalities. The eastern municipality of Samos consists of two municipal units: Vathi, which includes nine villages, and Pythagoreio, which includes eleven villages. The western municipality of Samos also consists of two municipal units: Karlovasi, with ten villages, and Marathokampos, with five villages.

Samos is a mountainous island dominated by two major mountains: the wild and rocky Kerkis, rising to 1,443 meters, and the green, verdant Ampelos (also known as Karvounis), with an elevation of 1,160 meters. The island has few plains, the largest being the Chora plain, located in the southeastern part of Samos.

more about Samos Topography

Historical Data

During the 6th century BC, under the rule of the tyrant Polycrates, Samos flourished and became a center of Ionian civilization. The island achieved remarkable technical and architectural feats, including the Tunnel of Eupalinus, the Temple of Hera, theaters, Polycrates’ palace, the first man-made harbor, and his formidable fleet of fast galleys known as “Samenas,” among others.

By the end of the 15th century CE, the island was almost completely abandoned due to frequent pirate raids. It was repopulated about a century later with the assistance of Ottoman admiral Kilitz-Ali, who invited Christian Greeks to settle on the island. From 1832 until 1912 the island functioned as an autonomous Hegemony and experienced significant economic growth, primarily driven by its tobacco, tanning, and wine industries.

Samos was united with Greece in 1912, closing a long chapter of independence.