Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos

Pythagoreion and the Heraion of Samos are adjacent archaeological complexes on the island of Samos in the eastern Aegean, inscribed as a World Heritage site for their outstanding Greek urban and religious remains. The property includes the fortified ancient harbour town and the nearby sanctuary of Hera.

The sites span the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods when Samos was a major maritime and cultural centre. The Eupalinos tunnel dates to the 6th century BCE and the sanctuary and urban structures developed and were rebuilt across centuries under local rulers and later Hellenistic and Roman influence.

Both components lie on the southeast coast of Samos island beside the modern town of Pythagoreio, within sight of the Aegean Sea and roughly across from the western coast of Anatolia.

• Eupalinos tunnel length: The Eupalinos aqueduct tunnel is approximately 1,036 metres long and is one of the earliest known examples of large-scale underground engineering.
• Proximity of components: The two component sites lie close to the modern port town of Pythagoreio on the southeast coast of Samos and can be visited together on a short excursion.

What to See #

• Pythagoreion (ancient city and harbour): An ancient fortified port and urban quarter with visible remains of Hellenistic and Roman harbour installations and city walls adjacent to the modern town of Pythagoreio.
• Heraion of Samos: A sanctuary complex dedicated to the goddess Hera containing the foundations and remains of successive temple buildings and votive structures.
• Tunnel of Eupalinos: A 6th-century BCE aqueduct tunnel cut through a hill, excavated from both ends to meet in the middle and measuring about 1,036 metres in length.