Pythagoreio

Pythagoreio
Πυθαγόρειο

Panorama of Pythagoreio.
Pythagoreio

Coordinates: 37°42′N 26°57′E / 37.700°N 26.950°E / 37.700; 26.950Coordinates: 37°42′N 26°57′E / 37.700°N 26.950°E / 37.700; 26.950
Country Greece
Administrative region North Aegean
Regional unit Samos
Municipality Samos
 • Municipal unit 164.7 km2 (63.6 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Municipal unit 7,996
 • Municipal unit density 49/km2 (130/sq mi)
Community[1]
 • Population 1,500 (2011)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Vehicle registration ΜΟ

Pythagoreio (Greek: Πυθαγόρειο) is a small town and former municipality on the island of Samos, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Samos, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] Population 7,996 (2011). It is the largest municipal unit in land area on Samos, at 164.662 km2 (63.576 sq mi).[3] It shares the island with the municipal units of Vathy, Karlovasi, and Marathokampos. The archaeological remains in the town, known collectively as Pythagoreion, has designated a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site with nearby Heraion.[4]

The seat of the municipality was the town of Pythagorio, formerly known as Tigani. The town was renamed in 1955 to honour the locally born mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras. The port of the town is considered to be the oldest man-made port of the Mediterranean Sea.[5]

History

View of the harbour

Pythagorio is built on the ancient city of Samos. Some ruins of the ancient city are today incorporated in modern houses of Pythagorio. The ancient city reached affluence around 530 B.C. under Polycrates tyrant. At that time Samos became a powerful nautical state.[6] This power led to richness and prosperity, which is evident from great works of the period, such as the great aqueduct (part of it is the Tunnel of Eupalinos), temple of Heraion, and Samos harbour. Today many of these works can be seen in the modern town and nearby area. The ancient fortification also remains.

Samos was conquered by Persians and declined for a while. Samos flourished again for two short periods: First during the 3rd century under Ptolemy's rule (when lived Aristarchus), and second under Roman rule. The ruins of Roman period are visible today, about half a kilometre west of Pythagorio. The harbour of Samos remained important during Byzantine period. Ruins of the Byzantine period are visible in the area of Logothetis' Tower on the west side of the harbour.[7]

Samos totally declined during Frangokratia, when the coastal settlements depopulated. In the later Ottoman period the centre of the island was Chora, built inland, 4 km northwest of Pythagorio. During Greek War of Independence the Samian Leader Lykourgos Logothetis built a tower in Pythagorio between 1824 and 1827.[7] In 1831 Logothetis built a church near the tower. Between 1859 and 1866 the new harbour was built in the same place as the ancient harbour,[8] after which the settlement started to develop. The name of new settlement was originally Tigani, a corruption to the Italian “Dogana” that means "customs", but in 1955 renamed to Pythagorio after the name of famous ancient Greek Mathematician and Philosopher from Samos Pythagoras.[9]

Historical population

CensusSettlementCommunityMunicipal unit
19911,405
20011,327 1,642 9,003
20111,272 1,500 7,996

Tourism and places of interest

Pythagorio is one of the most toured places of Samos since it has many archaeological sites as well as a big sandy beach. The most important sights in Pythagorio and the nearby area are:

Famous people

Statue of Pythagoras, located at the harbour

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
  3. ↑ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  4. ↑ "Pythagoreion and Heraion". unesco.org. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  5. ↑ http://www.pythagorion.net/villages/pythagorio.htm - The Official Website of the Municipality of Pythagorio. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  6. ↑ "Samos". odysseus.culture.gr. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Αρχαιολογικός Χώρος Κάστρου Πυθαγορείου". odysseus.culture.gr. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Η Σάμος και το Πυθαγόρειο". polykratisvolley.gr. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Pythagoreio
  10. ↑ "Ο «κλειστός» πολεμικός λιμένας Αρχαίας πόλεως Σάμου". yppo.gr. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Θέατρο αρχαίας πόλης Σάμου". diazoma.gr. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  12. 1 2 http://www.pythagorion.net/start.htm - The Official Website of the Municipality of Pythagorio. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
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