Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreio: Illuminating the different facets of ancient Samos

Evening banquets went hand-in-hand with music, wine-drinking, Dionysus and the traditional viticulture, which the god himself taught the islanders when he arrived in Samos during his pursuit of the Amazons.

This elevated standard of living is heavily hinted at in the exhibits of the Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreio, which is located near an important open-air archaeological site in the center of the ancient city of Samos, as well as the modern town of Pythagoreio. These finds, mainly discovered in excavations, detail the historical course of the ancient city and the surrounding countryside from the 4th millennium BC to the 7th century AD, demonstrating the significant position the island held in the ancient world.

The objects on display, arranged both chronologically and thematically, illuminate various aspects of the historical and cultural development of ancient Samos. A marble inscription as you enter the Museum inevitably draws visitors’ attention, as it states that ancient Samians distributed free wheat to citizens, purchased via a special public fund replenished by wealthy locals.

Around 3,000 exhibits are displayed in the Museum, including finds from the Neolithic settlement at Kastro and the Geometric-period necropolis of ancient Samos, sculptures from the Archaic and Roman periods, Samian kylikes, impressive kouroi and more. Among the most significant exhibits are the marble statue of the Roman emperor Trajan (2.71 m tall), a bounty of 300 Byzantine coins and the statue of Hera (540 BC), donated by Aeaces, father of the tyrant Polycrates of Samos. According to an inscription, it was an offering from the tithe of profits he made through piracy.

The gated area surrounding the Museum is dotted with numerous architectural members from buildings of the ancient city, while visitors also have the opportunity to explore part of an ancient neighborhood that has been partially excavated.