SA'MOS (Mod. Gr. Turk. &stun Adam), an island in the "Egean sea, is situated about a m. off the coast of Asia Minor, in the bay of Scalanova, about 45 m. s.s.w. of Smyrna. Its length is 30 ru. ; its mean breadth about 8 miles. A range of mountains, which may be regarded as an,insular continuation of mount Mycale, on the mainland, runs through the whole island, whence its name—Samos, being an old Creek word for any height in the neighborhood of the sea. The highest peak, mount Kerkis (atm. Gerce teus), reaches elevation of 4,725 feet. Samos is still, as in ancient times, well wooded. Between its eastern extremity and the mainland lies the narrow channel of Mycale (called by the Turks the Little Boghaz), where, in 479 B.C., the Persians were totally defeated by the Greeks under the Spartan Leotychidcs. Between the island and Nicaria (anc. Icarus), on the w. is the Great Bogltaz, from 3 to 8 m. broad, and much frequented by vessels sailing from the Dardanelles to Syria and Egypt. Samos is well watered and very fertile, exporting considerable quantities of corn, grapes, wine, oil, valonia, etc.; its mountains furnish quarries of marble. The present capital, called Khora (" the town"), is situated on the s. side of the island, at the base of the bill (about • tn. from the sea), on which ruins of the ancient acropolis (Astypatain) are still visible. On the n. coast lies Vathy or Bathy, which derives its name from its deep (Gr. &lays) harbor. The pop. of the island in '77 was 35.878.
Anciently, Samos was one of the most famous isles of the )Egcan. At a very remote peridd, it was a powerful member of the Ionic confederacy, and (according to Thucyd ides) its inhabitants were the first, after the Corinthians, who turned their attention to naval affairs. Their energy and resources were soon seen in the numerous colonies which they established in Thrace, Cilicia, Crete, Italy, and Sicily. But the celebrity of the island reached its acme under Polyerates (q.v.) 532 P.c., in whose time it was mistress of the archipelago Subsequently, it passed under the power of the Persians, became free again after the battle of Mycale, stood by Athens during, the Peloponnesian war, and after several vicissitudes, became it portion of the Roman province of Asia, 84 n.c. Its later history is but the melancholy record of continuous decay, nOr till the rise of the modern Greeks against the Turks did it ever again acquire distinction. 'When the war of independence broke out none were more ardent and devoted patriots than the Santini's; and deep was their disappointment when, at the close of the sharp and brilliant struggle, European policy assigned them to their former masters. They are not, however, incor porated, so to speak, with the Turkish empire, but are semi-independent, being governed by a Fanariot Greek, who bears the title of prince of Samos, and pays tribute to the Porte.