Principality of Samos The island of Samos had participated in the Greek War of Independence and had successfully resisted several Turkish and Egyptian attempts to occupy it , but it was not included with the boundaries of the newly independent Kingdom of Greece after 1832 . Instead , in 1834 the island was granted self - government as a semi - independent state , the Principality of Samos ( ) . Tributary to the Ottoman Empire , paying the annual sum of £2700 . It was governed by a Christian of Greek descent though nominated by the Porte , who bore the title of " Prince " . The prince was assisted in his function as chief executive by a 4 - member senate . These were chosen by him out of eight candidates nominated by the four districts of the island : Vathy , Chora , Marathokampos , and Karlovasi . The actual legislative power belonged to a chamber of 36 deputies , presided over by the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan . The seat of the government was the port of Vathy . With the outbreak of the First Balkan War , Themistoklis Sofoulis landed on the island with a group of exiled Samians and swiftly took control : the Ottoman garrison withdrew to Anatolia , and on 11 / 24 November 1912 , the island ' s parliament officially declared union with Greece . The unification took place officially on 2 March 1913 . History . During the Greek War of Independence Samos bore a conspicuous part , and it was in the strait between the island and Mount Mycale that Canaris set fire to and blew up a Turkish frigate , in the presence of the army that had been assembled for the invasion of the island , a success that led to the abandonment of the enterprise , and Samos held its own to the very end of the war . On the conclusion of peace the island was again handed over to the Turks , but since 1835 has held an exceptionally advantageous position , being in fact self - governed , though tributary to the Turkish empire , and ruled by a Greek governor nominated by the Sublime Porte , who bore the title of " Prince of Samos " , but is supported and controlled by a Greek council and assembly . The ancient capital , which bore the name of the island , was situated on the south coast at the modern Tigani , directly opposite to the promontory of Mycale , the town itself adjoining the sea and having a large artificial port , the remains of which are still visible , as are the ancient walls that surrounded the summit of a hill which rises immediately above it , and now bears the name of Astypalaea . This formed the acropolis of the ancient city , which in its flourishing times covered the slopes of Mount Ampelus down to the shore . The aqueduct cut through the hill by Polycrates may still be seen . From this city a road led direct to the far famed temple of Hera , which was situated close to the shore , where its site is still marked by a single column , but even that bereft of its capital . This fragment , which has given to the neighbouring headland the name of Capo Colonna , is all that remains standing of the temple that was extolled by Herodotus as the largest he had ever seen , and which vied in splendour as well as in celebrity with that of Diana at Ephesus . Though so little of the temple remains , the plan of it has been ascertained , and its dimensions found fully to verify the assertion of Herodotus , as compared with all other Greek temples existing in his time , though it was afterwards surpassed by the later temple at Ephesus . The modern capital of the island was , until early in the 20th century , at a place called Khora , about from the sea and from the site of the ancient city ; but since the change in the political condition of Samos the capital has been transferred to Vathy , situated at the head of a deep bay on the north coast , which has become the residence of the prince and the seat of government . Here a new town has grown up , well built and paved , with a convenient harbour . Samos was celebrated in ancient times as the birthplace of Pythagoras . His name and figure are found on coins of the city of imperial date . It was also conspicuous in the history of art , having produced in early times a school of sculptors , commencing with Rhoecus and Theodorus , who are said to have invented the art of casting statues in bronze . Rhoecus was also the architect of the temple of Hera . The vases of Samos are among the most characteristic products of Ionian pottery in the 6th century . The name Samian ware , often given to a kind of red pottery found wherever there are Roman settlements , has no scientific value . It is derived from a passage in Pliny , Another famous Samian sculptor was Pythagoras , who migrated to Rhegium . The authors of the " Samos " article in the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition thought the prosperity of the in 1911 island bore witness to the wisdom of the semi - independent arrangement . Its principal article of export is its wine , which was celebrated in ancient times , and still enjoys a high reputation in the Levant . It exports also silk , oil , raisins and other dried fruits . The population in 1900 was about 54 , 830 , not including the 15 , 000 Samians living nearby on the mainland . The predominant religion was Greek Orthodoxy . The metropolitan district included Samos and Ikaria . In 1900 there were 634 foreigners on the island ( 523 Greek citizens , 13 Germans , 29 French , 28 Austrians and 24 of other nationalities ) . Pro - Greek agitation and the reaction of the pro - autonomy faction led to increased tensions , and in May 1908 the Prince , Andreas Kopasis , asked for the intervention of the Turkish military . The ensuing riots left several dead . With the outbreak of the First Balkan War , Themistoklis Sofoulis landed on the island with a group of exiled Samians and swiftly took control : the Ottoman garrison withdrew to Anatolia , and on 11 / 24 November 1912 , the island ' s parliament officially declared union with Greece . The unification took place officially on 2 March 1913 . Sofoulis remained for a while as the president of the interim government of Samos until April 1914 , when he was appointed Governor General of Macedonia .