Ancient Samians

Pythagoras of Samos (;  BC) was an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher, polymath, and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. His political and religious teachings were well known in Magna Graecia and influenced the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and, through them, Western philosophy. Modern scholars disagree regarding Pythagoras's education and influences, but most agree that he travelled to Croton in southern Italy around 530 BC, where he founded a school in which initiates were allegedly sworn to secrecy and lived a communal, ascetic lifestyle.

Aesop ( ; , ; – 564 BCE; formerly rendered as Æsop) was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as ''Aesop's Fables''. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a storytelling tradition that continues to this day. Many of the tales associated with him are characterized by anthropomorphic animal characters.

Epicurus (, ; ; 341–270 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy; it asserted that philosophy's purpose is to attain as well as to help others attain tranquil lives, characterized by freedom from fear and the absence of pain.

Greek astronomer and mathematician (c.310–c.230 BC)

5th-century BC Greek Eleatic philosopher

Aeschines (; Greek: ; 389314 BC) was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators.

Polycrates (; ), son of Aeaces, was the tyrant of Samos from the 540s BC to 522 BC. He had a reputation as both a fierce warrior and an enlightened tyrant.

Greek astronomer and mathematician (c.280–c.220 BC)

ancient Greek poet

ancient Greek writer

Aristyllus (; fl. c. 261 BC) was a Greek astronomer, presumably of the school of Timocharis (c. 300 BC). He was among the earliest meridian-astronomy observers. Six of his stellar declinations are preserved in the Almagest (7.3). All are exactly correct within his over-cautious rounding to 1/4 degree. See discussion (and lessons) at DIO 7.1 ‡1 p. 13 (2007).

Agatharchus or Agatharch () was a self-taught painter from Samos, who lived in the 5th century BC. His father was named Eudemos (Εὔδημος). He is said by Vitruvius to have invented scenic painting, and to have painted a scene (scenam fecit) for a tragedy which Aeschylus exhibited. Hence some writers, such as Karl Woermann, have supposed that he introduced perspective and illusionism into painting.

4th-century BC Greek historian and tyrant of Samos

thumb|upright=1.3|Philaenis was said to have written a sex manual containing descriptions of various sexual positions. This [[red-figure kylix painting from 480–470 BC depicts a man having sexual intercourse with a hetaira, a kind of ancient Greek prostitute.]] Philaenis of Samos was supposedly the author of a famous ancient sex manual. According to a surviving fragment of a treatise which claims to have been written by her, she was from Samos, and her father was called Ocymenes. However, many modern scholars consider "Philaenis" a fictional character whose persona may have been adopted by a v

5th century BC Greek epic poet

archaic Greek architect and sculptor

ancient Greek poet, son of Amphiptolemus

Rhoecus (or Rhaecus, Rhœcus, Rhæcus, Rhoikos) () was a Greek Samian sculptor of the 6th century BCE. He and his son Theodorus were especially noted for their work in bronze. Herodotus says that Rhoecus built the temple of Hera at Samos, which was destroyed by fire c. 530 BCE. In the temple of Artemis at Ephesus was a marble figure of night by Rhoecus. His name has been found on a fragment of a vase which he dedicated to Aphrodite at Naucratis. His sons Theodorus and Telecles made a statue of the Pythian Apollo for the Samians.

Hedylus (, Hḗdylos; fl. 3rd century BC) was a Greek epigrammatic poet of the Hellenistic period.

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Greek epic poet

3rd-century BC Greek writer

ancient Greek painter

ancient Greek poet of 3rd century B.C.

Mandrocles was an ancient Greek engineer from Samos who built a pontoon bridge over the Bosporus for King Darius I to conquer Thrace. Mandrocles dedicated a painting, depicting the bridging of the straits, to the goddess Hera in the Heraion of Samos, commemorating his achievement.

ancient Greek boxer and Olympic winner

thumb|Coinage of Samos at the time of Syloson. Circa 500-494 BCE. Syloson (, gen.: Συλοσῶνος) governed Samos as a vassal ruler on behalf of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. He was appointed by king Darius I and was the brother of Polycrates of Samos.

ancient Greek sculptor of Samos

ancient Greek iambic poet

Late 6th/early 5th century BC ruler of Samos

ancient Greek writer