Ancient Walls of Samos – Polycrates’ Walls

The Polycrates Walls, built during the rule of the tyrant Polycrates (538–522 BC), are among antiquity’s most significant fortifications in the Aegean. With a total length of 6.5 km and an enclosed area of 1.2 sq. km, they protected the flourishing ancient city of Samos—today’s Pythagoreio. Constructed of huge ashlar blocks with incorporated towers and gates, they followed the terrain’s natural contours, ensuring visibility toward the sea and the island’s interior. Although only a few sections survive, the remains impress with their size and technical perfection, revealing the grandeur of the Samian state in the 6th century BC. Since 1992 the Polycrates Walls, together with Pythagoreio, have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.