Samos: Greece's First Thalassocracy

This video is intended to be an overview of the history of Samos, with a focus on the Archaic period, the tyrant Polykrates, archaeological remains, and culturally significant Samians.

[adeelhussain]

This was fascinating to watch - going in depth to minor powers in ancient Greece adds so much greater context to the power struggles and culture of the time

[KoenBoyful]

I am going to Samos this summer and wanted to watch a video what to do there and I find my man Thersites with a video. Awesome!

[ohitsjustmegod]

Great lecture! Love hearing Greek history from the archaic age. Its just not talked about enough.

[fuzzydunlop]

Badass! I've been in such a 'Peloponnesian war' kick lately.

Just picked up Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. Gameplay-wise it's pretty pedestrian - you can tell the devs took intensive notes on how and why The Witcher: III was such a big hit but I feel like they focused on the gloss and the paint-job and totally misunderstood why that game was a breath of fresh air when it was released.
One thing they knocked out of the park though was the architectural design and a general 'feel' for the popular perception of that specific time and place - it makes you want to go learn the truth behind the presentation, which was always that series' main strength to me. Knowing a bit about the subject, it is especially jarring when things just don't add up with the record, though.

[munchmacuchi]

Fire. Ive always been interested in Samo's success and wealth. On a similar note, the game assassin's creed odyssey recreates the city and does a fantastic job in doing so.

[sigibaum]

Please make more city/ citystate videos again!

[TheLegitZamer]

The main eastern city of ‘ Samos ‘ originally up until now was called Bathy which comes from the Greek word deep due to the depth of the naturally formed harbour there . Also the cultural centre was in the southern part in Ireo and pythagorio. Some historians believe that most of the Greek trade went through Bathy but the Egyptian trade came through the south .
Lovely video nonetheless, great work !

[RobFilinaGuitar]

Great video and its appreciated. I do have two issues with the narrative though in the beginning. First, though there is a city on Samos currently( renamed Samos City in 1958 )that you showed on your map on the NorthEast, this is still widely known by the locals as Vathy and is NOT the ancient city of Samos where Polykrates lived. That city is now Pythagorion. Pythagoiron or Pithagorion is the site of the Samos city that is being referred to in archaic Greece. This in on the east as well but it's the SouthEast.
Secondly, and I'm nit picking, but it is indeed amazingly close to Turkey from the east coast and there is even a little island in middle of Mycale strait where you think certainly someone could swim to, but it is impossible due to the North to South current in the strait and they would be swept out to sea and drown.

[HxHDRA]

As an Epicurean myself I took great interest in that section, could you perhaps upload it as a seperate clip?

[redcapetimetraveler]

fascinating how hedonism and cynicism went through the same distortion of their primal meanings for something less politically strong...
hedonism of Epicurus was like a critic of the greed so of the wealthiers..changed into a cult of luxury it became less armfull to the powerfull !
in parallele, cynicism of Diogene was a mockery of the powerfull (he mocked Socrates and Alexander according to sources)..it has been changed into simple sarcasms through times..again less politically subersive...it shows how the war on words is meaningfull !

[milanskobic]

where is the translation of ibycus 286 from? ("but for me love sleeps at no season... 40:06 ). is it yours?

[Fatherofheroesandheroines]

Why can't you tell people from Samos apart?...They all look the Samian..

[metarus]

Sleep or Greek Island rule video? it is your channel but wish you'd focus more on the Byzantine emperors rather than the US elections, which pertains only to your country .... $0.02