an island of the Grecian Archipelago, lying off the coast of Asia Minor, from which it is separated by the strait of Little Boghaz, where narrowest, not more than a mile wide. The Great Boghaz, which is about 10 miles in width, separates the other extremity of the island from Icaria. Samos is about 27 miles in length from E. to W., by about 12 in extreme breadth; and is between 37° 35' and 37° 48' N. Lat., and 26° 36' and 27° 8' E. Long. It is elevated and mountainous, being traversed by two lofty ranges of mountains stretching from E. to W.; but there are also many valleys of considerable size, especially towards the south. The highest summit, called Kerkeis, the ancient Cercetus Mons, reaches the height of 4725 feet, and is covered with perpetual snow. The mountains are in some places steep and barren; but for the most part they are at present, as in the times of antiquity, covered with forests of oaks and pines, with vineyards, and with olive-grounds. A few small rivers water the island, and some traces have been discovered of artificial irrigation. The rocks consist mainly of white marble, which is the principal mineral production. Iron, lead, and silver are also obtained. In the valleys the soil is very rich, and the scenery beautiful. Celebrated in ancient times for its great fertility, Samos is still one of the most productive islands of the Archipelago, though it has not now the advantage of that careful system of cultivation which made use of all the available ground by means of terraces along the mountain-sides. Corn, wine, oil, figs, cotton, and silk are the principal articles of export. The Samian wine, which is now much esteemed, did not enjoy a favourable reputation in the ancient world. The chief town in the island is Chora or Khora, which stands near the site of Samos, the ancient capital, and has a population of 1000. It is defended by a castle, and has a good harbour. There are other small ports on different parts of the coast. Samos now belongs to the Turkish empire; but has enjoyed since 1835 a position of virtual independence, governed by a Greek with the title of "Prince of Samos," and paying a fixed annual tribute to the Porte. In the earliest times the island bore several names besides the one which it ultimately retained, and which was given to it most probably on account of its elevated character. The original inhabitants are said to have been Carians and Leleges; but at the time of the Ionian emigration to Asia, Greek settlers established themselves, and Samos became an important member of the Ionian league. It was chiefly distinguished for commercial and maritime enterprise: its ships exhibited the earliest improvements in naval architecture; and one of its citizens was the first who passed the pillars of Hercules, and visited Tartessus. Several colonies were founded by Samos on the shores of the Ægean and the Propontis. During the short but prosperous reign of Polycrates (B.C. 532-522), the Samian navy was the most powerful in Greece; and the island maintained its independence of the Persian empire, being in alliance at first with Amasis of Egypt, and afterwards with his enemy Cambyses of Persia. The capital was at that time one of the finest cities in the world, and was encircled by many public works and buildings constructed by the monarch. He resided in a fortified palace; there was a large Ionic temple of Juno by a native architect, a harbour inclosed by two artificial moles, and a tunnel hewn out of the rock to convey water to the city. At this period, too, Samos was distinguished as the birth-place of Pythagoras; and Anacreon resided for some time at the court of Polycrates. The reign of that monarch, however, came to a disastrous end in 522, when he was treacherously put to death by a Persian satrap. Darius then appointed Syloson, the brother of Polycrates, to succeed him; but he could only be placed on the throne after a general massacre, which almost reduced the island to a desert. Samos was now virtually subject to Persia, and continued to be so, with a short interval at the time of the Ionian revolt, until the victory of the Greeks at Mycale, B.C. 479, obtained its freedom. It then became a member of the Athenian confederacy; but after a time revolted, and was in consequence reduced to complete subjection by the Athenians. This happened in 439, and from that period till 412 Samos had neither a fleet nor any fortifications; but at the latter date it became a place of importance, and was the head-quarters of the Athenian fleet in their final contest with Sparta. After this time few historical events are connected with Samos. It was celebrated for its school of statuary; and under the Roman empire was a free city, while the temple of Juno enjoyed the privileges of a sanctuary. It is unnecessary to enter minutely into the history of Samos during the middle ages, during which, after having been held for a long time by the Arabs, it was recovered by the Emperor Leo in the thirteenth century, and then successively fell into the hands of the Venetians, Genoese, and Turks. At the time of the Greek insurrection the Samians zealously embraced the side of liberty. They expelled the Turks from the island, which they put into a state of defence, establishing an independent government. Various attempts were made by the Turks to regain the island, but they were all foiled by the courage of the people and the vigilance of the Greek fleet. In the treaty, however, which secured the independence and defined the limits of Greece, Samos was still left to Turkey, and the subsequent efforts that she has made have only secured a partial freedom. The ancient remains in the island are very inconsiderable; they are all near the site of the capital, towards the S.W., and consist chiefly of some fragments of the city walls, some traces of a theatre, a single column of the great temple, and the moles of the harbour. The present population of Samos is estimated at 50,000.