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Aristarchus
Aristarchus born around 310 BC was the most famous of ancient
astronomers and he was the first to understand that the earth
revolves about its axis and around the sun. Furthermore he calculated
that the volume of the moon is 1/3 that of the earth and his calculations
about the distance of the sun and the moon from the earth, were
valid for over 18 centuries until such times that more scientific
apparatus were developed and confirmed the accuracy of his calculations.
Of his many writing, only the one entitled 'On the sizes and distances
of the Sun and the Moon' has been saved to this day.
Polycrates
During the seventh and sixth centuries BC Samos began to flourish
under the reign of Polycrates, the ruler who in the words of the
historian Herodotus made Samos "the most famous city of its
time".
Further History
The power and influence of Samos Island lasted
long after the rule of Polycrates for the Island continued to
play a prominent role in the history of the Ionian and Greek lands
for many years.
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