We were excited to arrive at the tiny island of Samos, the birth place of Pythagoras. This beautiful island beckoned, and we, eager explorers, answered its call. The reward? Zero disappointment, just pure enchantment!
After taking in the beautiful scenery, we headed to the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, or “Monastery of the Virgin of the Cave”. It is located on a hill high above the ancient city of Pythagoreion, with panoramic views of the island.
Beneath the monastery buildings, there is a cave-church commemorating the miraculous return of an icon of the Virgin Mary to this location. Legend tells of the icon’s abduction, stolen by strangers and spirited away on a ship. During the voyage the icon broke into five pieces and fell into the sea, and were carried by the waves back to Samos. They were collected by the locals and lovingly restored before being returned to the cave-church, where it is still venerated today. The icon is also called Panagia Kaliarmenissa, which means “the good traveler”, because of its miraculous journey.
The visit to the monastery reminded us of our travel to Lourdes, France, where we visited the “Lady of Lourdes”, an homage to the Virgin Mary in the grotto under the Rosary Basilica and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Both Lourdes and Samos have a holy connection to the Virgin Mary.
After all that touring, we were thirsty! Eager to immerse ourselves in Samos’ wine tradition, we headed to a winery for a tour and tasting lesson.
Moschato magic starts on Samos’ sun-drenched hills, yielding grapes for the island’s renowned sweet wine. We had the opportunity to join a winery tour complete with tasting several different styles.
We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the wine, and it reminded us all of a similar time in Italy where we visited a winery near Verona.
Here, we also learned of a very interesting connection between wine and Samos’ famous philosopher/mathematician, Pythagoras.
Born of Samos around 570 BC, Pythagoras lived a life of moderation and humility, and understood that every drop counts, and that excess sours even the sweetest wine. To teach his students moderation, he unveiled a curious cup…
Legend has it that Pythagoras used this simple and unassuming cup to teach his students a valuable life lesson. During a memorable lesson he unveiled the curious “Cup of Justice,”. He told his students, “Drink freely, but do not fill the cup beyond the line.” One of his students did pour the sweet Samos wine beyond the mark and the wine vanished! There was a gasp, and then laughter as the wine drained from the bottom.
But, how does the cup work, you ask?
The Cup of Justice became legend, a playful nudge towards moderation and humility. For just as a measured sip brings the wine’s full sweetness, life’s true treasures unfold when we appreciate what we have. So, raise your glass, and remember: sometimes, the greatest lessons come in the most unexpected vessels.
Our time on the beautiful island of Samos was memorable to say the least, with beautiful vistas, sweet wine and unexpected surprises! Taking our lead from Pythagoras, we choose not to be greedy, but to share our learning and experiences with you…our reader! Cheers!
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