The Tunnel of Efpalinus in Samos

The renowned Tunnel of Efpalinus at Pythagorion in Samos is the 8th wonder of the antiquity. The way in which it is constructed often comes as a surprise even to modern experts. The success of the enterprise – given the means available at the time : the hammer and the chisel – is astonishing.

The Tunnel of Efpalinus is on average 1.80m wide by 1.80m high, 1,350m long and and crosses Mt Ambelos 180 meters below its summit. All in all 7,000 cubic meters of rock had to be removed to build it. It is the central part of an aqueduct, which brought drinking water to the ancient city of Samos and it was constructed by Efpalinus at 550 BC.

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