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The foundation of Taras - 706 B.C.
Taras is founded 706 B.C. by Dorian immigrants as the only Spartan colony, and its origin is peculiar: the founders were partheniae, sons of unmarried Spartan women and perioeci (free men, but not citizens of Sparta); these unions were decided by the Spartans to increase the number of soldiers (only the citizens of Sparta could become soldiers) during the bloody Messenian wars, but later they were nullified, and the sons were forced to leave. Phalanthus, the parthenian leader, went to Delphi to consult the oracle: the puzzling answer designated the harbour of Taranto as the new home of the exiles. The Partheniae arrived in Apulia, and founded the city, naming it Taras after the son of the Greek sea god, Poseidon, and of a local nymph, Satyrion. According to other sources, Heracles founded the city. Another tradition indicates Taras as the founder of the city; the symbol of the Greek city (as well as of the modern city) is Taras riding a dolphin. Taranto increased its power, becoming a commercial power and a sovereign city of Magna Graecia, ruling over the Greek colonies in southern Italy.
| City Name |
Name Greek |
Founded Date: |
Founded By: |
Part Of: |
Modern City Name: |
| Gela |
|
688 B.C. |
Rhodes and Crete |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Gela |
| Neapolis |
Νεάπολις (New City) |
c700 B.C. |
Cuma |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Naples |
| Syracuse (1) |
Συρακούσαι |
733 B.C. |
Corinth |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
|
| Akragas |
|
582-580 Β.C. |
Gela |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Agrigento |
| Sybaris |
Σύβαρις |
720 B.C. |
|
Magna Graecia, Italy |
|
| Taras - Tarentum |
Τάρας |
706 B.C. |
Sparta |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Taranto |
| Locri |
Λοκροί |
680 B.C. |
Locrians and Lacedaemonians |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Locri |
| Rhegion |
Ρήγιον |
c800 B.C. |
|
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Reggio |
| Kroton |
Κρότων |
c710 B.C. |
Archaea |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Crotone |
| Thurii |
Θούριοι |
452 B.C. |
Sybaris |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Thurii |
| Elea |
Ελέα |
540 B.C. |
Elea |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Velia |
| Ancona |
Αγκων |
390 B.C. |
Syracuse |
Magna Graecia, Italy |
Ancona |
| Massalia |
Μασσαλία |
600 B.C. |
Phocaea |
France |
Marseille |
| Cyrene |
|
c630 B.C. |
Thera |
North Africa |
Hero. 4.150-158 |
| Naucratis |
|
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Halicarnassus, Mytilene, Rhodes |
Egypt |
Hero. 2.178 |
| Cumae |
|
750 B.C. |
Euboea |
Southern Italy |
|
| Naxus |
|
734 B.C. |
Chalcis |
Sicily |
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| Corcyra |
|
733 B.C. |
Corinth |
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(1)
Syracuse [ Συρακούσαι ] in Sicily was founded in 733 B.C. by Greek settlers from Corinth, led by Archias, who called it Sirako, referring to a nearby swamp. The nucleus of the ancient city was the small island of Ortygia. The settlers found the land to be fertile and the native tribes to be reasonably well-disposed to their presence. The city grew and prospered, and for some time stood as the most powerful Greek city anywhere in the Mediterranean.
cont...the Second Messenian War
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