Home  ›  Magna Graecia

Magna Graecia

Magna Grecia in 280 BC. AD
"There was a time when Italy
was only the Magna Graecia. "

- Ovid , Fasti, IV

Magna Graecia or Greater Greece (both forms exist in French, with a shade of meaning) (in ancient Greek / Latin is the name the Greeks of antiquity used to designate the southern coast of the Italian peninsula as well as Sicily. Today, Magna Graecia corresponds to the coastal areas of Campania , Calabria , Basilicata, Puglia and Sicily.

Summary

History

People in the Italian peninsula at the beginning of the Iron Age :
Ligurian . Veneti . Etruscan . Picniens . Umbrian . Latin . Oscan . Messapus . Greeks. Szeklers .

For the eighth and seventh century BC. AD , following a large increase in population in Greece and a social and political crisis within the Hellas, many emigrants leave to found new cities around the Mediterranean. Southern Italy and Sicily by their proximity and their agricultural wealth were important installation sites. The new cities are known as " colonies "by historians.

The new cities are independent of the mother city that at their institution. Trade (commercial, diplomatic) between the mother city and the colony were thus equals and it was not unusual that the new city into wealth does dpasst the mother city. However a real brotherhood united colony and its mother city and that was reflected by such military assistance in case of attack on the colony or the mother city. This is the case during the Peloponnesian War when Corinth sent troops and ships at Syracuse was besieged by the Athenians. However, it is noted that when the settlement stemmed from a secession or exile of part of society, such links exist, of course not.

Important dates in the history of Magna Graecia

Doric columns of the temple of Taranto
Temple of Heracles in Agrigento (Akragas)
  • 760 BC: The first colony of history is Pithcusses (current island of Ischia ) founded in the eighth century BC. BC by colonists from Chalcis in Euboea. In reality, the island settlement of Pithcusses only a commercial establishment where the Greeks alongside other peoples especially Phoenician merchants. Cumae , founded around 750-740 BC. BC, is sometimes described as the oldest Greek colony in the West.
  • 510 BC. AD: Sybaris was defeated by Croton whose troops are commanded by the famous athlete Milo of Croton. The city of Sybaris was destroyed and its population doomed to exile.
  • 480 BC. AD: Hiero , tyrant of Syracuse, defeated the troops of Carthage to Himera , in northern Sicily.
  • 474 Ave. AD: The fleet led by Gelo , tyrant of Syracuse, is assisting Cumae threatened by the Etruscans. This victory marks the end of the extension Etruscan Campania.
  • 444-443 BC. AD: Founding of Thurii. Athenian expedition officially composed of the Greek Panhellenic as originating from the islands of the Aegean city of Thourioi.En based reality, the cities of the Aegean Sea are part of the Delian League, league under the military domination of Athens. City Thurii host important personalities such as Herodotus , Hippodamus of Miletus and Lysias.
  • 415-413 BC. AD: Sicilian Expedition. After a bellicose speech of Alcibiades to the demos, sending a large fleet is decided against Syracuse. The Peloponnesian War raged and Sicily, rich in grain and horses, should serve as a base for continuing the war in Greece. The Athenians, led by Nicias, Alcibiades and Lamachus, landed near Syracuse and lay siege to the city. Many problems arise in the vast Athenian army: a fleet put to the test (landing and embarkation successive Greek triremes and suffer from a lack of tightness), in search of food, harassment and Syracusan armies Spartan (arrived as reinforcements). The reluctance of the generals (Nicias mainly more diplomat than a great general) allow Syracuse to fortify. Two major battles, one land on the plateau of epiboly and the other ship in the port of Syracuse turned in favor of the defenders. Demoralized, the Athenians were finally captured. Most Athenian prisoners died of thirst and hunger in Latomie, huge limestone quarries. In the end an estimated 12,000 deaths Athens.
  • 282-272 BC. BC: The Greek cities of Italy are within the covenant of Rome , Taranto was conquered by the Romans despite the intervention of Pyrrhus ( pyrrhic war in Italy )
  • 264-241 BC. BC: First Punic War , Rome took control of Sicily, except for Syracuse, which became an ally of Rome
  • 215-209 BC. AD: During the Second Punic War , Syracuse Taranto then take the side of Carthage. They are taken by the Romans in 211 after a siege of three years, and 209. This ends the independence of the cities of Magna Graecia

The foundation of a new polis

  • A new city based on a site designated by the Pythia.

In fact, a leader of the settlers (the oikists) which is the "founder" of the new city is selected. It comes from the mother city and commands the expedition to locate the most favorable place for the installation of the colony. The oikists consult the oracle of Delphi before departure and the Pythia he delivers his prophecy. Through his words, the oikists be able to recognize the ideal place to install the new city.

  • The search for a favorable geographical position

In fact, the presence of a sheltered bay, hill could accommodate an acropolis and a fertile hinterland are essential in determining the future of the city. Syracuse has been founded on a peninsula easily defensible, with a bay that was a good port. The city also benefited from a fertile hinterland. The foundation of Taranto took place in the only place where a port could be implanted so that the oracle had predicted a location further south (Satyrion).

  • Coexistence with non-Greek peoples

There is evidence that pre-colonial contact with non-Greek peoples have taken place. In most cases, merchants Phocaea or Euboea maintained friendly contacts with the "barbarians" or with the Phoenicians. The presence of commercial outlets Pithcusses (current Ischia) where Euboeans worked metals and seem to have supplied products to the Greek peoples Etruscan.
Often, the foundation of a new city is at the expense of non-Greek native population. Taranto has faced hostility from Iapyges during installation and had predicted the oracle of Delphi.

  • A city organized according to a rational development plan.

The new city is organized along a development plan reflects the concern of Greek organization. This science holds places of the city of homes, streets and water systems (tanks, pipes, sewers). Lots of properties (the klroi) are also defined, when the colonies were founded by settlers emigrants by land shortage in their homeland, the distribution, unlike those of the mother city in general, was equally and geometric , approaching the level of the Roman Cardo and decumanus. The city is organized in three areas: the private, the sacred and the chora, a territory outside the walls controlled by the city. Following ethnic Greeks who founded the colony there are notable differences in the development of the city and its territory. Listing Metapontum: a public space (agora and ekklesiasterion) and sacred (sacred to Apollo) placed at the center of the city and covering 6 hectares. The cemeteries are located outside of the city and all of the chora is divided into farms. Example of Megara Hyblaea: a cadastral plan is set in advance. The city is built along a north-south artery and two east-west arteries.

  • Founding dates of the leading cities of Magna Graecia (BC).
  1. Southern Italy: Cumae (750-740), Rhegion (730), Sybaris (720 or 709-708), Crotone (708), Taranto (714 or 706), Locri (673), Metapontum (650-640), Poseidonia ( 600), Elea / Velia (540-535).
  2. Sicily: Naxos (734), Zancle (740), Catania (729), Leontinoi (728), Syracuse (734-733 or 750 according to Thucydides archeology), Megara Hyblaea (750), Gela (700-688) , Agrigento (580).

Wars between cities of Magna Graecia

  • An Achaean League consists of Croton, Sybaris and destroyed Metapontum Siris.

Siris was an Ionian city situated in the central Gulf of Taranto. The city of Sybaris was founded by Metapontum contain the expansionist policy of Taranto. In fact, the presence of a non-Achaean colony full sphere of influence of Sybaris and the strengthening of the population of Siris by exiles of Ionia were detrimental to the interests of Sybaris. A coalition comprising Achaean Croton and Sybaris Metapontum is constituted and open the city of Siris after a battle between 570 and 540.

  • The battle of the Sagra

Locri was accused of having supported by Croton Siris. Locri vanquished troops from Crotone to the Battle of Sagra at the beginning of the sixth century BCE. AD

  • The destruction of Sybaris

During the sixth century BC. BC, Sybaris was at its peak. Strabo speaks of an army of 300,000 men and bulwark of 50 stages. However, when the colony is secondary Poseidonia Sybaris as reflected by the power of the city. At the founding of Poseidonia an agreement called the Treaty of Olympia has risen between the indigenous Italian population and a federation of cities under the leadership of Sybaris. The treaty states and 25 cities are under the direction of Sybaris. On the other hand, the opulence of the city is proverbial to the point that some describe life as a decadent life Sybaris (Tryph).

Following his defeat at the Sagra and the arrival of Pythagoras, the community of Croton has rewelded. At the same time, Sybaris undergoes a political crisis after which part of the aristocracy is banished and finds refuge in Crotone. Sybaris launches a sort of ultimatum to Crotone and demands the extradition of fugitives aristocrats. Pythagoras urged the city not to yield. War is declared between the two cities. The battle took place along the Traente and despite their numerical inferiority, the Croton victorious. Sybaris never regained its former glory.

Art and Thought in Magna Graecia

Architecture Doric temples of Agrigento and Poseidonia are among the best preserved of the Greek world. Together, they attest to the greatness of the achievements of these Greek parties seek better living conditions.

The Presocratics

List of cities of Magna Graecia

From north to south, the most important cities of Magna Graecia are:

  1. 1 Campania and the Bay of Naples :
  1. 2 South of the Italian peninsula (east-west):
  1. 3 Sicily :

Bibliography


Leave a Reply


Frequently Asked Questions

1 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 51 vote, average: 4.00 out of 5 (1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5, rated)
Loading ... Loading ...
Help us improve the wiki Send Your Comments