LUCANIA THURIUM (400-350 B.C.) AE ATHENA / BULL

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GREEK - ITALY LUCANIA THURIUM (400-350 B.C.) AE Obv/ HEAD OF ATHENA RIGHT Rv/ BULL LEFT RARE GREEN PATINA ADVANCED PAYMENT SHIPMENT USD 10.00 REGISTER MAIL A263 Thurii Thurii – Greek : Θούριοι , called also by some Latin writers and by Ptolemy , Thurium ( Θούριον , Ptol.), for a time also Copia and Copiae and sometimes written as Turios ; Italian : Thurio – was a city of Magna Graecia , situated on the Tarentine gulf , within a short distance of the site of Sybaris , of which it may be considered as having taken the place. Its location is in the frazione of Thurio , comune of Corigliano Calabro , in the Province of Cosenza , Calabria region, Italy . History Thurii was one of the latest of all the Greek colonies in this part of Italy, not having been founded until nearly 70 years after the fall of Sybaris. The site of that city had remained desolate for a period of 58 years after its destruction by the Crotoniats ; when at length, in 452 BC, a number of the Sybarite exiles and their descendants made an attempt to establish themselves again on the spot, under the guidance of some leaders of Thessalian origin; and the new colony rose so rapidly to prosperity that it excited the jealousy of the Crotoniats, who, in consequence, expelled the new settlers a little more than 5 years after the establishment of the colony. ( Diod. xi. 90, xii. 10.) The fugitive Sybarites first appealed for support to Sparta , but without success: their application to the Athenians was more successful, and that people determined to send out a fresh colony, at the same time that they reinstated the settlers who had been lately expelled from thence. A body of Athenian colonists was accordingly sent out by Pericles , under the command of Lampon and Xenocritus ; but the number of Athenian citizens was small, the greater part of those who took part in the colony being collected from various parts of Greece . Among them were two celebrated names – Herodotus the historian, and the orator Lysias , both of whom appear to have formed part of the original colony. (Diod. xii. 10; Strabo vi. p. 263; Dionys. Lys. p. 453; Vit. X. Orat. p. 835; Plut. Peric. 11, Nic. 5.) The laws of the new colony were established by the sophist Protagoras at the request of Pericles. The new colonists at first established themselves on the site of the deserted Sybaris, but shortly afterwards removed (apparently in obedience to an oracle) to a spot at a short distance from thence, w t was a fountain named "Thuria", from whence the new city derived its name of Thurii. (Diod. l. c. ; Strab l. c. ) The foundation of Thurii is assigned by Diodorus to the year 446 BC; but other authorities place it three years later, 443 BC, and this seems to be the best authenticated date. (Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. p. 54.) The protection of the Athenian name probably secured the rising colony from the assaults of the Crotoniats, at least we hear nothing of any obstacles to its progress from that quarter; but it was early disturbed by dissensions between the descendants of the original Sybarite settlers and the new colonists, the former laying claim not only to honorary distinctions, but to the exclusive possession of important political privileges. These disputes at length ended in a revolution, and the Sybarites were finally expelled from the city. They established themselves for a short time upon the river Traeis (modern Trionto), but did not maintain their footing long, being dislodged and finally dispersed by the neighboring barbarians. (Diod. xii. 11, 22; Arist. Pol. v. 3.) The Thurians meanwhile concluded a treaty of peace with Crotona, and the new city rose rapidly to prosperity. Fresh colonists poured in from all quarters, especially the Peloponnese ; and though it continued to be generally regarded as an Athenian colony, the Athenians in fact formed but a small element of the population. The citizens were divided, as we learn from Diodorus, into ten tribes, the names of which suffici... read more

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