Sybaris, discovering one of the main cities of Magna Graecia

Archaeological park of Sybaris contains the remains of one of the most wealthy and important cities of Magna Graecia. It was the core of the ancient civilization of Oenotrians, developed over Iron Age, before Greeks came.

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The history of Sybaris

Sybaris was founded in BC 730-720, when Achaeans got there and defeated and then enslaved native people. They settled down one of the most strategic cities of Magna Graecia, where the transit of goods from Asia Minor took place.

A flourishing trade was likely the reason that led to the battle of Traente (BC 510), won by Krotoniates, who first besiedge and then destroyed Sybaris in 70 days.

Survivors left for Greece, then Athens allowed them to get back to Calabria to settle a new Athenian colony, in the same place where Sybaris once rised, and they called it Thurii (BC 444). But after a domestic struggle with Athens, Sybarites were expelled for good.

The city was settled back again as the Roman colony of Copiae, which was soon re-named Thurii. Thanks to its breeding ground and good location, it had a central role for a long time and was occupied until Middle Ages.

The archaeological park of Sybaris

Visiting the Park of ancient city of Sybaris, will bring you back through the ages of Late antiquity, ancient Romans and finally of the Archaic Sybaris back to VIII century BC.

The area is divided into few sectors, each of which has been named after the corresponding dig site: Parco del Cavallo, a distric made up with two large plateion and one theatre; prolungamento Strada; Casabianca, a built area dating back to VI century BC, with a round tower; Stombi.

Excavations are not yet finished and ruins uncovered so far, which belong to the latest phase of archaeological dig, are the ones of the Roman city of Copiae. Besides, further research were taken in the surrounding area, at the borders of Sybaris plain, which brought back to light a necropolis dating from Iron Age, with goods from the period before the founding of the city, in Francavilla Marittima. Plus, a Greek sanctuary from the Archaic age was discovered on the top of the hill, an area that was yet occupied by native people who lived there before the Greeks.

Every artifact is stored in the National Archaeological Museum of Sibarite, not too far from the excavations lot.

Imagine Copyright: By Mboesch - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

You may also be interested in other parks of Calabria or sites of Greek Time reviewed on web site.