Sybaris

Quick Facts: Who was Sybaris?

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Sybaris

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Ancient Greek city famed for its wealth, luxury, and eventual destruction by Kroton.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Sybaris (Ancient Greek: Σύβαρις; Italian: Sibari) was an important ancient Greek city situated on the coast of the Gulf of Taranto in modern Calabria, Italy. The city was founded around 720 BC by Achaean and Troezenian settlers. Ten years later, Achaeans founded the nearby great city of Kroton. Sybaris amassed great wealth thanks to its fertile land and busy port so that it was known as the wealthiest colony of the Greek Archaic world. Its inhabitants became famous among the Greeks for their hedonism, feasts, and excesses, to the extent that "sybarite" and "sybaritic" have become bywords for opulence, luxury, and outrageous pleasure-seeking.

Career & Major Achievements

Sybaris ruled smaller colonies throughout the area, and had an acropolis at Timpone della Motta near Francavilla Marittima about 10 km distant. The city of Sybaris was destroyed in about 510 BC by its neighbour Kroton. Its population was driven out but its local colonies continued. It was replaced by a new colony under Athenian leadership in 444/43 BC that became the city Thurii built partially on top of the older city. Thurii was destroyed in 193 BC but the Romans built the city of Copia on the same grid as Thurii.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Parts of these cities are visible today. The ruins of Sybaris/Thurii/Copia became forgotten as they were buried by sediment from the Crati river. The ruins were rediscovered and excavated from 1932. Today they can be found southeast of Sibari in the Province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The city was situated close to the sea and lay between the Crathis and Sybaris rivers.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1932: 1932 Milestone — The ruins were rediscovered and excavated from 1932.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sybaris

True or False: “The primary reason Sybaris was destroyed in 510 BC was due to a massive earthquake that shifted the local rivers.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Sybaris was destroyed by its neighboring city, Kroton, following an internal political upheaval.

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