The western lands furnished far more attractive sites for
colonization. The Greeks could feel at home in southern Italy, where the genial
climate, pure air, and sparkling sea recalled their native land. At a very
early date they founded Cumae, on the coast just north of the bay of Naples.
Emigrants from Cumae, in turn, founded the city of Neapolis (Naples), which in
Roman times formed a home of Greek culture and even to-day possesses a large
Greek population. To secure the approaches from Greece to these remote
colonies, two strongholds were established on the strait of Messina: Regium
(modern Reggio) on the Italian shore and Messana (modern Messina) on that of
Sicily. Another important colony in southern Italy was Tarentum (modern
Taranto).
THE SICILIAN COLONIES
Greek settlements in Sicily were mainly along the coast.
Expansion over the entire island was checked by the Carthaginians, who had
numerous possessions at its western extremity. The most celebrated colony in
Sicily was Syracuse, established by emigrants from Corinth. It became the
largest of Greek cities.
