182 R°ute l~- CASSANO. From Xaples
is next reached. The vetturini now usually turn to the r. (9'/.2 M.)
to the extremely picturesque Cassano, commanded by an ancient
castle on a lofty rock and possessing warm baths. The castle
affords a magnificent view of the valleys of the Coscite and Crati,
the Sybaris and ('rathis of the ancients. The picturesque Roman
Torre di Milo is believed to be the tower from which the stone
was thrown which caused the death of T. Annius Milo. when
he was engaged in besieging the town of- Cr>sa in behalf of
Pompey.
The coast of the Gulf of Taranto was once studded with numerous
and prosperous Creek colonies, and the entire district bore the appellation
of Moguii Gruecia. Of the splendour, wealth and civilisation of that period,
however, but scanty vestiges now exist. The art and refinement of the
middle ages did not penetrate thus far. The distance from Cassano to Ta¬
ranto is about 103 31. This district possesses no regular high-roads, the
substitutes for which are bridle-paths or lield-roads, accessible to light car¬
riages only. The inns are miserable beyond description. A railway along
the coast from Taranto to Reggio is projected.
From Cassano the Ciano is crossed and Francavilla reached; then by
(19 31.) Trebisacci and along the coast to Roselo, Nocara and (35 31.) Rocca
Imperiale. The Sinno, ancient Siris is now crossed and beautiful woods of
myrtles, arbutus and lentiscus are traversed. The next village is Policoro,
near which the Greek town of Heraclea, founded in 432, was situated,
where 1'yirhus, B. C. 280, by means of his elephants gained his first victory
over the Romans. At Luce, in the vicinity, the celebrated bronze Tabula
Heracleensis (Lex Julia Slunicipalisj, now in the museum of Naples, was
discovered in 1753. The river Agri, ancient Aciris is now crossed, then the
Siiliii'i/rello, and beyond Trrre a Mare (28 31. from Rocca Imperiale) the
plain between the rivers Basento and Bradano is reached. Here the site of
the ancient and celebrated Greek city of Metapontum is indicated by La
Tnvola de' I'aladini, the ruins of a Doric temple, of which 15 columns are
still standing, situated on an eminence D^ 31. from the sea. Here the great
philosopher Pythagoras died, B. C. 4117, in his 90th year. His tenets,
however, long survived him in the cities of 3Iagna Grtecia, especially at
Metapontum, Tarentum and Croton. When in 332 Alexander of Epirus
crossed to Italy, 3Ietapontuin allied itself with him. So also in the 2nd
Punic war the town espoused the cause of Hannibal, a policy which proved
its destruction; and a few centuries later, in the time of Pausanias in the
2nd cent, of our era, Metapontum was a mere heap of ruins. The road
then cr( sses the river Lata and traverses a long tract of level ground till it
reaches Taranto.
The most interesting portion of the Calabrian coast is from Cassano
to Catanzaro, a distance of 126 31. The traveller may then return by the
main road which lies more inland and near the W. side of the peninsula.
The route along the coast from Catanzaro to Reggio is 159 M. in length.
From Cassano the road descends to the valley of the Coscite, ancient Sybaris,
which is crossed near its junction with the Crati (Crathis). On the plain,
to the 1., the once so prosperous and wealthy Sybaris, founded by Achaeans
and Trcezenians B. C. 720, destroyed by the inhabitants of Croton in 510, is
said to have been situated. About 6 31. distant from this spot (near Ter-
ranuovo) a I'vw insignificant ruins indicate the site of Thurii, colony of
the fugitive Sybarites, to which, B. C. 443, the Athenians sent a colony,
accompanied by the historian Herodotus. In consequence of the legislation
of Charondas Thurii soon attained to great prosperity, but in 280 fell into
the hands of the Romans, was subsequently plundered by Hannibal and in
194 received a Roman colony under the name of Copiae, notwithstanding
which it continued to decline and finally became totally extinct.
Permalink: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/j615r
