Previous Page
| Next Page
|
the Samnites. note Antiochus says that certain Achaeans, who
had been sent for by the Achaeans of Sybaris, settled in this
place when it had been desolated; he adds that these were
sent for on account of the hatred of the Achaeans to the Tarentini, who had originally migrated from Laconia, in order
to prevent their seizing upon the place which lay adjacent to
them. Of the two cities, viz. Metapontium which was situated
the nearer, [and Siris the further, note] from Tarentum, the new
comers preferred to occupy Metapontium. This choice was
suggested by the Sybarites, because, if they should make good
their settlement there, they would also possess Siris, but if
they were to turn to Siris, Metapontium would be annexed
to the territory of the Tarentines which was conterminous.
But after being engaged in war with the Tarentini and the
Oenotrians, who dwelt beyond them, they came to an agreement, securing to them a portion of land, which should constitute the boundary between Italy, as it then existed, and
Iapygia. This, too, is the locality which tradition assigns to
the adventures of Metapontus and the captive Melanippe, and
her son Boeotus. But Antiochus is of opinion that the city
Metapontium was originally called Metabum, and that its
name was altered at a subsequent period; and that Melanippe
was not entertained here but at Dius, and thinks that the
heroum of Metabus as well as the testimony of the poet Asius,
who says that
The beautiful Melanippe, in the halls of Dius, bare Boeotus,
afford sufficient proof that Melanippe was led to Dius and not
to Metabum. Ephorus says that Daulius, the tyrant of Crissa note
near Delphi, was the founder of Metapontium. There is,
however, another tradition, that Leucippus was sent by the
Achaeans to help to found the colony, and having asked permission of the Tarentini to have the place for a day and a
night, would not give it up, replying by day to those who
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
Strabo, Geography (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Str.].