Campania, Neapolis
270-240 BCE
AE 19.30mm 6.52g
Obverse: ΝΕΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, laureate head of Apollo left, N behind
Reverse: Man-headed bull right, crowned by Nike flying right, IΣ below
SNG ANS 470
Ex Franco Collection
Ex Joe Fusco 1999
Neapolis, which is modern day Naples, has been populated since at least the 2nd millennium BCE. In the 8th century BCE, the colony of Parthenope was founded roughly at the site by settlers from Cumae. The name Parthenope came from the siren in the Odyssey, who threw herself into the sea and washed ashore near the site after supposedly failing to bewitch Odysseus. The city was later destroyed.
In 507 BCE, Neapolis proper was founded by aristocracy from nearby Cumae, who wished to create a second Cumae. It used a rectangular street plan and soon became one of the most powerful cities in Magna Graecia. Early on, it had a strong relationship with Athens and the two shared close bonds, with many Athenians staying in Neaopolis, until the disastrous invasion of Sicily in 413 BCE.
The city later came under the Roman orbit, though its influence waned after supporting the wrong side in first Marius and then Pompey.
Neapolis founded
Neapolis attacks Romans living in Campania
Neapolis taken by Rome, but left intact
Pyrrhos diverts to Neapolis with the goal of convincing it to rebel from Rome
Neapolis rises in power in Campania after Capua is punished by Rome for siding with Hannibal
Neapolis is promoted to a Roman municipum, raising its prestige to Rome but removing its autonomy
Neapolis sides with Marius and is devastated by the armies of Sulla
Neapolis sides with Pompey over Julius Caesar, resulting in the city’s decline
Crypto Neapolitana built
The Neapolitan Isolympic Games founded by Augustus
Augustus attends the Neapolitan Isolympic Games
The poet Statius is born in Neapolis
An earthquake damages Neapolis and area
Another earthquake damages Neapolis and area
August 24
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius near Neapolis under the reign of Titus.
The last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus, dies in Neapolis