MAGNA

From Agepedia

MAGNA GR^CIA ; the southern part of Italy, which was inhabited by Greek colonists. D'Anville bounds it, on the north, by the river Silar or Selo, which empties into the gulf of Peestum. But it seems more natural to annex Campania to it, and to take for the boundaries on the one side, the Vulturnus, where the territory of Cuma ceased, and on the other, the Frento or Fortore, which forms the boundary of Apulia, and flows into the Adriatic, as the Grecian colonies reached to that point. The tribes, indeed, which had emigrated into Italy from the north, in the earliest times, spread through all Italy, but always confined by the Apennines, and in the interior of the country. Several centuries after, Greeks came hither, began to build cities on the unoccupied coasts, and inteimingled by degrees with the inhabitants of the interior. The foundation of these Grecian colonies was unquestionably alter the destruction of Troy. Athenians. Achaaans, Euboeans, &c, with some Tro~ jans, repaired hither. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the followers of iEneas were scattered through the different parts of Italy. Some landed in Iapygia, others retired to both sides of the Apennines, and founded colonies. Subsequently the Romans sent colonies to Calabria, and partly in that way, partly by conquest, became (272 B. C.) master* of all the Greek colonies. The Greek was no longer the sole language in Calabria; the Latin was also spoken ; and an intermixture of the Grecian and Roman manners and usages took place, which is yet perceptible. Magna Grsecia comprised the provinces of Campania, Apulia, Iapygia, Lucania and Bruttii. The most celebrated republics were Tarentum, Sybaris, Crotona, Posidonia, Locris and Rhegium.