TARENTUM, a Greek city of southern Italy (Gr. Tapas), (mod. Taranto, q.v.), situated on the north coast of the gulf of the same name, on a rocky peninsula at the entrance to the only secure harbour in it. The entrance was defended by the two islands called the Choerades (now S. Pietro and S. Paolo). It was a Spartan colony, founded by Phalanthus about 708 B.C. (See SPARTA.) Taras was a mythical hero, son of Neptune. Situated in a fertile district, especially famous for olives and sheep, with an admirable harbour, great fisheries and prosperous manufactures of wool, purple and pottery, Tarentum grew in power and wealth and extended its domain inland. A great defeat by the natives in 473 s.c., led to a change of government from aristocracy to democracy. A feud with the Thurians about the district of the Siris was settled in 432 by the joint foundation of Heraclea.
In the 4th century Tarentum was the first city of Magna Graecia, and its wealth and artistic culture at this time are amply attested by its coins. (See NumismAncs.) In the second half of the century Tarentum was in constant war with the Lucanians, and did not hold its ground without the aid of Spartan and Epirote condottieri. Then followed war with Rome (281), the expedition of Pyrrhus, whom Tarentum summoned to its aid, and at length, in 272, the surrender of the city by its Epirote garri son. Tarentum retained nominal liberty as an ally of Rome. In the Second Punic War it went over to Hannibal in 212, and suffered severely when it was retaken and plundered by Fabius (209), who sold thirty thousand citizens as slaves. It revived after receiving a colony in 123 B.C., which received the name of Neptunia. In the time of Augustus it was essentially Greek favourite place of resort (Horace, Od., iii. 5, 53). Belisarius ordered it to be re-fortified, but it was soon taken by Totila, who made it his treasure store. After his defeat by Narses, it was sold
to the Byzantine Empire by its Gothic governor.
One of the most interesting discoveries of recent years has been that of a terramara on the so-called Scoglio del Tonno on the north-west of the town, which in its type and in the character of the objects found there, is exactly identical with the terrernare of the Po valley. It seems, however, to be an isolated colony, and not to prove a parallel development in north and south Italy. The only relic of any building of the Greek city is a part of a Doric temple on the island—two fluted columns, with a lower diameter of 61 f t., and a height of 28 ft., and some fragments of the en tablature, belonging probably to the beginning of the 6th century B.C. The rock occupied by the modern town was the citadel, but was connected with the land to the west by an isthmus, which was only cut through by Ferdinand I. of Aragon. The line of the walls which defended the city on the east (land) side has been traced, and a few remains of well-cut blocks, with Greek masons' marks, have been found. In the centre of the Agora was the huge bronze Zeus by Lysippus, and facing on to it the HouctX7), or painted portico, with pictorial representations of the life of Pha lanthus, and the foundation of the city, and the museum. There was also a fine gymnasium and other buildings mentioned by classical writers. Strabo's description of the site (vi. 3, I) is a good one. The Roman amphitheatre, on the other hand, and re mains of Roman baths by the seashore, have been found; the former perhaps occupies the site of the ancient theatre, in which the Roman ambassador was received in 281 B.C. Tarentum was the birthplace of Archytas and Aristoxenes (qq.v.).