SYBAEIS, and or CROTONA, two celebrated Greek colonies in Magna Grtecia (q.v.). The former—founded 720 B.C., by Acliseans and Trcezenians—was situated in the s. of the Lucanian territory, between the rivers Crathis (Orate) and Sybaris (Coscili) about 3 m. from the Tarentine gulf; and the latter—founded 710 B.C., by Achicans—about 50 m. s.s.e. on the coast of Bruttium. All that is certainly known concerning these cities before the destruction of the formor is, that they both rapidly increased in size, wealth, and power, extending their dominions across the peninsula, and founding other colonies, at the same time preserving the most friendly terms with each other. Sybaris is said to have been 6 rn. in circumference, and Croton 12 m. ; the former being notorious for the excessive and fastidious luxury of its inhabitants (hence the term Sybarite), and the Crotoniates celebrated for the perfection they reached in athletic exercises—the famous athlete, Milo (q.v.), having been a native of Croton. Somewhere between 540 and 530 B.c., Pythagoras (q.v.) settled at Croton, and exercised very considerable influence over the aristocratic government. About 510 P.c., a demo cratic leader, Telys, deposed the oligarchy of Sybaris, banished 500 of the leading citizens, and assumed the tyranny of the city. The banished citizens having taken
refuge in Croton, Telys demanded their surrender, and on being refused, declared war against that city. The Sybarites, with an army said to have amounted to 300,000, met 100,000 Crotomates, commanded by Milo, at the river Trteis, were completely routed, and their city obliterated by the latter changing the course of the Crathis, so as to sweep it away. About 443 B.C., Thurii was founded near the site of Sybaris. After the destruction of Sybaris, Croton appears to have gradually declined, suffering much from internal convulsions (see PrruAcionAs), as well as from the disasters which befell it in its wars with the Locrians, Rhegians (480 n.c.). and Bruttians, and also in those of Dionysius (q.v.) of Syracuse and Pyrrhus (q.v.). Its ruin was completed in the second Punic war; and although, in 194 B.c., it was colonized by Roman citizens, it never again rose to be a place of any importance. Croton, in the time of Herodotus, and at a later period, was famous as a medical school.
The modern town of Cotrone, standing very near the site of the ancient town, has a pop. of 6,878