Neapolis means 'new city', and has been the name of hundreds of Greek colonies during the centuries, many of which rose to prominence. None rose to greater prominence, however, than Neapolis in Italy - modern Naples.
Sailors from the Greek island of Rhodes established a small commercial port called Parthenope in the ninth century BC, and in the sixth century BC the new urban zone of Neápolis (Νεάπολις) was founded on the plain, eventually becoming one of the foremost cities of Magna Graecia.
The city grew rapidly due to the influence of Syracuse, and became an ally of the Roman Republic against Carthage. During the Samnite Wars, the city, now a bustling centre of trade, was captured by the Samnites, but the Romans soon captured the city from them and made it a Roman colony.
Naples was greatly respected by the Romans as a paragon of Hellenistic culture. During the Roman era, the people of Naples maintained their Greek language and customs, while the city was expanded with elegant Roman villas, aqueducts, and public baths.
Sailors from the Greek island of Rhodes established a small commercial port called Parthenope in the ninth century BC, and in the sixth century BC the new urban zone of Neápolis (Νεάπολις) was founded on the plain, eventually becoming one of the foremost cities of Magna Graecia.
The city grew rapidly due to the influence of Syracuse, and became an ally of the Roman Republic against Carthage. During the Samnite Wars, the city, now a bustling centre of trade, was captured by the Samnites, but the Romans soon captured the city from them and made it a Roman colony.
Naples was greatly respected by the Romans as a paragon of Hellenistic culture. During the Roman era, the people of Naples maintained their Greek language and customs, while the city was expanded with elegant Roman villas, aqueducts, and public baths.
Modern location: Napoli, Italy
(1)
Neapolis (Italy)
An
AE
unit
struck 250-225 BC
in
Neapolis (Italy)
Obverse: laureate head of Apollo left with long hair, control symbol behind
Reverse: lyre, on left, leaning against omphalos, on right, thyrsos below legend; NEOΠOΛITΩN
Diameter:
17.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.4 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 6.4 g
No notes for this coin
SNG ANS -; SNG Copenhagen -; Rutter 592.