Metaponto

Metapontum, (Greek: Metapontum, Latin: Metapontum ) was a colony founded by Achaean settlers on the Gulf of Taranto in the context of Greek colonization. According to legend, it was founded by Epeios, the builder of the Trojan Horse. The present town of Metaponto is in the area of the town Bernalda in the province of Matera.

Metapontum stood in the shadow of some 50 km further east Taranto. Like other Greek cities of southern Italy, it was in military conflicts with the Italians. In the late 6th century the philosopher Pythagoras of Samos lived in Metapontum; at that time the city was the center of Pythagoreergemeinschaft. In the 4th century BC, it had to deal with Dionysius I, who wanted to gain hegemony over the Greek cities in Italy ( Magna Graecia ) with the expansion policy of the city of Syracuse. So Metapont joined with the other cities in Italiote covenant together against Dionysius; but after the defeat at the Battle of Elleporus was accepted perforce the Syracusan power position. After the victory of the Romans in 272 BC Metapont Tarentine war belonged to the Roman Empire.

From ancient Metapontum exist only ruins. The present city of Metaponto is located in the immediate vicinity of the ruin field. It houses the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Metaponto, where in addition to prehistoric relics from the region of the finds from the time of Magna Graecia are to be visited.