CLCV 3201 Lecture 13: Lecture 13
9 May 2016
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Sparta founds another colony, at taras which is tarentum to the romans. It is one of the best natural harbours of southern italy. Perhaps the turmoil of amyklai caused them to colonise taras, though this is unclear. We know that the founders of taras brought the cult of apollo hyacinthus which was exclusive to amyklai, the magistrates are called ephors. Though the cause of the foundation of taras is likely the first messenian war which ends c. 715 bce which is when taras was founded 10 years later. Herodotus tells us the story of the partheniai which are the maiden sons associated with the messenian. The foundation of taras is much earlier than the period that we think of as the period of colonisation. This idea that spartans do not found colonies is a mirage since it is one of the earliest city-states to found colonies.
