Sybăris
（
Σύβαρις).
1.
Now Coscile or Sibari; a river in Lucania, flowing by the city of the same name, and
falling into the Crathis.
2.
A celebrated Greek town in Lucania, situated between the rivers Sybaris and Crathis, at a
short distance from the Tarentine Gulf, and near the confines of Bruttium. It was founded
B.C. 720 by Achaeans and Troezenians, and soon attained an extraordinary degree of prosperity
and wealth. Its inhabitants became so notorious for their love of luxury and pleasure that
their name was employed to indicate any voluptuary. At the time of their highest prosperity
their city was fifty stadia, or upwards of six miles, in circumference, and they exercised
dominion over twenty-five towns, so that we are told they were able to bring into the field
300,000 men, a number, however, which appears incredible. But their prosperity was of short
duration. The Achaeans having expelled the Troezenian part of the population, the latter took
refuge at the neighbouring city of Croton, the inhabitants of which espoused their cause. In
the war which ensued between the two States, the Sybarites were completely conquered by the
Crotoniates, who followed up their victory by the capture of Sybaris, which they destroyed by
turning the waters of the river Crathis against the town (B.C. 510) (
Herod.v. 44;
Diod.xii. 9; Athen. p. 521). The greater
number of the surviving Sybarites took refuge in other Greek cities in Italy; but a few
remained near their ancient town, and their descendants formed part of the town of Thurii
founded in B.C. 443 near Sybaris. See
Thurii.
