magna Graecia
Ancient Greece
DNA Study Shows When Ancient Greeks Colonized Italy
A recent DNA study by an international team of scientists showed when Ancient Greeks colonized Magna Graecia in Italy.
Magna Graecia is the name of the coastal areas of southern Italy and Sicily that were extensively populated by Greek settlers.
The...
History
The Etruscan-Roman Wars and the Crucial Role of Ancient Greeks
The Etruscans and Romans were fierce rivals in early Italic history. Obviously, the Romans ended up being victorious since the Mediterranean came to be dominated by a Roman empire rather than an Etruscan. Yet, what did this rivalry look...
Ancient Greece
The Dazzling Greek Beauty of Sicily’s Valley of The Temples
Dominating the hills near the southern coast of Sicily lies an archaeological treasure that has captivated visitors for centuries: the Valle Dei Templi, or Valley of the Temples.
This magnificent site, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the...
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greek and Etruscan Helmets From Battle of Alalia Discovered in Italy
Archaeologists in Southern Italy have unearthed several significant artifacts, including two helmets, fragments of weapons and armor, and pottery shards, at an archaeological site in the ancient Greek city of Velia.
Velia was the Roman name of the ancient city...
Ancient Greece
Necropolis in Naples Reveals the Enduring Influence of Ancient Greece
A spectacular Greek necropolis complex in Sanita, near Naples, opened to the public just a few years ago, allowing visitors to see the breathtaking tombs carved into the volcanic tufa rock by the ancient Greeks who colonized the area.
Just...
Food
The Ancient Tree of Magna Graecia that Produces White Olives
White olives known as leucocarpa, or leucolea, is a rare variety of olive tree, mainly found in the south of Italy, in the region historically known as "Magna Graecia," or Greater Greece.
Derived from the Greek words for white (leucos),...
Archaeology
Two Ancient Greek Temples Discovered at Paestum, Italy
Two Ancient Greek Doric temples were unearthed in Paestum, southern Italy. The temples were part of the Magna Graecia (Great Greece), the thriving group of ancient Greek cities of southern Italy dating back from the 8th century BC.
One of...
Ancient Greece
The Most Important Ancient Greek Colonies in History
The first ancient Greek colonies were established as early as the 8th century BC, while wide colonization continued through the 5th
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greek Helmet, Inscription Found in Italy’s Magna Graecia
An ancient Greek helmet and inscription were recently unearthed as part of the archaeological excavations at the acropolis of Elea-Velia, in what was once part of Greater Greece, or Magna Graecia.
Massimo Osanna, the Director of the Museum of Velia...
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greek “Nestor’s Cup” Contained Remains of Three People
An ancient Greek grave with a Nestor's Cup that was believed to contain the remains of a child has recently been found to be the burial place of three adults.
Ancient Greeks normally buried their loved ones in pithoi, large...