v49_0013 - LUCANIA - THURIUM Unité, (PB, Æ 15)

LUCANIA - THOURIOI

(5th - 4th century BC)

Thurium whose name would be derived from a fountain named Thuria, the new Sybaris, was founded in 443 BC on the site of the ancient Sybaris, destroyed in 510 BC by the Crotoniates. It was a Pan-Hellenic Athenian colony, initially populated by Messenians, driven out by the Spartans. Its silver coinage was very important. Around 390 BC, the Lucanians inflicted a serious defeat on the inhabitants of Thurium (Diodorus of Sicily XIV, 101) which did not affect the prosperity of the city. It fell under the thumb of the Brettiens in 268 before. It was refounded in 194 BC under the name of Copia by the Romans. At the end of the Republic, again, the name of Thurium is attested. Octave-Auguste was born there on September 23, 63 BC.