Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/413

a. vi. c. i. 15. ITALY. THE BRUTTII. GRECIAN CITIES. 399 the Samnitcs. 1 Antiochus says that certain Achaeans, who had been sent for by the Achaeans of Sybaris, settled in this place when it had been desolated ; he adds that these were sent for on account of the hatred of the Achasans to the Ta- rentini, who had originally migrated from Laconia, in order to prevent their seizing upon the place which lay adjacent to them. Of the two cities, viz. Metapontium which was situated the nearer, [and Siris the further, 2 ] from Tarentum, the new comers preferred to occupy Metapontium. This choice was suggested by the Sybarites, because, if they should make good their settlement there, they would also possess Siris, but if they were to turn to Siris, Metapontium would be annexed to the territory of the Tarentines which was conterminous. But after being engaged in war with the Tarentini and the OEnotrians, who dwelt beyond them, they came to an agree- ment, securing to them a portion of land, which should con- stitute the boundary between Italy, as it then existed, and lapygia. This, too, is the locality which tradition assigns to the adventures of Metapontus and the captive Melanippe, and her son Breotus. But Antiochus is of opinion that the city Metapontium was originally called Metabum, and that its name was altered at a subsequent period ; and that Melanippe was not entertained here but at Dius, and thinks that the heroum of Metabus as well as the testimony of the poet Asius, who says that " The beautiful Melanippe, in the halls of Dius, bare Boeotus," afford sufficient proof that Melanippe was led to Dius and not to Metabum. Ephorus says that Daulius, the tyrant of Crissa 3 near Delphi, was the founder of Metapontium. There is, however, another tradition, that Leucippus was sent by the Achoeans to help to found the colony, and having asked per- mission of the Tarentini to have the place for a day and a night, would not give it up, replying by day to those who 1 The Greek words might either mean that Metapontium was destroyed or that the sacrifices were abolished. From the succeeding sentence it would be most natural to suppose that Strabo meant to say the city was overthrown. 2 These words are not in the Greek text, but seem to have been acci- dentally omitted by the transcriber. 3 A city of Phocis, now Krisso.