Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians Coexisted During 8th-Century, Study Shows

A new study has revealed that Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians coexisted on the island of Ischia (now part of Italy), nearly 2,800 years ago, making it one of the earliest multicultural hubs in the Mediterranean.

The research provides fresh insights into the region’s migration, trade, and cultural exchange during the early Iron Age. The study, led by the University of Padova in collaboration with several Italian institutions, analyzed human remains from an ancient burial site in Pithekoussai (Greek: Πιθηκοῦσαι), the historic name for Ischia.

Researchers used isotope analysis on teeth and bones to trace individual origins and confirm the island’s role as a meeting point for different civilizations.

An early center of cultural exchange

Founded by Greek settlers from Euboea, Pithekoussai was the first known Greek colony in the western Mediterranean. However, the study confirms that it was not exclusively Greek.

Instead, it was a diverse settlement where Greeks, Italians, and Phoenicians lived side by side, influencing each other’s customs and traditions.

“This integration of archaeological, anthropological, and biogeochemical data allowed us to reconstruct the movements and interactions between the peoples who populated the island of Ischia with a level of detail never reached before, confirming the image of a Mediterranean of dialogue and mobility during the first millennium BCE,” said Carmen Esposito of the University of Bologna.

Archaeologists examined more than 50 individuals from the burial site, some of whom had been cremated while others were buried. The findings indicate that Ischia was not only a destination for merchants but also a place where entire communities, including families, settled and thrived.

Women’s role in migration and society

The study challenges the long-standing idea that male traders primarily led early migration. The evidence suggests that women also played an essential role in Ischia’s growth, reinforcing the idea that both men and women contributed to the development of the settlement

Melania Gigante, a researcher at the University of Padova, highlighted the significance of this discovery. “Thanks to the analysis of the strontium isotopic ratio, our study has identified an important component of foreigners at Pithekoussai, revealing a strongly heterogeneous society,” she said.

Unraveling the mystery of the Cup of Nestor

Among the most famous discoveries in Pithekoussai’s necropolis is the Cup of Nestor, an artifact inscribed with one of the oldest known examples of Greek writing.

The engraving refers to the legendary chalice of Nestor from Homer’s epics, making it a crucial link in understanding how Greek literacy spread to the western Mediterranean.

For years, scholars debated the individual’s identity buried alongside the cup. Recent isotope analysis has determined that at least one person in the tomb was born on Ischia. This discovery reinforces the idea that the island was home to immigrants and a stable local community.

A window into the ancient Mediterranean

By integrating archaeological, anthropological, and biochemical data, researchers have painted a clearer picture of life on Ischia in the 8th century BC.

The island was not just a trading outpost for ancient Greeks but a thriving, multicultural society that played a key role in shaping the history of the Mediterranean.

The study provides new evidence of how different cultures coexisted and influenced one another, shedding light on Magna Graecia’s early days and the broader dynamics of the ancient world.