Parthenope: The Oldest Ancient Greek City of Italy

The city of Parthenope was one of the earliest ancient Greek settlements on the coast of what is now Naples, Italy.

Its name is derived from a siren in Greek mythology. According to Dr. Maria Luisa Nava, the Greeks of Cumae (in present-day Italy) founded Parthenope at the end of the 8th century BC. It predates the founding of the larger city of Neapolis (modern-day Naples) by several centuries.

Mythology of Parthenope

While Odysseus was journeying home after the Trojan War, he and his crew encountered the sirens. Forewarned by the sorceress Circe, Odysseus ordered his men to plug their ears with beeswax so they couldn’t hear the sirens’ irresistible song, which was so captivating that it caused sailors to crash their ships on rocky shores, leading to their deaths. However, curious to hear their voices, Odysseus had himself tied to the mast of his ship.

When Parthenope and the other sirens sang, Odysseus was captivated, but he could not act on his desire, as he was bound. Parthenope, heartbroken over her failure to capture Odysseus, is said to have thrown herself into the sea.

In some versions, she drowned herself out of despair, and her body washed up on the shores of what would later become the city of Parthenope.

The University of Naples derives its name from Parthenope.

Prehistoric and early Greek settlements in Naples

Greek settlements had already existed in Naples since prehistoric times. The history of Naples dates back to the Chalcolithic period (third millennium BC). This is evident by tombs that archeologists discovered in the region. They inhabit the area as early as the neolithic era. By the second millennium BC, the first Mycenaean settlers had arrived at the site where the future Parthenope would be founded.

Ancient Greeks from the island of Euboea are believed to have founded the city of Cumae around the ninth or eighth centuries BC. These settlers later established another city, Parthenope, where they became the first inhabitants.

However, according to some other sources, the Rhodians may have been the founders of Parthenope.

Parthenope was likely located at Castel dell’Ovo. In the eighth century BC, the settlement expanded, reaching as far as Mount Etna. By the sixth century BC, the city was refounded as Neapolis (meaning new city in Greek) and grew into one of the main centers of Greater Greece (Magna Graecia).

Archaeological findings and the fall of Parthenope

Archaeologists uncovered a seventh-century BC necropolis on via Nicotera, which reveals the burial practices of Parthenope’s inhabitants. They also discovered a ceramics waste dump from the Archaic period along via Chiatamone, pointing to pottery production and trade that likely originated from the hill of Pizzofalcone.

These findings actively highlight aspects of the city’s early history. A tuff wall dating to the sixth century BC was uncovered on via S. Giacomo, near the modern town hall, which was part of the city’s port infrastructure. This wall may have served both as a boundary and as a defensive structure to protect the settlement from external threats.

As Parthenope’s location became increasingly attractive due to its natural amenities and strategic position, the city began to attract more settlers and trade, growing in influence. However, this rise in prominence worried the inhabitants of the neighboring Greek colony of Cumae, who feared that Parthenope would overshadow their own city and lead to its abandonment.

In response to this potential threat, the Cumaeans took drastic measures. According to the scholar Giovanni Pugliese Carratelli, they decided to destroy Parthenope, likely through military action or by destabilizing the city. This action appears to have been a deliberate attempt to curtail the growing power of Parthenope and maintain Cumae’s dominance in the region.

The destruction of Parthenope marked a turning point in the region’s history. The survivors and the city’s remnants were absorbed into the growing colony of Neapolis (modern-day Naples). They founded it nearby and eventually overshadowed Parthenope.

The archaeological findings of these early settlements suggest a rich and complex history. However, much of Parthenope’s story remains shrouded in mystery. Only fragments of its past survive through scattered archaeological sites.