Cumae

Ancient Greek city in Italy, on the west coast of Campania about 16 km/10 mi west of Naples. It was Italy's earliest Greek colony, founded about 750 BC by colonists from Chalcis, in Euboea. The cavern of the oracular Cumaean Sibyl still exists.

As an independent city-state Cumae attained considerable power and enjoyed great prosperity in spite of repeated attacks by the Etruscans and other peoples. However, in about 420, it was taken by the Samnites, and became subject to Rome 338 BC. In the second Punic War it resisted a Carthaginian siege, and continued to flourish until imperial times when its prosperity faded. It was late garrisoned by the Goths.