DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0039
BEFORE 79
9
rude and hardy race, became civilized from contact with the
Greeks, who at an early period had settled in Cumae, in Dicae-
archia, afterward Puteoli, and in Parthenope, later Naples; and
the coast climate had an enervating effect upon them. When
toward the end of the fifth century b.c. the Samnites, kinsmen
of the Oscans, left their rugged mountain homes in the interior
and pressed down toward the coast, the Oscans were unable to
cope with them. In 424 b.c. the Samnites stormed and took
Capua, in 420, Cumae; and Pompeii likewise fell into their
hands. But they were no more successful than the Oscans had
been in resisting the influence of Greek culture. How strong
this influence was may be seen in the remains at Pompeii. The
architecture of the period was Greek; Greek divinities were
honored, as Apollo and Zeus Milichius; and the standard meas-
ures of the mensa ponderaria were inscribed with Greek names.
In less than a hundred years new strifes arose between the
more cultured Samnites of the plain and their rough and war-
like kinsmen in the mountains.. But Rome took a part in the
struggle, and in the Samnite Wars (343-290 b.c.) brought both
the men of the mountains and the men of the plain under her
dominion. Although the sovereignty of Rome took the form
of a perpetual alliance, the cities in reality lost their indepen-
dence. The complete subjugation and Romanizing of Cam-
pania, however, did not come till the time of the Social War
(90-88 b.c.) and the supremacy of Sulla; the Samnites staked
all on the success of the popular party, and lost.
In the narrative of these events Pompeii is not often men-
tioned. At the time of the Second Samnite War, in the year 310
b.c., we read that a Roman fleet under Publius Cornelius landed
at the mouth of the Sarno, and that a pillaging expedition fol-
lowed the course of the river as far as Nuceria; but the country
folk fell on the marauders as they were returning, and forced
them to give up their booty. We have no definite information
regarding the attitude of the Pompeians after the battle of
Cannae (216 b.c.); probably they joined the side of Hannibal,
who, however, was defeated by Marcus Marcellus near Nola in
the following year, and was obliged to leave Campania to the
Romans.
9
rude and hardy race, became civilized from contact with the
Greeks, who at an early period had settled in Cumae, in Dicae-
archia, afterward Puteoli, and in Parthenope, later Naples; and
the coast climate had an enervating effect upon them. When
toward the end of the fifth century b.c. the Samnites, kinsmen
of the Oscans, left their rugged mountain homes in the interior
and pressed down toward the coast, the Oscans were unable to
cope with them. In 424 b.c. the Samnites stormed and took
Capua, in 420, Cumae; and Pompeii likewise fell into their
hands. But they were no more successful than the Oscans had
been in resisting the influence of Greek culture. How strong
this influence was may be seen in the remains at Pompeii. The
architecture of the period was Greek; Greek divinities were
honored, as Apollo and Zeus Milichius; and the standard meas-
ures of the mensa ponderaria were inscribed with Greek names.
In less than a hundred years new strifes arose between the
more cultured Samnites of the plain and their rough and war-
like kinsmen in the mountains.. But Rome took a part in the
struggle, and in the Samnite Wars (343-290 b.c.) brought both
the men of the mountains and the men of the plain under her
dominion. Although the sovereignty of Rome took the form
of a perpetual alliance, the cities in reality lost their indepen-
dence. The complete subjugation and Romanizing of Cam-
pania, however, did not come till the time of the Social War
(90-88 b.c.) and the supremacy of Sulla; the Samnites staked
all on the success of the popular party, and lost.
In the narrative of these events Pompeii is not often men-
tioned. At the time of the Second Samnite War, in the year 310
b.c., we read that a Roman fleet under Publius Cornelius landed
at the mouth of the Sarno, and that a pillaging expedition fol-
lowed the course of the river as far as Nuceria; but the country
folk fell on the marauders as they were returning, and forced
them to give up their booty. We have no definite information
regarding the attitude of the Pompeians after the battle of
Cannae (216 b.c.); probably they joined the side of Hannibal,
who, however, was defeated by Marcus Marcellus near Nola in
the following year, and was obliged to leave Campania to the
Romans.