RECOMMENDED EXCURSIONS

CUMA

• Cenni storici

• Temple of Jupiter - "Temple of Apollo"

• The Sibyl's cave

CENNI STORICI

Cumae is believed to have been founded in the 8th century B. C by colonists from the Euboean towns of Chalcis and Eretria who bad already settled on the neighbouring island of Pithekoussai (Ischia). Very soon Curnae spread its power over the whole Phlegraean area, including Naples. Its history, from 421 B. C, when the city fell into the hands of the Companians, mixes with that of Dicaearchia. Towards the end of the Republic, when Puteoli became the chief port of Rome , Cumae fell into a rapid decline and was remembered only as a quiet, almost deserted town and as a place of worship, owing to the presence of the oracular Grotto of the Sibyl. During the Middle Ages, Cumae became the fixed abode of robbers who, in 1207, were wiped out by a Campanian league.

TEMPLE OF JUPITER - "TEMPLE OF APOLLO"

Only the stereobate remains of the Greek, so-called Temple of Jupiter (5th century B.C.) on the summit of the acropolis. During the 5th century A.D. the temple was transformed into a christian basilica, of which one can still observe the remains of the ancient altar and a large circular baptismal font. On the lower terrace of the acropolis there is the so-called Temple of Apollo, the construction of which is attributed to the mythical Daedalus, who, escaped from Crete with his artificial wings and landed at Cumae. Of the ancient temple all that survives is the stereobate platform, because it was converted into a christian basilica in the 5th century A.D.

THE SIBIL'S CAVE

The monument, entirely hollowed out of the tufa bank, fascinates the visitor owing to the atmosphere of mystery that pervades it. According to Virgil's description (Aeneid, VI), it is in this place that the abode of the Sibyl, Apollo's prophetic priestess, must be located. It might however, also be a rare example of funerary architecture inspired by,Creto-Mycenean tombs. A 131.50 m. long, 2.40 m. wide and 5 m. high gallery (dromos), trapezoidally shaped and lighted by six side slits, opens into a vaulted chamber, where the Sibyl rendered her oracles. According to recent studies the purpose of this gallery was to defend the underlying port area.