Cuma Excursions

The city of Cuma was founded by Greek colonists coming from Calcide in the 8th century B.C., maybe the oldest Greek colony founded in Italy, it became soon very important, for the diffusion all over the area of the Greek alphabet Greek habits, arts and culture; some of its inhabitants moved along south the coast and founded Naples. Cuma became a roman colony in 338 the most important archaeological remains are the Sybil’s cave, and the temples of Jupiter and the one of Apollo The monument, entirely hollowed out of the tufa bank, fascinates the visitor owing to the atmosphere of mystery that pervades it. The Sibyl's Cave 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 mt. long, 2.40 mt. wide and 5 mt. high gallery (dromos), trapezoid ally shaped and lighted by six side slits, open 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. The temple of Jupiter was built by the Greek on the very top of the city, reconstructed by Augustus and transformed in to a Christian Basilica in the V-VI a.d. with 5 aisles. The temple of Apollo is pertly visible in the stereobate foundations, made of square tufa blocks.