Editing Thurii (section)

=== Roman dependency ===
Thurii became a dependent ally of Rome, and was protected by a Roman garrison.{{cn|date=December 2023}} 

It played a considerable part in the [[Second Punic War]] with [[Hannibal]]. It was one of the cities which defected to the [[Carthage|Carthaginians]] after the [[battle of Cannae]] in 212 BC.<ref>Liv. xxii. 61, xxv. 1.</ref> After the defection of Tarentum, they betrayed the Roman troops into the hands of the Carthaginian general [[Hanno, son of Bomilcar|Hanno]].<ref>''Id.'' xxv. 15; Appian, ''Hann.'' 34.</ref> A few years later (210 BC), Hannibal, finding himself unable to protect his allies in [[Campania]], removed the inhabitants of [[Atella]] who had survived the fall of their city to Thurii;<ref>Appian, ''Hann.'' 49.</ref> but it was not long before he was compelled to abandon the latter city also to its fate. When he himself in 204 BC withdrew his forces into [[Bruttium]], he removed to Crotona 3500 of the principal citizens of Thurii, while he gave up the city itself to the plunder of his troops.<ref>Appian, ''l. c.'', 57.</ref> 

It is evident that Thurii was now sunk to the lowest state of decay, but the great fertility of its territory rendered it desirable to preserve it from utter desolation. Hence in 194 BC, it was one of the places selected for the establishment of a [[Colonia (Roman)|Roman colony]] with Latin rights.<ref>Liv. xxxiv. 53; Strabo vi. p. 263.</ref> The number of colonists was small in proportion to the extent of land to be divided among them, but they amounted to 3000 foot and 300 knights.<ref>Liv. xxxv. 9.</ref> Livy says merely that the colony was sent in ''Thurinum agrum'', but Strabo tells us that the Romans gave the new colony the name of '''Copiae''', as confirmed both by [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] and by the evidence of coins, on which, however, the name is written "COPIA".<ref>Strabo ''l. c.''; Steph. Byz. ''s. v.'' {{lang|grc|Θούριοι}}; [[Eckhel]], vol. i. p. 164.</ref> But this new name did not continue long in use, and Thurii still continued to be known by its ancient appellation. It is mentioned as a municipal town on several occasions during the latter ages of the [[Roman Republic]]. In 72 BC it was taken by [[Spartacus]] and subjected to heavy contributions but not otherwise injured.<ref>Appian, ''B.C.'' i. 117.</ref> According to [[Lives of the Twelve Caesars|Suetonius]], the Octavian family held some renown there, and [[Gaius Octavius (praetor 61 BC)|Gaius Octavius]] (father of the future [[Caesar Augustus]]) defeated a Spartacist army near there. As a result, the future emperor was granted the surname Thurinus shortly after birth. At the outbreak of the [[Caesar's civil wars|Civil Wars]], it was deemed by [[Julius Caesar]] of sufficient importance to be secured with a garrison of [[Gaul]]ish and [[Hispania|Spanish]] horse, and it was there that [[M. Caelius Rufus]] was put to death, after a vain attempt to excite an insurrection in this part of Italy.<ref>[[Julius Caesar]] ''[[Commentarii de Bello Civili]]'' iii. 21, 22.</ref> In 40 BC also it was attacked by [[Sextus Pompeius]], who laid waste its territory, but he was repulsed from the walls of the city.<ref>Appian, ''B.C.'' v. 56, 58.</ref>

Thurii was at this time still a place of some importance, and it is mentioned as an existing town by Pliny and Ptolemy, as well as Strabo.<ref>Strabo vi. p. 263; Plin. iii. 11. s. 15; Ptol. iii. 1. § 12.</ref> It was probably, indeed, the only place of any consideration remaining on the coast of the Tarentine gulf between Crotona and Tarentum; both [[Metapontum]] and Heracleia having already fallen into almost complete decay. Its name is still found in the Itineraries,<ref>''[[Antonine Itinerary]]'' p. 114, where it is written '''Turios'''; ''[[Tabula Peutingeriana]]''.</ref> and it is noticed by [[Procopius]] as still existing in the 6th century.<ref>Procop. ''B. G.'' i. 15.</ref>