TEMESA (city in Bruttium)
Ancient city of Magna Graecia on the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Bruttium
- Where
- 39.04° N, 16.16° E
Temesa is an ancient Italian city situated along the Tyrrhenian coast near the fields of Iapyx. Ovid Met. 15.1-59 (4) Odysseus arrived at this city with his ships during his post-Troy wanderings. Pausanias 6.6.7 The tomb of Polites, a companion of Ulysses, is near the city and is surrounded by a dense grove of wild olives. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1
Described in the sources
Exhausted copper mines are located near the city. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1 The city of Terina is situated contiguous to Temesa. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1 A temple where a maiden was kept existed within this city. Pausanias 6.6.9 The city was still inhabited at the time of the author's report. Pausanias 6.6.10 The city of Temesa was depicted in a copy of an ancient painting. Pausanias 6.6.11 Tempsa is located in a region of Italy situated far from the Ausonian Sea. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 14.8 ¶7 Temesa, also known as Tempsa, is the first city located after the Lao river. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1
Gods and worship
The Pythian priestess ordered the people of Temesa to build a temple for the Hero and to sacrifice the fairest maiden to him annually. Pausanias 6.6.8
Stories and history
The city possessed famous copper mines. Ovid Met. 15.622-744 (4) +1 The inhabitants of Temesa resolved to flee from Italy. Pausanias 6.6.8 The Bruttii expelled the Aetolian rulers from the city. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1 Aetolians led by Thoas later seized control of the city. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1 Hannibal and the Romans subsequently overthrew the Bruttii. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1 The Ausonians were the original founders of the settlement. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1 The ghost of a stoned man killed the inhabitants of Temesa. Pausanias 6.6.8 The area of Tempsa produces wines that are considered notable. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 14.8 ¶7 The Locrians of Epizephyria eventually took possession of the city. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1 A proverb warns against offending the hero associated with this place. Strabo 6.1.5 part 1