Puteŏli
Now Pozzuoli; originally named Dicaearchia. A celebrated seaport town of Campania, situated
on a promontory on the eastern side of the Puteolanus Sinus, and a little to the east of
Cumae, was founded by the Greeks of Cumae, B.C. 521, under the name of Dicaearchia. It
obtained the name of Puteoli either from its numerous wells or from the stench arising from
the mineral springs in its neighbourhood. The town was indebted for its importance to
its excellent harbour, which was protected by an extensive mole to which Caligula attached a
floating bridge, which extended as far as Baiae, a distance of two miles. Puteoli was the
chief emporium for the commerce with Alexandria and with the greater part of Spain. The town
was colonized by the Romans in B.C. 194, and also anew by Augustus, Nero, and Vespasian. It
was destroyed by Alaric in A.D. 410, by Genseric in 455, and also by Totila in 545, but was on
each occasion speedily rebuilt. There are still many ruins of the ancient town at the modern
Pozzuoli.
