ri was founded
by the Locrians from the mother-country in B.C. 683. The laws of this
city were drawn up by one of its citizens, named Zaleucus, and so
averse were the Locrians to any change in them, that whoever proposed a
new law had to appear in the public assembly with a rope round his
neck, which was immediately tightened if he failed to convince his
fellow-citizens of the necessity of the alteration. Rhegium, situated
on the straits of Messina, opposite Sicily, was colonised by the
Chalcidians, but received a large body of Messenians, who settled here
at the close of the Messenian war. Anaxilas, tyrant of Rhegium about
B.C. 500, was of Messenian descent. He seized the Sicilian Zancle on
the opposite coast, and changed its name into Messana, which it still
bears. Tarentum was a colony from Sparta and was founded about B.C.
708. After the destruction of Sybaris it was the most powerful and
flourishing city in Magna Graecia, and continued to enjoy great
prosperity till its subjugation by the Romans. Although of Spartan
origin, it did not maintain Spartan habits, and its citizens were noted
at a later time for their love of luxury and pleasure.

The Grecian settlements in the distant countries of Gaul and Spain were
not numerous. The most celebrated was Massalia, the modern Marseilles,
founded by the Ionic Phocaeans in B.C. 600.

3. The northern coast of Africa, between the territories of Carthage
and Egypt, was also occupied by Greek colonists. The city of Cyrene
was founded about B.C. 630. It was a colony from the island of Thera
in the AEgean, which was itself a colony from Sparta. The situation of
Cyrene was well chosen. It stood on the edge of a range of hills, at
the distance of ten miles from the Mediterranean, of which it commanded
a fine view. These hills descended by a succession of terraces to the
port of the town, called Apollonia. The climate was most salubrious,
and the soil was distinguished by extraordinary fertility. With these
advantages Cyrene rapidly grew in wealth and power; and its greatness
is attested by the immense remains which still mark its desolate site.
Cyrene planted several colonies in the adjoining district, of which
Barca, founded about B.C. 560, was the most important.

4. There were several Grecian colonies situated on the eastern side of
the Ionian sea, in Epirus and its immediate neighbourhood. Of these
the island of Corcyra, now called Corfu, was the most wealthy