Editing Naples (section)

=== Greek birth and Roman acquisition ===
{{Anchor|Greek|Roman}}
{{See also|Magna Graecia|Ancient Rome}}
[[File:Monte Echia, Napoli, Italia - 2024.jpg|left|thumb|Mount Echia, the place where the polis of [[History of Naples#Greek birth, Roman acquisition|Parthenope]] arose]]
[[File:ColonneDioscuriNapoli.jpg|left|thumb|The Columns of the [[c:Category:Temple of Dioscuri (Naples)|Temple of Castor and Pollux]] incorporated into the facade of [[San Paolo Maggiore, Naples|San Paolo Maggiore]]]]
[[File:Odysseus-siren Parthenope, the mythological founder of Naples.jpg|thumb|A scene featuring the [[siren (mythology)|siren]] [[Parthenope (Siren)|Parthenope]], the mythological founder of Naples<ref>{{cite news |url=http://chabadnapoli.com/travel.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011105652/http://chabadnapoli.com/travel.aspx |archive-date=11 October 2007 |publisher=Chadab Napoli |title=Center of Naples, Italy |date=24 June 2007}}</ref>]]
[[File:Putz94.jpg|thumb|Map of pre-Roman Neapolis]]
Naples has been inhabited since the [[Neolithic]] period.<ref>[http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/938ff/23f84/6/?o=3 "Neapolis Station – Archaeological Yards"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520161439/http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/938ff/23f84/6/?o=3 |date=20 May 2013 }}. Virtualtourist.com. 12 June 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2012.</ref> In the second millennium BC, a first [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean]] settlement arose not far from the geographical position of the future city of Parthenope.<ref>{{cite book |author1=David J. Blackman |author2=Maria Costanza Lentini |title=Ricoveri per navi militari nei porti del Mediterraneo antico e medievale: atti del Workshop, Ravello, 4–5 novembre 2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GhB4VDYuJXsC&pg=PA99 |year=2010 |publisher=Edipuglia srl |isbn=978-88-7228-565-7 |page=99}}</ref>

Sailors from the Greek island of [[Rhodes]] established probably a small commercial port called [[History of Naples#Greek birth, Roman acquisition|Parthenope]] ({{lang|grc|Παρθενόπη}}, meaning "Pure Eyes", a Siren in [[Greek mythology]]) on the [[Castel dell'Ovo|island of Megaride]] in the ninth century BC.<ref>[http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/ITA_Port_of_Napoli_1073.php "Port of Naples"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428091233/http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/ITA_Port_of_Napoli_1073.php |date=28 April 2012 }}. World Port Source. Retrieved 15 May 2012.</ref> By the eighth century BC, the settlement was expanded by [[Cumae (Italy)|Cumaeans]], as evidenced by the archaeological findings, to include Monte Echia.<ref>[http://www.archemail.it/notizie2011.htm#21/10/2011_Napoli,_Gli_scavi_della_Linea_6_portano_alla_luce_una_novit%C3%A0_clamorosa:_la_Napoli_greca_%C3%A8_stata_fondata_nell%C2%B4ottavo_secolo_a._C.,_non_nel_settimo__%28Repubblica%29 Archemail.it] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329184949/http://www.archemail.it/notizie2011.htm |date=29 March 2013 }}. Retrieved 3 December 2012.</ref> In the sixth century BC the city was refounded as Neápolis ({{lang|grc|Νεάπολις}}), eventually becoming one of the foremost cities of [[Magna Graecia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.unesco.beniculturali.it/en/projects/historic-centre-of-naples/ |title=HISTORIC CENTRE OF NAPLES |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004130624/https://www.unesco.beniculturali.it/en/projects/historic-centre-of-naples/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The city grew rapidly due to the influence of the powerful Greek [[city-state]] of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]],<ref name="Greek Naples">{{cite web |url=http://www.naplesldm.com/Greek_Naples.php |title=Greek Naples |publisher=naplesldm.com |access-date=9 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321000245/http://www.naplesldm.com/Greek_Naples.php |archive-date=21 March 2017}}</ref> and became an ally of the [[Roman Republic]] against [[Carthage]]. During the [[Samnite Wars]], the city, now a bustling centre of trade, was [[Capture of Neapolis|captured]] by the [[Samnium|Samnites]];<ref>{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u23MlfA8pcoC&q=campanian+people |publisher=Touring Club of Italy |title=Touring Club of Italy, Naples: The City and Its Famous Bay, Capri, Sorrento, Ischia, and the Amalfi, Milano |isbn=88-365-2836-8 |page=11 |year=2003}}</ref> however, the Romans soon captured the city from them and made it a [[Colonies in antiquity|Roman colony]].<ref name="rome" /> During the [[Punic Wars]], the strong walls surrounding Neápolis repelled the invading forces of the Carthaginian general [[Hannibal]].<ref name="rome" />

The Romans greatly respected Naples as a paragon of [[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenistic culture]]. During the Roman era, the people of Naples maintained their [[Greek language]] and customs. At the same time, the city was expanded with elegant Roman [[villa]]s, [[Roman aqueduct|aqueducts]], and [[Thermae|public baths]]. Landmarks such as the [[Castor and Pollux|Temple of Dioscures]] were built, and many emperors chose to holiday in the city, including [[Claudius]] and [[Tiberius]].<ref name="rome">{{cite news |url=http://naples.rome-in-italy.com/history_naples_1.html |publisher=Naples.Rome-in-Italy.com |title=Antic Naples |date=8 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225013134/http://naples.rome-in-italy.com/history_naples_1.html |archive-date=25 December 2008}}</ref> [[Virgil]], the author of Rome's [[national epic]], the ''[[Aeneid]]'', received part of his education in the city, and later resided in its environs.

It was during this period that Christianity first arrived in Naples; the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[Saint Paul|Paul]] are said{{according to whom|date=July 2024}} to have preached in the city. [[Januarius]], who would become Naples' [[patron saint]], was [[martyr]]ed there in the fourth century AD.<ref name="catholi">{{Cite CE1913|wstitle=Naples}}</ref> The last emperor of the [[Western Roman Empire]], [[Romulus Augustulus]], was exiled to Naples by the Germanic king [[Odoacer]] in the fifth century AD.