How a small Greek colony in Italy shaped the alphabet used by the world

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in the 8th century BCE, Cumae was the first Greek colony on the Italian mainland. It became a powerhouse of Mediterranean culture, serving as the bridge that transmitted the Euboean alphabet to the Etruscans and eventually the Romans, creating the Latin script that remains our global standard today.

Established by settlers from Eretria and Chalcis, Cumae occupied a strategic position on the Monte di Cuma. Its proximity to fertile plains and convenient harbors allowed it to dominate the Campanian coast. By the 8th century BCE, the colony was already expanding, founding its own settlements like Zancle in Sicily. Its influence was not merely territorial; it was a cultural conduit that introduced Greek language and writing to indigenous Italian peoples.

The city's history is marked by a transition from Greek independence to Roman integration. After defeating a coalition of Etruscans and indigenous tribes in 524 BCE, Cumae entered a period of political volatility under the tyrant Aristodemus. By 338 BCE, it had entered a formal alliance with Rome, eventually gaining partial citizenship. During the Roman era, Cumae transformed into a prosperous retreat for the elite, featuring grand infrastructure like the Aqua Augusta and extensive road tunnels, including the 1 km long Grotta di Cocceio.

Cumae’s decline was as dramatic as its rise. Following the Gothic Wars in the 6th century AD, the city suffered repeated attacks. By 1207, it was destroyed by Neapolitan forces who viewed the site as a bandit stronghold. Today, the ruins offer a layered history, from the 6th-century BCE temple remains to the 1992 discovery of an Isis temple. While the city itself was abandoned to marshes for centuries, its legacy persists through the archaeological treasures housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and the enduring reach of the Latin alphabet.

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