Tristan Hughes

As Catherine mentioned, it was founded by Greeks who came from Sybaris.

Imagine Italy's boot-like shape, Sybaris could be found right on its sole, positioned next to what is now the Bay of Taranto and looking east towards Corfu and northwest Greece.

The city had been founded by mainland Greeks in the 8th century BC.

By around 600 BC, Sybaris had already become a wealthy city.

But troubles within encouraged a group of people there to leave.

They headed west, sailing around the toe of Italy in search of a new homeland.

It was they who founded Posidonia.

We'll largely say Pestum from now on to keep it simple.

Same place.

Over the following decades, Pestum would grow and start to establish itself in the area,

Its people built a harbour, taking advantage of the trade routes, and farmed the abundant arable lands on this coastal plain.

Word soon spread, with more settlers arriving at Pestum over the course of the 6th century, keen for a fresh start in this fledgling city.

Early on, Pestum's story was intertwined with Sybaris.

But that all changed at the end of the 6th century, when Sybaris was destroyed.

According to the Greek geographer Strabo, Sybaris had grown into a rich and powerful city, but its people grew arrogant and decadent.

This is where we get the word Sybarite from.

And this led to their swift downfall.

In a war with Croton, a neighbouring Greek city and modern-day Crotone, Sybaris was destroyed.

The armies of Croton diverted the water from the nearby river, flooding Sybaris and forcing its people to flee.

It's likely that many of these Sybarite refugees fled to Pestum.