The Sea of Salerno

Salerno and its surrounding

The Sea of Salerno

The present day Gulf of Salerno during the Roman and Augustan Ages (20 AD) and Paestanus Sinas (Gulf of Paestum), initially a colony and later a Roman Municipality, once enjoyed great prosperity – continuino to mint coins throughout the entire Imperial Era. It had once been the ancient Posidonia, founded by the Achaeans who came from Sibariti (VII century BC) south of the long river, today known as the River Sele, at whose outlet they were the first to erect a sanctuary to Hera Argiva.

The sea reveals its Greek history in the name Posidonia, and further down in the name Elea, the other important Greek Colony, founded by the Focai in about 540 BC. Further on from Elea there is the promontory of Palinuro. Place name of Eneas’s boatman , who drowned and was buried there by the local inhabitants (Vergil, Aenid, I-V-VI). The Greek elements of the sea which washeds the coast from Punta Campanella to Punta Licosa, Capo Palinuro, Punta degli Infreschi then made way for Rome and with the advent of Augustus the part up to the mouth of Silarius became the less wild Imperial Coast, constituting together with Rome the first Imperial Regio Eegius.

Later on during the Early Empire. The Lombard Middle Ages, the Arabian Incursion, and the malaria affliction Paestum commenced her decline…. However, facing the foot of the Lattari weave of Saracen and Buzantine sea commerce, was the star of Amalfi, the first maritime town, characterising with her routes the life of the sea and making it her own.

The Duchy of Amalfi engulfed the sea with the new flavour of the Orient and transformed what was once Greek and Roman into a Medieval Sea Route of Commerce and Prosperity.

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