More than thirty Greek city-states had multiple colonies
around the Mediterranean world, with the most active being Miletus, with ninety
colonies stretching throughout the Mediterranean Sea, from the shores of the
Black Sea and Anatolia (modern Turkey) in the east, to the southern coast of
the Iberian Peninsula in the west, as well as several colonies on the northern
coast of Africa with the overall sumN. G. L. Hammond (2003). A history of
Greece to 322 BC. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 9 May 2013. being 1500
from the late ninth, up to the 5th century BC.
There were two similar types of colony, one known as an ἀποικία
- apoikia (pl.: ἀποικίαι, apoikiai) and the other as an ἐμπορίov - emporion
(pl.: ἐμπορία, emporia). The first type of colony was a city-state on its own;
the second was a Greek trading-colony.
The Greek city-states began establishing colonies around 800
BC, at first at Al Mina on the coast of Syria and the Greek emporium
Pithekoussai at Ischia in the Bay of Naples, both established about 800 BC by
Euboeans.[8]
Two flushes of new colonists set out from Greece at the
transition between the "Dark Ages"
and the start of the Archaic
Period, one in the early 8th century BC and a second burst of the colonizing
spirit in the 6th century. Population growth and cramped spaces at home seem an
insufficient explanation, while the economical and political dynamics produced
by the competitive spirit between the frequently kingless, newly introduced
concept of the Greek city-states, striving to expand their sphere of economical
influence better fits as their true incentive. Through this Greek expansion the
use of coins flourished throughout the Mediterranean Basin.
Ancient Greek colonies on the northern coast of the Black
Sea, c. 450 BCE
Influential Greek colonies in the western Mediterranean –
many of them in today's Italy — included Cyme, Rhegium (Rhegion) by Chalcis and
Zankle (c. 8th century), Syracuse by Corinth/Tenea (c. 734 BC), Naxos by
Chalkis (c. 734 BC), Massalia (the later Marseille, France, c. 598 BC) and
Agathe (shortly after Massalia) by Phokaia, Elea (Italy) and Emporion (nowadays
Spain) by Phokaia/Massalia (c. 540 BC and early 6th century), Antipolis
(nowadays France) by Achaea, Alalia (Corsica) by Phokaia/Massalia (c. 545 BC)
and Cyrene (Cyrenaica, nowadays Libya) by Thera (762/61 and 632/31 BCE).[9]
Several formulae were generally adhered to on the solemn and
sacred occasions when a new colony set forth. If a Greek city was sending out a
colony, an oracle, especially one such as the Oracle of Delphi, was almost
invariably consulted beforehand. Sometimes certain classes of citizens were
called upon to take part in the enterprises; sometimes one son was chosen by
lot from every house where there were several sons; and strangers expressing a
desire to join were admitted. A person of distinction was selected to guide the
emigrants and make the necessary arrangements. It was usual to honor these
founders of colonies, after their death, as heroes. Some of the sacred fire was
taken from the public hearth in the Prytaneum, from which the fire on the
public hearth of the new city was kindled. And, just as each individual had his
private shrines, so the new community maintained the worship of its chief
domestic deities, the colony sending embassies and votive gifts to the
mother-city's principal festivals for centuries afterwards.
The relation between colony and mother-city, known literally
as the metropolis, was viewed as one of mutual affection. Any differences that
arose were made up, if possible, by peaceful means, war being deemed excusable
only in cases of extreme necessity. The charter of foundation contained general
provisions for the arrangement of the affairs of the colony, and also some
special enactments. The constitution of the mother-city was usually adopted by
the colony, but the new city remained politically independent. If the colony
sent out a fresh colony on its own account, the mother-city was generally
consulted, or was at least requested to furnish a leader. Frequently the
colonies declaring their commitment to the various metropolitic alliances
formed in the Greek mainland and for religious reasons would pay tribute in
religious centres, like Delphi, Olympia or Delos.[10] It is worth noting that
the Peloponnesian War was in part a result of a dispute between Corinth and her
colony of Corcyra (Corfu). The cleruchs, known in Greek as klêrouchoi, formed a
special class of Greek colonists, being assigned individual plots of land in
the place to which they had been assigned. The trade factories set up in
foreign countries, such as Egypt, were somewhat different from the ordinary
colonies, the members retaining the right of domicile in their own fatherland
and confining themselves to their own quarter in the foreign city.