Strabo Geography 5.4.7

[7] After Dicaearchia is Neapolis, ¹ Innumerable accounts exist relative to the foundation of this city. The most prevalent fiction was that the siren Parthenope was cast upon its shores, and from her it derived the name, by which it was usually designated by the ancient poets.

Sirenum dedit una suum memorabile nomen

Parthenope muris Acheloïas: aequore cujus

Regnavere diu cantus, quum dulce per undas

Exitium miseris caneret non prospera nautis.

Sil. Ital. xii. 33. Scymnus of Chios mentions both the Phocaei and Cumaei as its founders. Stephanus of Byzantium attributes its foundation to the Rhodians; their proximity is favourable to the claims of the Cumaei, and hence the connexion of Naples with Euboea, alluded to by Statius, who was born there.

At te nascentem gremio mea prima recepit

Parthenope, dulcisque solo tu gloria nostro

Reptasti; nitidum consurgat ad aethera tellus

Eubois, et pulchra tumeat Sebethos alumna.

Silv. i. 2. A Greek inscription mentions a hero named Eumelus as having had divine honours paid to him, possibly as founder of the city. [See Capaccio, Hist. Nap. p. 105. Martorelli de’ Fenici primi abitatori di Napoli.] This may illustrate the following lines,—

Di patrii, quos auguriis super aequora magnis

Littus ad Ausonium devexit Abantia classis,

Tu ductor populi longe emigrantis Apollo,

Cujus adhuc volucrem leva cervice sedentem

Respiciens blande felix Eumelis adorat.

Silv. iv. 8, 45. originally] by the Cumaei, but afterwards being peopled by Chalcidians, and certain Pithecussaeans and Athenians, ² it was on this account denominated Naples. ³ Here is pointed out the tomb of Parthenope, one of the sirens, and a gymnastic sport is celebrated by command of an oracle. In course of time the inhabitants, having disagreed amongst themselves, admitted certain Campanians; thus being forced to regard in the light of friends those most inimical to them, since their friends were hostile. This is proved by the names of their demarchi, the earlier of which are Grecian, but the latter a mixture of Campanian with the Grecian names. Many traces of Grecian institution are still preserved, the gymnasia, the ephebeia, ⁴ the fratriae, ⁵ and the Grecian names of people who are Roman citizens. At the present time they celebrate, every fifth year, public games for music and gymnastic exercises during many days, which rival the most famous games of Greece. There is here a subterranean passage, similar to that at Cumae, ⁶ extending for many stadia along the mountain, ⁷ between Dicaearchia ⁸ and Neapolis: it is sufficiently broad to let carriages pass each other, and light is admitted from the surface of the mountain, by means of numerous apertures cut through a great depth. ⁹ Naples also has hot springs and baths not at all inferior in quality to those at Baïae, but much less frequented, for another city has arisen there, not less than Dicaearchia, one palace after another having been built. Naples still preserves the Grecian mode of life, owing to those who retire hither from Rome for the sake of repose, after a life of labour from childhood, and to those whose age or weakness demands relaxation. Besides these, Romans who find attractions in this style of life, and observe the numbers of persons dwelling there, are attracted by the place, and make it their abode.