having already fallen into almost complete decay. Its name is still found in the Itineraries, and it is noticed by Procopius as still existing in the 6th century. Abandonment Over time the sediment accretion of the Crati river caused its river delta to shift towards the sea at a long term rate of one meter a year. As a consequence the successive sites of Sybaris, Thurii, and Copia became landlocked and lost their importance because they no longer had easy access to the sea for trade. The period of its final decay is uncertain; but it seems to have been abandoned during the Middle Ages when the inhabitants took refuge at a place called Terranova (Terranova da Sibari), about 15 kilometers inland, on a hill on the left bank of the Crati. The exact location of Greek Thurii is not known but that of the Roman town, which probably though not certainly occupied the same site, is fixed by several ruins as being about 6 kilometers to the east of Terranova da Sibari and as occupying an area some 6 km in circuit. It is clear from the statements both of Diodorus and Strabo, that Thurii occupied a site near to, but distinct from, that of Sybaris: hence the position suggested by some local topographers at the foot of the hill of Terranova, is probably too far inland. It is more likely that the true site is to be sought to the north of the Coscile (the ancient Sybaris), a few kilometers from the sea, where ruins still exist, attributed to Sybaris, but which are probably in reality those of Thurii. Henry Swinburne, however, mentions Roman ruins as existing in the peninsula formed by the rivers Crathis and Sybaris near their junction, which may perhaps be those of Thurii. Coinage Thurii had an active mint in antiquity. The coins of Thurii are of great beauty; their number and variety indeed gives us a higher idea of the opulence and prosperity of the city than we should gather from the statements of ancient writers. Famous people Alexis (ancient comic poet) Herodotus, who migrated to Thurii from Athens after 443 BC. Lysias, who migrated to Thurii from Athens c. 430 BC. See also List of ancient Greek cities References External links Colonies of Magna Graecia Athenian colonies Roman sites of Calabria Former populated places in Italy Province of Cosenza Archaeological sites in