city state · Italy

Taras

706 BCE – 272 BCE (approx.) · capital Taras

The only Spartan colony in Italy, which grew into the leading Greek city of southern Italy and fought Rome with the help of Pyrrhus.

Origins

Tradition says that the Partheniai, sons of Spartan women born during the Messenian War, were sent out under Phalanthus and founded Taras in 706 BCE. The city occupied a peninsula between the Mar Piccolo lagoon and the open sea, giving it the best harbour on the Gulf of Taranto.

Rule and society

Taras grew rich on fishing, purple dye, fine wool, horses and pottery; Apulian red-figure vases were made there. After a heavy defeat by the Iapygians around 473 BCE it became a democracy. In the 4th century BCE the philosopher Archytas, a friend of Plato, was repeatedly elected general. Taras led the Italiote League and hired Greek commanders, including Archidamus III of Sparta and Alexander of Epirus, against Italic peoples.

Decline and legacy

Conflict with Rome began in 282 BCE when Tarentines attacked a Roman squadron. Pyrrhus of Epirus came to their aid, but after his departure Taras surrendered in 272 BCE. It defected to Hannibal in 212 BCE and was sacked when retaken in 209 BCE. Roman Tarentum survives as Taranto.

Connections (3)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Taras. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/taras
MLA
“Taras.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/taras. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Taras.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/taras.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Taras’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/taras (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻