Laos, Laus

... BC     founded, colony of Sybaris at the mouth of the Fiume Lao
           "situated a little above the sea" according to Strabo (the city of Marcellina?).

           A laios is a kind of thrush.
           The bird is probably the:
           Blue Rock Thrush    Petrocichla cyanus
                               Monticola cyanus
                               or Monticola solitarius
           depicted on the coins of Laus.
           Dr. George Miles has kindly supplied this identification.
           SNG ANS 139-46 of Laus, represent excellent representations of the bird.

           Lit: CM Kraay (Numismatic Chronicle 1958, pp 13-37. "The Coinage of Sybaris after 510 BC".

           According to others the bird(s) on the coins of Laus is a
           crow     (AW Hands 1909, SNG München 1973, Numismatica Ars Classica AG 1998)
           raven    (F Catalli 1995)
           




           The river formed the boundary between the lands of the Lucanians and the Bruttians.
           Near to Laus is the tomb of Draco, one of the companians of Odysseus.
510 BC     many refugees from Sybaris I (took over power?)
           Influence on the coinage of Laos.
510-470 BC Sybaris II (dependent from Kroton), founded by Sybarite political refugees from Kroton.
470 BC     Sybaris II destructed by Kroton. Refugees to Laus and Poseidonia.
           Influence on the coinage of Laus (acorn).
453-448 BC Sybaris III founded by the Laus' and Poseidonian refugees.
390 BC     Lucanians in control of the city.
           The Greeks of Italy (headed by the Thurians) were bound to assist the citizens of Laus.
           The Lucanians retreated in the mountains. and caught the Thurians in an ambush.
           Some 10000 Greeks are said to have been slain. Many were saved by a fleet of their enemy
           Dionysius, whose brother Leptinus was in command. The Lucanians were persuaded to save
           their lives on receipt of a mina of silver for each man (AW Hands 1909).

           Stenius or Statilius Lucanian name mentioned by Pliny.
           Valerius Maximus, the leader of the Lucanian hosts, which besieged Thurium about that time.

 

E. Greco 'Monete dall'abitato antico presso Marcellina (Laos?), AIIN 23-4, 1976-7,61-8
Colony of Sybaris.