Dikaiarchia
Ancient port of Dikaiarchia
Pozzuoli was founded in 530 B. C by political exiles from Samos who gave the city the auspicious name of "Dicaearchia"which means" just government".Being on Cumaean territory, it was, at first, subject to Cumae, fell in 421 B.C un der the power of the Campanians and in 338 B. C under the Romans, who during the Punic wars, acknowledged its importance as a trading and military port. Then it changed its name into that of Puteoli (small wells) and be came one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean, so that it was called Delus minor" and "litora mundi hospita" The industries of glass, terra cotta, perfumes, textiles, colours and iron developed considerably, owing to the presence of local skilled workers educated to Phoenician, Hellenistic and Egyptian traditions. Through its port Puteoli also assimilated other civilisations and religions. It is, in fact, historically established that St. Paul landed at Puteoli in A.D. 61, found a Christian community in the city and stayed there for a week. Puteoli thrived as long as its port met the requirements of Roman trade, but suffered a great blow when the Romans built the port of Ostia owing to downward bradyseism, which submerged harbour facilities, and to the fall of Rome Puteoli became a small fishermen's centre and, in the Middle Ages, tourists came to the Phlegraean area only to take thermal treatments . After the eruption of Monte Nuovo in 1538, the social, economic and city plan situation of Pozzuoli began to improve thanks to the Spanish viceroy, don Pedro de Toledo.
