or Cuma, in Ancient Geography, the oldest and one of the most important of all the Greek colonies in Italy, was situated on the shore of Campania between the lakes Acherusia and Litternus, and about six miles north of Baiae. The most generally received opinion is, that Cumae was founded by a joint colony from the Æolian Cumæans and Chalcis in Eubœa, who agreed that they should call the city by the name of one of the parent states, while it should take rank as a colony of the other. The exact date of its foundation is unknown; but it is certain that Cumæ had attained a high degree of prosperity while Rome was still struggling into existence. In the eighth century B.C. it had extended its power on every side into Campania, and like Sybaris and Crotona had begun to plant flourishing colonies, and establish itself besides as a maritime power. Of its numerous colonies the most prosperous was Neapolis. Evidences of its maritime power were the splendid harbours of Dicarchia and Misenum. The first event which led to the decline of Cumæ was the establishment of the Etruscan supremacy by sea. A severer blow still was the invasion of Campania by that people and their allies about the year 522 B.C. This attack was repelled, though at a great loss to the Cumæans, chiefly by the ability of Aristodemus, who overthrew the existing government, and established a tyranny, which endured for 20 years. At the end of that period he was driven out of the city by the nobles, who had once more become powerful. Twenty-two years after that date, the Cumaeans, unable any longer of themselves to resist the growing power of the Tuscan, called in the aid of Hiero of Syracuse. With his assistance they defeated their opponents, and secured themselves against attack for many years. In 520 B.C., the Samnites, a more formidable foe than the Tuscans, made themselves masters of Cumae, put the male citizens to the sword, and established a colony of their own in the city. In 338 B.C., Cumae was admitted to the Roman franchise, and ever after continued faithful to her alliance with Rome. In the second Punic war Hannibal besieged the town in vain, though it had greatly declined from its original size and strength. In the later ages of the republic it attained a kind of reflected prosperity from the neighbourhood of Baiae, and other favourite retreats of the Roman nobility; but it is henceforth always talked of as "Vacua Cumae," "Quinta Cuma," in reference to its half-deserted air. In the wars of the Goths and Romans, Cumae once more became for a short time important, as the last stronghold of the Gothic kings in Italy. In 552 it surrendered to the victorious arms of Narses. Some remains of Cumae are still to be seen. Of these a ruinous amphitheatre, a brick arch, supposed to be one of the old gates of the city, and a small temple, are the principal. Bronze statues and vases have at different times been dug up, rewarding the searches of modern antiquaries. Not the least interesting spot in the vicinity of Cumae is the cave where the Sybil is said to have had her residence. A great cavern in the rock on which the citadel stood was shown by the Cumaeans as the place whence that prophetess propounded her enigmas. This cavern existed unimpaired till the time of Narses, who availed himself of it to undermine the walls of the town. The walls fell, breaking down in their descent the roof of the cave, the remains of which, however, are still pointed out to the traveller. See AMALTHEA, and ROMAN HISTORY.