an ancient city of Magna Graecia, at the mouth of the river of the same name, in the Gulf of Tarentum. The fertility and beauty of the spot seems to have attracted it to a body of Ionians, emigrating from Colophon, to escape the dominion of Gyges, king of Lydia, who had captured their city. This must have taken place between 690 and 660 B.C. The city was remarkable, like the more celebrated one of Sybaris on the same coast, for its prosperity and for the luxury and effeminacy of its people. This is nearly all we know about its history. Siris seems to have been destroyed by a league of the neighbouring cities against it about 550 B.C. In 480 B.C. it must have been quite in ruins; for the Athenians thought of emigrating thither bodily, if unsuccessful in resisting the Persians.