Velia, the ancient Greek Elea, is an archaeological site near the town of Ascea on the western coast of Italy about two hours by train south of Naples. The traveler exhausted by the hot and stony streets of Pompeii, surfeited by the sensory overload of Paestum's temples and museum can come to Velia to be revived. There are -- to be sure -- things to see, hills to climb, vistas to drink in, and ancient city walls to explore; but everything is out in nature and wonderfully restorative. For some 2500 years, Velia has been a place of healing, and its magic still works today. There is something about Velia that awakens questions. Some have no answers, but surprisingly much is known. Herodotus gives a detailed account of its founding by Greek fugitives. Many fragments of the writings of Xenophanes, Parmenides, and Zeno -- early citizens of Elea-Velia -- survive. There are numerous Roman references. Something is known of its medieval history. And much has been learned by modern archaeology. Here as virtually nowhere else archaeology has made a significant contribution to the history of philosophy. This book begins the story of Velia with the bizarre geological history of the formation of the Italian peninsula. It continues with the prehistory of human habitation in the Cilento, the area in which Velia lies. As the story moves from prehistory to protohistory, it emerges that the name Italia was first applied to a rather small area around the Cilento. Herodotus's account of the coming of the Greeks is given in full. Likewise, most of the known fragments of the Eleatic philosophers are quoted. The story of late Roman and medieval Velia, in so far as known, is recounted. In 1927, almost nothing of what one sees today in Velia was visible or known, except, of course, the medieval tower. The history of this excavation, the changing opinions on what various things are, and details of the findings and the contents of the museums conclude the book.
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