Medma, orMesma (Greek:Μέδμη,Steph. B.;Μέδμα,Strabo, Scymn. Ch.; butΜέσμα on coins, and soApollodorus of Damascus, cited by Steph. B.;Scylax hasΜέσα, evidently a corruption forΜέσμα), was an ancient Greek city ofMagna Graecia, on the west coast of the Bruttian (now Calabrian) peninsula, betweenHipponium and the mouth of the Metaurus[1] (probably today's River Petrace). The site is located atRosarno,Province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria.
It was a colony founded by theEpizephyrian Locrians, and is said to have derived its name from an adjoining fountain.[2] But though it is repeatedly noticed among the Greek cities in this part of Italy, it does not appear ever to have attained to any great power or importance. It is probable, however, that the Medimnaeans (Μεδιμναῖοι), who are noticed byDiodorus as contributing a body of colonists to the repeopling ofMessana (modernMessina) byDionysius in 396 BCE, are no other than the Medmaeans, and that we should readΜεδμαῖοι in the passage in question.[3] Though never a very conspicuous place, Medma seems to have survived the fall of many other more important cities of Magna Graecia, and it is noticed as a still existing town both by Strabo andPliny the Elder.[4] But the name is not found inPtolemy, and all subsequent trace of it disappears. It appears from Strabo that the town itself was situated a little inland, and that it had a port or emporium on the seashore.
The name of Mesima is still borne by a river which flows into the sea a little belowNicotera, in the neighbourhood. Nicotera, the name of which is already found in theAntonine Itinerary,[5] probably arose after the decline of Mesma.
A pair ofterracotta altars from Medma with the myth ofAphrodite andAdonis dating back to the 4th century BC was probably stolen in the early 20th century and is now exhibited at theJ. Paul Getty Museum of Los Angeles.[6][7][8]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857).Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray..jpg)
