By the sixth century BC, it had gained some fame as the home of a medical school, of the great Olympic wrestler Milo of Crotone, and of Pythagoras, the philosopher who moved there from Samos and became a political leader by opposing popular government.
Milo of Crotone or Milo the strongman was a champion in wrestling at the Olympic and Pythian Games.
Pythagoras was the reformer of customs, moral and political, not only at Crotone but in several other the Italico-Greek cities.
As the only real port between Taranto and Reggio, Crotone prospered and in 510 Crotone’s army, under Milo’s command, defeated its hated neighbor Sybaris.
Crotone soon was weakened by conflicts with two other Italian Greek cities, Rhegion and Locri, and with the Brutii.
Crotone was captured and plundered in 379 BC by the Syracusan ruler Dionysius.
Ancient Crotone
