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According to the 2001 census, it has population of 201,349.
Taranto is also a very important naval base (both commercial and militar), and it has well-developed steel and iron foundries, chemical works, some shipyards for building warships, and food-processing factories.
The ancient city was situated on a peninsula, protected by a helm; the modern city has been built over the ancient Greek necropolis. The islets S. Pietro and S. Paolo (S. Peter and S. Paul) protect the bay (Mar Grande), which is where the commercial port is. Another bay, called Mar Piccolo, is formed by the old city, and there fishing is flourishing. Mar Piccolo is a military port with a strategic importance; at the end of the XIX century, a channel was excavated to allow the militar ships to enter Mar Piccolo harbour, and the ancient Greek city become an island. Also the islets and the coast are strongly fortified.
The Greeks called the city Taras, and Tarentum by the Romans, who connected the city to Rome with an extension of the Appian way.
It is also famous for the British attack to the Regia Marina base during the World War II, known as the Battle (or Nigth) of Taranto
Taranto is founded in about 708 BC by Spartan immigrants. It is the only Spartan colony, and its origin is peculiar: the founders are Partheniae, sons of Spartan women and perioeci men (free, but not citizens of Sparta); these unions were decided by the Spartans to increase the number of soldiers (only the citizens of Sparta could become soldiers) during the bloody Messenian warsPrehistoric Period Tradition relates that Sparta was founded by Lacedaemon, son of Zeus and Taygete, who called the city after his wife, the daughter of Eurotas. But Amyclae and Therapne (Therapnae) seem to have been in early times of greater importance t, but later they were nullified, and the sons were forced to leave. Their leader is Phalanthus. According to other sources, it was HeraclesFor the son of Alexander the Great, see Heracles (Macedon). In Greek mythology, Heracles or Herakles ("glory of Hera") was the demigod son of Zeus and Alcmene, the grand-daughter of Perseus and the wife of Amphitryon. In Roman mythology he was called Herc who founded the city. Another tradition indicates Taras, son of PoseidonThis article is about the Greek god. See also: Poseidon missile; and Poseidon drowning detection system''. Andrea Doria as Neptune by Agnolo Bronzino: a potent allegory of Genoa's hegemony in the Tyrrhenian Sea In Greek Mythology, Poseidon was the god of, as the founder of the city; the symbol of the Greek city (as well as of the modern city) is Taras riding a dolphin. Taranto increased its power, becoming a commercial power and a sovereign city of Magna GraeciaMagna Graecia ( Latin for "Greater Greece," Megale Hellas/ in Greek) is the name of an area in ancient southern Italy and Sicily that was colonised by ancient Greek settlers in the 8th century BCE. Originally, Magna Graecia was the name used by the Romans, the Greek colonies in Southern Italy.
In its beginning, Taranto is a monarchy, probably modelled on the one ruling over Sparta. In 466 BCCenturies: 6th century BC 5th century BC 4th century BC Decades: 510s BC 500s BC 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC Years: 471 BC 470 BC 469 BC 468 BC 467 BC 466 BC 465 BC 464 BC 463 BC 462 BC 461 BC Events Battle of E, Taranto is defeated by Iapyges, a native population of ancient Apulia, and the monarchy falls, with the instauration of a democracy, and the espulsion of the Pythagoreans.
In 432 BC, the colony of Heraclea is founded by Taranto, with the collaboration of Thurii.
In 367 BC Carthage and the Etruscans sign a pact to counter Taranto.
In 343 BC Taranto appeals for aid against the barbarian to its mother city Sparta in the face of aggression by the Bruttian League . In 342 BC, Archidamus III, king of Sparta, arrives in Italy with an army and a fleet, fighting the Lucanians and their allies. In 338 BC, during the Battle of Manduria , the Spartan and Tarantine armies are defeated in front of the walls of Manduria (nowadays in province of Taranto), and Archidamus is killed.
In 320 BC a peace treaty is signed between Taranto and the Samnites
In 304 BC Taranto is attacked by the Lucanians, and asks for the help of Agathocles, king of Syracuse. Agathocles arrives in Italy, takes control of Brutium (the ancient Calabria), but is called back in Syracuse.
In 303 BC- 302 BC Cleonymus of Sparta establishes an alliance with Taranto against the Lucanians