Terina was founded by the people of Crotone after they defeated Sibari in 510A.C., when Crotone tried progressively to extend its supremacy on the vast territories both on the Tyrrehnian and Ionion side.  Its origins are very uncertain and even more is its localization for the major part of the researchers situate it in the actual territory of S. Eufemia Vetere, near the mouth of the river Lameto (today called Amato).  However, the terminus ante quem of its foundation is deducted from the first currencies invented by the city that carry the date 480 B.C.  The importance that the river had in the life of this colony is confirmed by the relevant given to the cult of the sirene Ligea, systematically portrayed on the currency that even venerated it in a sanctuary remembered by Licofrone.

According to Licofrone Terina was probably founded by the Greeks when they returned from the war of Troia, while according to others it was probably founded by colonizers who had reached directly from the home country, Ausoni or Pelasgi.  More likely is the hypothesis of a direct foundation on behalf of the people of Crotone as was affirmed by Pseudo-Scimno, Flegonte di Tralle, Plinio il Vecchio, Solino.

Apart the literary sources, the only documentations on Terina were constituted by its currency, which gave precious information of its political and economical nature. It was revealed for example that part on behalf of some recent researchers that there was the presence of fifty-six staters of Sibari contained in the monetary storage room of Acquafredda di Sambiase, which can be dated to the year 520 B.C., and the presence of only four staters Sibariti against seventy-two Crotonesi ones which were found in the storage room of Curinga around the year 480 A.C., these can be explained with the passage of the control of the Terinese area at least from the economical point of view of Sibari and from the economical and political one of Crotone after its victory in the year 510 A.C.  The coins of Terina reproduced on the right a female figure turned towards the right which would represent the nymph of Terina, and wind divinity on its back which would represent the representation of the mermaid Ligea.  Other coins have then been dedicated to the various close alliances with some Magnogreche cities among which Crotone, Ipponio and Reggio.

Of Polieno we have news of a surprise attack on Terina attempted by the Spartan General Cleandrida, who had taken part of the foundation of the colony Turi in the year 433, and which had failed because some deserters had already advise the Turini.  As it has been revealed such attack on Terina by Turino should be framed in the war which took place from Turi to Crotone and which would ultimately confirm the fact that the territory of Terina was politically tied to that of Crotone.  Moreover, since it was a centre controlled by Crotone, Terina had to be part of that League achea which was constituted between the year 430-420 B.C., and then past to the Italiota League in the year 393 B.C., according to the tale of Diodoreo, to block the expansionistic aims of the Siracusan Titan Dionisio I.  Even Terina just like the rest of the territory of Crotone had to be involved in the numerous intervenes by Dionisio as is attested by the important Siracusan influence on the coins in the era dionisiana and post-dionisiana.

Just like Reggio, Caulonia and Crotone, even Terina had to then reconquer its own freedom under the successor Dionisio II, in the contest of a political reconstruction of the Magnogreche cities destroyed by the father and by the relationships of cooperation dealt with them.

According to Diodoro, some of the first Magnogeche cities to be attacked and conquered by the Brettii were Terina and Ipponio (356 B.C.), which were practically the internal southern part and controlled by Dionisio II.  In the emission of the staters of this period, in fact, a crab appears on the back of the coin, a symbol which is associated with the Brettii.

From Livio we know then that in the first phase of the war against the Lucani and the Brettii, the Epirota Alessandro il Molosso, who had reached Italy in the year 334 with a powerful army had obtained numerous victories which permitted him to free Terina.  But when he died the city fell again in the hands of the Brettii.

Terina then had to pass under the control of the Siracusan Agatocle, since he had a garrison in the nearby city of Ipponio (296 B.C.), as is attested by numerous coins with the symbol of triskeles, the personal emblem of the tyrant in which were coniated under his command.

Strabone informs us that Terina was destroyed by Annibale, in 204 B.C., since the colony was not able to accomplish its task of control of the northern access of the plain of  S. Eufemia.  The author does not say that Terina was abandoned, as is specified in the case of Caulonia (VI, 1,10) and therefore we can suppose that it was rebuilt, even if this appears very improbable.

LITERARY SOURCES 

Diodoro, XVI 15, 2.
Flegonte di Tralle, apud Stefano di Bisanzio, s.v. Terina, F.H.G., III, fr. 26.
Licofrone, Alex., vv. 726, 1008.
Livio, VIII, 24,4.
Polieno, II 10, 2 e 4.
Plinio il Vecchio, N.H., III, 72.
Pseudo-Scimno, vv. 306-7.
Solino, II, 10.
Strabone, VI, 1, 5.

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