Pompeii is situated in that district of Italy, named by the ancients Campania, comprised between the mountains of Samnium and the Tyrrhenian sea, and bounded on the north by the river Liris, and on the south by the Silarus. The line of coast included between these points is broken by two far projecting capes, Misenum and the promontory of Minerva, between which lies a deep recess, called from its shape Crater, the Cup, or the Gulf of Cumae, and known in modern times as the Bay of Naples. At the bottom of this bay stood Pompeii, about thirteen miles south-east' of Naples, and five from Vesuvius. Of its history very little is known. It is related to have been founded by Hercules, as well as its neighbour and fellow victim, Herculaneum. Solinus says, that the name of Pompeii is derived from Pompe, in allusion to (he pomp with which Hercules celebrated his victories, while awaiting his fleet at the mouth of the river Sarnus. Being furnished with so respectable and credible an origin, it would be waste of time to inquire any farther. An almost impenetrable darkness hangs over these remote ages; and when men are driven to take refuge in mythology, it is plain that they can find little satisfaction in history. Strabo, however,' asserts that these towns were founded by Pelasgians and Tyrrhenians t. The first inhabitants that we can trace on this coast, are the Osci, who appear to have been the same as the Ausones, and of Pelasgian extraction. At an early, but still an unknown period, a colony from Chalcis in Eubcea founded the town of Cumae. Parthenope, afterwards called Neapolis, now Naples, was an offset from thence, or from a kindred colony of Eretrians. Pompeii and Herculaneum also fell into their power; but their establishments seem to have extended no farther in this direction.

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