City history
From its mythological beginnings as Parthenope to its transformation into a bustling modern Italian hub, Naples offers a deep connection to ancient Mediterranean history.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Virgin"
Parthenope is the earliest documented name, originating from Greek mythological accounts of the siren who died on the local coast.
Virgin
The city is named after the siren Parthenope according to ancient Greek mythological traditions and early historical records.
New City
Neapolis, which translates to new city in Greek, was established as a significant settlement during the classical period of antiquity.
Naples
The modern Italian name for the city, evolving from the classical Neapolis through centuries of linguistic change.
Chapter two
Following the unification of Italy, various local solar times were synchronized toward a unified national standard, eventually aligning with Central European Time.
Italy began observing seasonal time shifts, alternating between Central European Time and Summer Time to comply with modern European standards.
Chapter three
Archaeological and legendary evidence suggests that Greek settlers established a presence in the area during the 8th century BC.
The Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte was founded, providing critical celestial observations and timekeeping standards for the Campania region.
Naples became a vital part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy, leading to the adoption of standardized national timekeeping.
Naples was famously the first major Italian city to be liberated by Allied forces during the Second World War.