puteoli Summary and Overview

a city on the coast of Campania, on the north shore of a bay running north from the Bay of Naples, at which Paul landed on his way to Rome, from which it was distant 170 miles. Here he tarried for seven days (Acts 28:13, 14). This was the great emporium for the Alexandrian corn ships. Here Paul and his companions began their journey, by the "Appian Way," to Rome. It is now called Pozzuoli. The remains of a huge amphitheatre, and of the quay at which Paul landed, may still be seen here.

(sulphurous springs), the great landing-place of travelers to Italy from the Levant, and the harbor to which the Alexandrian corn-ships brought their cargoes. #Ac 27:13| The celebrated bay which is now the Bay of Naples was then called "Sinus Puteolanus." The city was at the northeastern angle of the bay. The name Puteoli arose from the strong mineral springs which are characteristic of the place. It was a favorite watering-place of the Romans its hot springs being considered efficacious for cure of various diseases. Here also ships usually discharged their passengers and cargoes, partly to avoid doubling the promontory of Circeium and partly because there was no commodious harbor nearer to Rome. Hence the ship in which Paul was conveyed from Melita landed the prisoners at this place, where the apostle stayed a week. #Ac 28:13,14| --Whitney. The associations of Puteoli with historical personages are very numerous. Scipio sailed from this place to Spain; Cicero had a villa in the neighborhood; here Nero planned the murder of his mother; Vespasian gave to this city peculiar privileges; and here Adrian was buried. In the fifth century it was ravaged by both Alaric and Genseric, and it never afterward recovered its former eminence. It is now a fourth-rate Italian town, still retaining the name of Pozzuoli. The remains of Puteoli are worthy of mention. Among them are the aqueduct the reservoirs, portions (probably) of the baths the great amphitheatre and the building called the temple of Serapis. No Roman harbor has left as solid a memorial of itself as this one, at which St. Paul landed in Italy.

PUTE'OLI (sulphurous wells or springs), a seaport of Campania, in Italy, situated upon the northern shore of a small bay running northward from the Bay of Naples, and now called Pozzuoli Bay. The town was originally confined to a rocky promontory, but afterward extended to a considerable distance eastward and northward. Puteoli was the great port of Rome, and through it passed the immense exports and imports of the imperial city. Especially was it the port for the Alexandrian corn-ships, which were allowed the peculiar privilege of entering the bay with all their sails set. Its ancient Greek name was Dicaearchia. It was a favorite watering-place of the Romans, its hot springs being considered efficacious for the cure of various diseases. Puteoli is connected with many historical personages. Scipio sailed hence to Spain; Cicero had a villa near the city; here Nero planned the murder of his mother; Vespasian gave to this city peculiar privileges; and here Hadrian was buried, The Castor and Pollux landed the apostle Paul there, Acts 28:13-14, and he tarried in the place, where there were Christians, for a week before setting out for Rome, 141 miles distant. The modern name of Puteoli is Pozzuoli. There are considerable remains of ancient structures, including an aqueduct, reservoirs, baths, and a building called the temple of Serapis. Thirteen arches can still be counted of the twenty-five which originally supported the great pier, thrown out for protection against the waves and for convenience in landing passengers and merchandise.

The port of Italy to which ships from Egypt and the Levant commonly sailed (Josephus, Ant. 18:7, section 4; so Acts 28:13). The bay of Naples was then named from it, sinus Puteolanus. A cross road led thence to Capua, there joining the Appian Way to Rome. Sixteen piers of the harbour mole, formed of the concrete pozzolana, remain. Puteoli was at the E. of the bay, Baiae at the W. Puteoli comes from puteus a "well," or puteo, "to smell strong," from the offensively smelling mineral springs.