Laüs or Laus or Laos (Greek:Λᾶος), was an ancient city on the west coast of Lucania, at the mouth of the river of the same name, which formed the boundary between Lucania and Bruttium; the site of Laüs is in the frazione of Marcellina in the comune of Santa Maria del Cedro, Province of Cosenza, Calabria region, Italy.[1][2]
Laüs was a Greek city, and a colony of Sybaris; little is known about its foundation or history. Herodotus states that after the destruction of Sybaris in 510 BCE, the inhabitants who survived took refuge in Laüs and Scidrus;[3] it is probable these locations were already settled during the time of Sybaris, when Poseidonia (Posidonia) was planted by that city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The only other mention of Laüs in history is when Greek allied forces in the city were defeated in an attempt to halt the Lucanians, who were extending their power towards the south. The city was probably then taken by the Lucanians.[4]
There is no further mention of the city; and though Strabo speaks of it as still in existence in his times it likely disappeared before the time of Pliny. The latter author, however (as well as Ptolemy), noticed the river Laüs (modern Lao River), which Pliny concurs with Strabo in fixing as the boundary between Lucania and Bruttium.[5]
According to Strabo there was a temple or Heroum of a hero named Dracon, close to which was the actual scene of the great battle between the Greeks and Lucanians.[6] Ancient coins of Laüs bear the inscription ΛΑΙΝΟΝ, but they were struck after the destruction of Sybaris.