STABIAE  , an

ancient town of Campania, Italy, on the coast at the east extremity of the Gulf of Naples (mod . Castellammare di Stabia) . It was dependent upon Nuceria Alfaterna (q.v.) until it joined the revolt against Rome in the Social War (90 B.C.) . In 89 it was taken and destroyed by Sulla, and its territory given to Nuceria as a reward for fidelity to Rome . The place, however, continued to be visited for its natural beauties, its mineral springs and its pure milk . Remains of fine villas have been found about half a mile to the east of the modern town, and also the remains of a temple to the genius of Stabiae, which no doubt occupied the same site as it had done in Oscan times . None of these remains is now visible . The town was destroyed by the eruption of A.D . 79 (in which the elder Pliny met his death), but was soon rebuilt on the site now occupied by the modern Castellammare . Above the town on the east is the Mons Lactarius (from lac, milk) . Here took place the battle between Narses and Teias in A.D . 553, which put an end to the Gothic domination in Italy .

See M . Ruggiero, Scavi di Stabia del 1749 al 1782 (Naples, 1881); J . Beloch, Campanien, and ed. p . 248 sqq . (

Breslau, 1890) .