Ancient Greek town on the island of Euboea .
Jointly with its neighbour Chalkís , it founded Cumae in Italy ( 0441; 750 BC), the first of the Greek colonies in the west. Subsequent rivalry with Chalkís culminated in war, and by the Classical period Chalkís was the leading city of Euboea. In 499498 BC Eretrian triremes sailed to support the Ionian revolt against Persia , for which act Darius I destroyed the city (490 BC) and deported the population. It was rebuilt, but under Macedonian and Roman rule it became insignificant. There are extensive ruins at the site.