CUMA. — Testimonies to an ancient Christian community at C. are found in two pagan temples erected during the Greek period, rebuilt in the Roman-Augustan age, and transformed into churches in the 5th century or, at the latest, at the beginning of the 6th.
The first is the one known as the Temple of Apollo (34 × 23 metres), on the lower terrace of the acropolis, brought to light again in 1912. Its basilical floor, perhaps divided into three aisles, was occupied by more than 90 Christian pit graves; the other is the Temple of Jupiter on the upper terrace of the arx, excavated between 1926 and 1930. Its transformation into a Christian basilica (39.60 × 24.60 metres), divided into five aisles by the addition of brick pillars, meant that the presbytery, substituted for the cella of the Augustan temple, came to be situated almost at the centre of the building. The position of the baptistery in the central nave behind the presbytery is also highly characteristic: the circular basin, lined inside and out with marble, was covered by a tugurium supported by at least six small columns, remains of which have been found. An inscription was discovered in the temple attesting to the cult of the relics of the martyr s. Massimo, whom legend says died in Apamea and was then transferred to C. by a certain Giuliana. A hagiographical document, BIEDA (v.) and therefore earlier than the 8th century, speaks of a martyr Giuliana of Nicomedia whose body, like that of s. Massimo, was said to have been transferred to C.: she is perhaps the same Giuliana from whom s. Gregorio (Registrum, IX, 180–81) requested sanctuaria from the bishop Fortunato of Naples in order to consecrate an oratory.
According to the mention in certain Acts of martyrs, it was an episcopal see in the 4th century; the names of several bishops of the 5th century are known to us. Thus, for example, it is known that a bishop named Adeodato took part in 465 in a synod held at Rome (cf. P. F. Kehr, Regesta pontificum Romanorum, Italia Pontificia, VIII, Berlin 1935, pp. 469–71).