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Paestum

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description Paestum Overview

Paestum is an archaeological site in Campania, southern Italy, founded by Greek settlers around 600 BCE under the name Poseidonia. It preserves three substantial Doric temples, two associated with Hera and one with Athena, as well as later Roman buildings, streets, and defensive walls. The city came under Lucanian and then Roman control before declining in late antiquity. Its remains form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Where is Paestum located in Italy?

Paestum is located in the Campania region of southern Italy, near the modern town of Capaccio Paestum, approximately 100 kilometers south of Naples. The archaeological site sits inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea coast and is accessible by train on the Naples–Salerno–Reggio Calabria railway line.

Which temples can you see at Paestum today?

Paestum contains three remarkably well-preserved Doric temples, commonly identified as the Temple of Hera I (also called the Basilica, c. 550 BC), the Temple of Athena (formerly called the Temple of Ceres, c. 500 BC), and the Temple of Hera II (also called the Temple of Neptune, c. 460–450 BC). All three are among the best-surviving examples of ancient Greek architecture anywhere in the world.

Who founded the ancient city of Paestum?

Paestum was founded around 600 BC by Greek colonists from the city of Sybaris, who named the settlement Poseidonia in honor of the sea god Poseidon. The city was later conquered by the local Lucanians and then by the Romans, who Latinized the name to Paestum.

Can you see the Tomb of the Diver at Paestum?

Yes, the famous Tomb of the Diver, a Greek frescoed tomb dating to around 470 BC, is displayed at the on-site Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum. The tomb's painted ceiling depicts a young man diving into water and is one of the finest surviving examples of ancient Greek figurative painting.

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