Paestum was most likely one of the largest Greek cities on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast in Magna Graecia. After its foundation by Greek colonists with the name of Poseidonia (ancient Greek: Poseidonia) it was conquered by the Lucanians and later by the Romans. The Lucanians renamed it Paistos, while the Romans gave the city its current name. The excavations of Paestum are known for their three ancient Greek temples, which still today are in an excellent state of conservation. Outside the temples of Paestum, we can find the remains of the old city in the modern hamlet of the municipality of Capaccio, in the province of Salerno.

Excavations of Paestum

Paestum is home to three magnificent Doric temples, which is thought to be dedicated to the city of the same name Poseidon (known to the Romans as Neptune), Hera and Cerere. The temples of Neptune and Hera are located next to each other in the southern part of the site, while the smallest, the temple of Ceres is at the northern end.

The Temple of Hera it is the oldest of the three temples, built around the 550 aC. It is sometimes referred to as the Basilica, based on a mistake by previous archaeologists who thought it was a Roman public building, in the sense that the Roman term indicates: a place used as the seat of the court and the assemblies that held the citizens.

The Temple of Neptune it is considered as the most perfect example of Doric Templar architecture in Italy and Greece. The attribution to Neptune is due to the scholars of the 1700s who believed that the building was built in honor of the god Poseidon-Neptune who gives the city its name. Recent studies attribute it to Apollo instead, in his capacity as a doctor.

The Temple of Ceres (or Athens) built about fifty years before the Temple of Neptune and 50 years after that of Hera has some particularities that distinguish it from the other two temples and make it one of the most interesting in Greek architecture. The high pediment and the Doric frieze composed of large limestone blocks make this temple unique.

The central part of the site consists of the Roman Forum, with extensive foundations of various public and private buildings. In the northwest of the forum there is a small amphitheater romano, of which only the southern half is visible.