Archaeologists have unearthed two “exceptional” temples in the historic ancient city of Poseidonia Paestum, a settlement in Magna Graecia on the southern coast of Italy. Built in the Doric style, temples have been excavated in the western area of this important ancient settlement, close to the city walls and located just a short distance from the sea.
Well-preserved architectural remains at Paestum
Paestum, originally Poseidonia but renamed by the Romans, is located on the west coast of southern Italy in the province of Salerno, Campania. It is significant as an important settlement in Magna Graecia, a term the Romans used to refer to the coastal regions of southern Italy inhabited by Greek speakers since the 5th century. 8 BC.
Founded around 600 BC by Sybaris settlers, Poseidonia flourished for two centuries before falling under the control of the Lucanians, an Italic tribe, around 400 BC. Then, in 273 BC, the Romans conquered the city and renamed it Paestum.
The ruins of a 5th century Doric temple were recently found at Paestrum. (Italian Ministry of Culture)
Continuous worship across empires
Dating from the early 5th century BC, one of the recently discovered temples at the Paestum archaeological site includes well-preserved architectural remains, especially the stylobate—a The pedestal supports the pillars that support the temple roof.
The stylobate, measuring 11.5 by 7.6 meters (37.5 by 24.6 feet), exhibits distinct features, including four-sided peristaltic columns surrounding the inner sanctuary known as the ‘. Traditionally, the cella served as a sacred space where a statue or cult statue representing the specific deity revered in the temple was placed.
“These extraordinary discoveries, which add fundamental new elements to the reconstruction of the ancient history of the Magno-Greek colony of Poseidonia, document several construction phases of a sanctuary located in the area nominal, near the coast where the settlers themselves arrived. several decades earlier, and was built in ancient times, even before the city had a defensive circuit,” explains the Director of the Paestum and Velia Archaeological Park, Tiziana D’Angelo, in a press release .
One of two new Greek Doric temples found at the historic Paestum site. (Italian Ministry of Culture)
Behind the temple, the investigation unearthed remains of the inner mantle of the city walls, suggesting that a collapse had affected the temple, leading to its partial destruction. Beneath this collapsed structure, archaeologists have identified the layout of a trail running parallel to the temple, showing a different orientation from the surrounding walls. This discovery indicates that at the end of the 6th century BC, when the oldest temple was built, the city of Poseidonia still did not have a defensive wall.
During a period characterized by considerable growth and the grandeur of the polis, the settlers of Poseidonia strategically built a sanctuary in a prominent location, serving as a focal point for its preservation. protects urban space and is visible from the sea.
The importance of this sacred space is emphasized by its long and continuous use over five centuries. It points to a fundamental continuity of worship spanning the Greco-Lucan and Roman periods, attesting to the enduring cultural and religious importance of Poseidonia.
The Paestum archaeological site is vast, with many more modern parts of the ancient city having been discovered. (lamio/Adobe Stock)
Paestum: An extremely important settlement in Magna Graecia
The Paestum archaeological site is famous for its exceptional preservation of three ancient Greek temples built between 550 and 450 BC. They were built in the Doric order (an early classical architectural style) and dedicated to the Olympian gods Hera, Athena and Poseidon.
Showcasing the cultural and religious practices of Poseidonia’s ancient inhabitants, the temples in the area remain a tourist attraction today.
Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italian Minister of Culture, said: “Recent discoveries confirm that there is still a lot of work to be done in Paestum in terms of excavation, research as well as in terms of valorization.”
The Ministry of Culture explains that this latest archaeological discovery is important in expanding our understanding of the dynamics of ancient settlement and the development of Doric architecture in Poseidonia and Magna Graecia in general, especially understanding of Paestum’s layout in this context, Arkeonews reported.
D’Angelo described the findings as important evidence, emphasizing their importance in reconstructing the ancient history of Poseidonia.
“The new Pestani excavations are another demonstration of how research and studies play a pivotal role in the management of cultural heritage and are fundamental tools of the functions of protection and enhancement which the State is called upon to carry out, in view of the broad coordination between the different experts involved in different capacities in archaeological investigations”, concludes the General Director of the Museum, Massimo Osanna essay
